Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-12-15

., "WEDNESDAY, DE(
Government. I believe that's strong and grow
ing public sentiment demands immediate meas
ures for securing and enforcing the highest
possible efficiency in the civil service, and It's
protection from recognized abuses, and that
the experience referred to has demonstrated
the feasibility OF such measures.
The examinations in the Custom Houses and
Postotfices have been held under many embar-
easements, and without provision for compen-
sation for the extra labor performed by the Of
ficers who have conducted them, and whose
commendable interest in the improvement Of
the public service has induced this deveti6n u
time and labor without pecuniary reward. A
continuance Of these labors gratuitously ought
not to be expected, and without an appropriate
ton by Congress for compensation it is not
practicable to extend the system Of
e1amn'tiona e;x' aer1;c. generally Throughout IT,
Important imp that al al sue sU eiamination. %gn
should be conducted upon uniform system
and under general supervision. Section 1, ,75S
of the Revised Statutes authorizes the Presi-
dent to prescribe the regulations for admission
to the civil service of the United States; and for
this purpose to employ suitable persons to con-
duct the requisite inquiries with reference to
''the fitness of each candidate, in respect to
age, health, character, knowledge, and ability,
for the branch Of service into which he seeks
to enter;' but the law is practically inoper-
ative for the want of the requisite appropria-
ton.
I therefore recommend an appropriation Of
$25, cooper annum to meet the expenses Of a
commission, to be appointed by the President
in accordance with the terms of this section.
whose duty it shall be to devise just, uniform
and efficient system Of competitive examina-
tions, and to supervise the application Of the
same throughout the entire civil service of tho
Government. am pursuaded that the facili-
ties which such a commission will afford
for testing the fitness of those who apply
for Office will not only be as welcome
a relief to members Of Congress ~
it will be to the President and heads Of depart
ments, but that it will also greatly tend to re-
move the causes OF embarrassment which now
inevitably ana constantly attend the conflicting
claims of patronage between the Legislative
and Executive departments. The most effect
ual check upon the pernicious competition Of
influence and official favoritism in the bostowal
of Office will be the substitution Of an open
competition OF merit between the applicants.
in which ever one can make his own record,
with the assm ance that his success will depend
upon this alone.
also recommend such legislation as, while
leaving every officer as free as any other citizen
to express his political opinions and to use his
means for their advancement, shall also enable
him to feel as safe as any private citizen
in refusing all demands upon his ealar, iol
political purposes. A law which should thu.
guarantee true liberty and Justice to all who
are engaged in the public service, and likewise
contain stringent provisions against the use of
official authority to coerce the political action Of
private citizens or Of official subordinates, is
greatly to be desired.
The most serious obstacle. however, to an
improvement of the civil service, and especial
ly to reform in the method of appointment
and removal. has been found to be the prac-
tice, under what is known as the spoils system,
by which the appointing power has been so
largely eneroached c upon by members Of Con-
gress. The first step in the reform Of the
civil service must be 8 complete divorce
between Congress and the Executive in
the matter Of appointments. The cor
rupting doctrine that to the victors belong
the spoils' is inseparable from Congress
sional patronage as the established rule and
practice of parties in power. It comes to be
the people generally, that Representatives
and Senators are entitled to disburse the
patronage Of their respective districts and
States. It is not necessary to recite at length
the evils resulting from. this invasion Of the
Executive functions. The true principles of
Office, az stated in the National Conventions OF
the leading parties of the country, have again
and again been approved by the American peo.
pie, and have not been called in question in
any quarter. These authentic expressions Of
public opinion upon this all-important subject
are the statement of principles that belong
to the constitutional structure of the Govern
ment.
"Under the constitution the. President and
heads of departments are to make nominations
for Office. The Senate is to advise and consent
to appointments, and the House of Represen-
tatives is to accuse and prosecute faithless Off
GERS. The best interest of the public service
demands that these distinctions be respected
that Senators and Representatives, who
may be Judges and ;l+St accusers, should at
6ee." To this end the cooperation of the
Legislative Department of the Government is
required, alike by the necessities of the case
and by public opinion. Members of Congress
will not be relieved from the demands made
upon them with reference to appointments to
Office until, by legislative enactment, the per-
nicious practice is condemned and forbidden
1t is therefore recommended that an act be
passed defining the relations of members OF
Congress with reference to appointments to of.
fee BY the President, and also recommend
that the provisions of section 1,767, and Of the
sections following, of the Revised Statutes,
comprising the Tenure-of- Office act, of March
| 2, 1867, be repealed.
l. Believing that to reform the system and
methods of the civil service in our countro il
one Of the highest and most imperative duties
! of craftsmanship, and that it can be per.
manently done only by the CO. operation of the
Legislative and Executive Departments of the
Government, / again commend the whole sub
| iect to your considerate attention.
It is the recognized duly and purpose Of thu
! people of the United Estates to suppress
! polygamy where it now exists in our Terri
| tories, and to prevent its extension. Faith
| full and jealous efforts have been made b,
| the Unitod States authorities in Utah to en-
force the laws against it. Experience hal
,hown that the legislation upon this subject
| to be effective, requires extensive modifica
ton and amendment. The longer actor
+ is delayed, the more difficult it will be to &C
complish what is desired. Prompt and de
l. cided measures are necessary. The Mormon
sectarian organization which upholds. polygamy
has the whole power of making ant
executing the local legislation Of the Territory
By it's control Of the grand and petit juries, i
! possesses large influence over the administra
ton of justice. Exercising, as the heads O.
this sect do, the local political power of tn
Territory, they are able to make effec
gress on the subject Of polygamy, and
in fact, do prevent it's enforcement. Polygam!
will not be abolished il the enforcement of tn
law depends on those who practice and uPholt
the crime. It can only be suppressed BY taking
away the political power of the sect which en-
courages and sustains it. The power of Con
gress to enact suitable laws to protect the Ter
ritories is ample. 1t is not case Of half-wa
measures. The political power Of the Mormon
sect is increasing it controls now ono Of on
wealthiest and most populous Territories
It is extending steadily into other Terri
tories. Wherever it goes it establishes pc
lygamy and sectarian political power. tn
sanctity OF marriage and the family relation ar
the corner-stone Of our American society AIT
civilization. Religious liberty and the separa
ton of church and state are among the ele
mentary ideas of free institutions. To rs-ea
tablish the interests and principles which po
lygamy and Mormonism have impsrillel, and +
fully reopen to intelligent and virtuous immi
grants of all creeds that part Of our domai
which has been, in great degree, closed t
general immigration by intoierant and immora
institutions, it is recommended that the Gov
ernment of the Territory of Utah be reorganized
recommend that Congress provide for th
government of Utah by Governor and Judges
or Commissioners, appointed by the Presiden
| and confirmed by the Senate-a government