Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-12-16


The most serious obstacle, however, to
an improvement of the civil service, and
especially to reform in the method OF
appointment and removal, has been found
to be the practice, under what is known
as the spoils system, by which the sp-
pointing power has been so largely en-
crosched upon by members OF Congress.
The first step in the reform OF the civil
service must be complete divorce be.
tween Congress and the Executive In the
ms tter of appointments. The cOrrupting
doctrine that "to the victors belong the
spois" is inseparsble from Congressional
patronage as the established rule and prac,
tice of parties in power. II comes to be
understood by applicants for Office, and
by ttfe people generally, that Representa-
tives and Senators are entitled to disburse
the patronage OF their respective districts
and States. II is not necessary to reCite
at length the evils resulting from this in
vasion Of the Executive functions. The
true principles OF government on the sub
ject OF appointments 10 office, as stated in
the National Conventions OF the leading
parties Of the country, have again and
again been approved by the American
people, and have not been called III ques.
ton in any quarter. These authentic ex.
pressions OF public opinion upon this all
important subject, are the statement OF
principles that belong to the constitutional
structure OF the government.
"UnGer the constitution, the President
and heads Of departments are to make
nominations FOR office. The Senate is to
advise aud consent to appointments, and
tue House OF Representatives is to accuse
and prosecute faiihless officers. Tue best
interest 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 Depart.
meut of the Government is required, alike
by the necessities of the case and by pub
tic opinion. Mem bers OF Congress will
not b. relieved from the demands N ade
upon them with reference TO appoint
ments 10 off e until, by legislative enact.
ment, the pernlciOus practice IS condemn
ed ana forbidden.
It is therefore recommended that sn
act BE- passed dcfining the relations OF
mem bers of Congress with respect to ap,
oointment to Off e by the President, and
| also recommend that the provisions OF
section 1867, and of the sections follow,
ing of the Revised Statutes, mprising
the tenure-ot-oifice act, Of March 2, 1867
be repealed.
Believing that TO reform the system and
methods of the civil service in our coun
try Is one of the highest aud most impers,
tive duties of craftsmanship, and that II
can be permanently done only by the CO.
operation OF the Legislative AMI Execu-
tive De artments OF the Government,
again commend the whole subject TO your
considerable attention.
Ii is tue recognized duty and purpose
of the people of the United States to sup
press polygamy where it now exists IN
our Territories, and TO prevent its exten.
sion. Faithful and Jealous efforts have
been made by the United States author.
ltes In Uiah to enforce the laws against
it Experience has shown that the legis.
la.ion upon this subject, to be effective
requires extensive modification anu
amendment. The longer action is delay
cd, the more difficult will it be to accomp.
lish what is desired. Prompt and decided
measures are necessary. The Mormon
sectarlan organization which upholds
polygamy has the whole power Of making
and executing the loca legislation of the
Territory. By its control OF the grand
sDd petit juries, II possesses large In
hueBce over the administration OF
justice. Exercising as the heads OF
this sect do, the local political power OF
the Territory, they are able to make
effective their hostility TO the law OF Con
gress en- the subj ect Of polygamy, aud, in
fact, do prevent It's enforcement. Polyg-
amy will not be abolished if the enforce
ment 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 encour.
ages and sustains it. The power OF Con
gress to enact suitable laws to protect the
Territories is ample. 1t is not case Tor
halfway measures. The political power
of the Mormon sect is increasing; 1t con
trolls now one of our wealtniest aud most
populous Territories 1t is extending
steadily into other Territories. Wherever
it goes it establishes pGlYgsmy and sec
tartan political power. The sanctlty OF
marriage aud the family relation are The
corner stone of our American society and
civilization. Religious liberty and the
separation of church and State are among
the elementary ideas of tree institutions
TO re.establish the interests and princi
pies which polygsmy and Mormonism
nave imperilled, and to fully reopen tc
intelligent and virtuous immigrants OF all
creeds that part OF our domain which mas
been, in great degree, closed to genera
Immigration by tntolersnt and fmmora
Institutions, it Is recommends thst the
government of the Territory Of Utah bt
reorgau zed.
recommend that Congress provide iol
tho ,,yarn,oept of Utah nv Governor