The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-12-08

4 L a.
public sentiment demands immediate measures
l for securing and enforcing the highest possible
efficiency in the civil service. ana It's protection
I from recognized abuses. and that the experience
referred to has demonstrated the feasibility OF
such measures.
The examinations in the Custom Houses and
Postoffices have been held under many embar-
raSsments and without provision for cOmpensa
ton for the extra labor performed by the Officers
who have conducted them. and whose commenda-
| service has induced this devotion of time and
labor without pecuniary reward. \ continuance
of these labOrs gratuitOusly ought not to be eN
pectesl. and without appropriation by Con
gress Tor compensation, 1t Is not practicable 10 eX-
tend the system Of examinations genemlly
throughout the civil service IL Is also highly I'M
Portant that all such examinations should be con,
ducted upon uniform system and under general
supervision section ,753 OF the Revised Statutes
authorizes the President TO prescribe the regula-
Z tions for admission to the civil service of the
United States, and for this purpose to employ
suitable persons to conduct the requisite inqnlr-
les with reference to 1.-THE fitness of each candi-
date. in respect To age, health, character knowl-
edge. and ability. for the branch OF service into
which he seeks to enter; but the law Is pract-
cally imperative for want OF the requisite appro-
| priatIOn.
1 therefore recommend an appropriation of
I 5000 per annum 20 meet the expenses OF COM
mission to be appointed by the President in ac-
cordancc with the terms of this section, whose
duty ii shall be TO devise just, uniform and efi-
cient system of competitive examinations, and I'd
supervise the application of the same throughout
the entire civil service of the Government. 1 am
persuaded that the facilities which such a Com
mission will afford for testing the fitness OF those
who apply for Office will not only be welcome
a relief to members OF Congress as IL viii be TO
the President and heads OF Departments, but that
il will also greatly tend To remove the causes Of
embarrassment which now inevitably and con-
Stantly attend the conflicting claims of patronage
between tbs Legislative and Executive Depart
ments. The most efiectual check upon the per-
niciOuS competition OF influence and official
fIvOritsm in the bestOwal OF Office, will be the
substitution Of an open competition of merit be-
u fVrpRn a. runfS which
make his own record with the assurance that his
success will depend upon this alone.
] also recommend such legislation as. while
leaving every officer free any other citizen to
express his political opinions and TO use his means
for their advancement. shall also enable him to
feel safe aS any private citizen In refusing all
demands upon his salary for political purposes.
\ law which should thus guarantee true liberty
/ and justice 10 all who are engaged in the public
service and likewise contain stringent provisions
against the 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. 10 an I'M
provement of the civil service, and especially to a
reform in the method Of appointment and re-
moval has been found to he the practice, under
what is known as the spOils system, by which the
appointing power has been so largely epcroached
upon 10y members OF Congress. The first step il
the reform of civil service must be complete dl-
vOrce between Congress and the Executive in the
matter of appointments. The cOrrupting doctrine
that Ito the vetors belong the spOils. is insepa
Table from Congressional patronage as the estab-
liShed rule and palice of parties in power. Ii
comes TO be understood by applicants for Office,
and oy the people generally, that Representatives
and Senators are entitled 10 disburse the patron
age OF their respective Districts aud States IL is
not necessary 10 recite at length the evils result
ing from this invasion OF the Executive functions
The true principles of government on the subject
Of appointments TO office, aS stated in the Ma
tiOnal Conventions of the leading parties OF the
country. have again and again been ap-
proved by the American people, and have not
been called in question in any quarter. These au-
thentic expressions OF public opinion upon this
all important subject, are the statement OF prine-
the Government
Under the Constitution, the President and
heads of Departments are 10 make nominations
for Office. The senate il to advise and consent to
appointments. and the House of Represen la tives
is to Arouse and prosecute faithleSS officers. The
best interests Of the public service demands that
these distinctions be respected that senators and
Representatives who may be judges and accusers.
should not dictate appointments To Office" To
this end the cooperation OF the legislative de-
partment of the Government is required, alike by
the necessities of the case and 10y public opinion
Members OF Congress VIII not be relieved from
the demands made upon them with reference TO
appointments to Office until by legislative enact
ment. the pernicious practice is condemned and
Itis therefore recommended that an act be
passed defining the relations of members OF Con
gTess with respect 70 appointment 70 Once by lhe
President, aud also recommend that the PrOyi
SiOns OF section l,67, and Of the sections follow
ing, of the Revised Statutes comprising the
tentre-of-Office act of March > 1857 be repealed.
Believing that TO reform the system and meth
ods of the civil service in country is one of the
highest and most imperative duties of statesman
by the cooperation of the legislative and Execu-
tive Departments of the Government, j again
commend the whole subject 10 your cOnsiderate
attention.
1t is the recognized duty and purpose of the
people of the United Statas to suppress pOlygamy
where il now exists in Our Territories and TO pre-
vent its extension. Faithful and jealous efforts
have been made by the United States authorities
in Utah TO enforce The laws against ii. Experience
has shown that the legislation upon this subject,
/ To be effective, requires extensive mo lhcatlOn
and amendment. The longer action is delayed.
the more difficult it will be To accomplish what is
desired. Prompt and decided measures are neces-
sary The Mormon sectarian organization which
uphOlds pOlygamy has the whole power OF max
ing and executing the local legislation of the Ter
/ ritOry. by its control OF the grand and petit
juries. it possesses large influence over the ad-
ministraliOn of justice. Exercising as the heads OF
this sect do the local political power OF the Terri
i've their hostility to the law Of
\ Congress on the subject OF pOlygamy. and,
in fact. do prevent its enforcement Polygamy
will not be abolished If the enforcement OF the
/ law depends on those who practice and uphold
\ the crime. 1t can only be suppressed by taking
away The political power OF the sect which en-
10 enact suitable laws 10 protect the Territories Is
ample. IL is not case for halfway measures.
The political power of the Mormon sect Is increaS
/ ing: it controls now one of our wealthiest and
/ most pOpulOus Territories. IL Is extending
steadily Into other Territories. Wherever IL goes
]
cal power The sanctity OF marrihee and the
family relation are the cornerstone of our AmeTi
can society and civilization. Religious liberty and
/ the separation OF Church and State are among the
elementary ideas of free institutions. To re
establish the interests and principles which
/ pOlygamy and MormOnism have imperiled, and
1 to fully reopen To intelligent and virtuous immi
grants of all creeds that part of domain which
has been. in a great degree, closed TO general i'm
migration by intOlerant and immoral institutions
il is recommended that the Government of the
| Territory OF Utah be reorganized.
! recommend that Congress provide for the gov
I eminent OF Utah bya Governor and judges, ol
Commissioners. appointed by the President and
/ gous to the provisional government established
! for the territory northwest OF the Ohio, by the
I ordinance of17S7. If, however. il is deemed bes
To continue the existing form of local govern
ment, recommend that the right TO vote hold
office, and sit on juries in the Territory of Utah
be confined to those who neither practice nor up
hold pOlygamy. II thorough measures art
adopted IL is believed that within a few year
the evils which now afflict Utah will be eradi
Gated and that this Territory Will in good time
become one of the most prosperous and attractive
of the new States of the Onion.
Our relations with all foreign countries have beer
those of undisturbed peace, and have presented
no occasion for concern as 10 their continued
Ny antIcipation of an early reply from th'
British Government to the demand of indemnit,
TO our fishermen for the injuries suffered by tina
industry at Fortune Bay, in January. 1873, whici
appointed. This answer was received Oh y In tn
latter part OF April in the present year. and
when received, exhibited failure of accord be
tween the two Governments, as 10 the measure o
I'm the shOre-fishing privilege secured to ou
fishermen by the Treaty of Washington, O
so serious a character that 1 made It tn
subject of a communication TO Congress, II
which recommended the adoption Of the meas