Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-06

a
tenn and under general supervision. Section
1853 Of the Revised Statutes authorizes the
President to prescribe the regulations for ad-
mission TO the civil service Of the United States
and Tor this purpose TO employ suitable persons
10 conduct the requisite inquiries with reference
10 tine fitness OF each candidate, in respect to
age. health. character, knowledge and ability,
Tor the branch OF service into which he seeks to
enter;n but the law is practically imperative
for want OF the requisite appropriation.
therefore recommend an appropriation OF
commission, to be appointed by the President
In accordance with the terms OF this section,
whose duty 1t shall be to devise a just, uniform,
and efficient system OF competitive examina-
tions, and to supervise the application OF the
same throughout the entire civil service OF the
government. am persuaded that the facilities
which such commission W II afford for testing
the fitness OF those who apply for Office will not
only be as welcome relief to mem berS of Con
gress as 1t Will be to the President and heads OF
departments, but that it will also greatly tend
to remove the causes OF embarrassment which
now inevitably and constantly attend the con-
illct1ng claims or patronage between the leglsla-
effectual check upon the pernicious comnefi.
tion OF influence and Official favoritism, in the
Oestowal OF Office will be the substitution OF an
open competition OF merit between the applj-
cantS, In which every one can make his own
record with the assurance that his Success will
depend upon this alone.
| also recommend such legislation as, while
leaving every oIflcer as free as any other citizen
TO express his political opinions and TO use his
means for their advancement, shall also enable
MN nun 10 leel as safe as any private citizen in
refusing all demands upon his salary for pOlitt-
cal purposes. 4 law which should thus guaran-
tee true liberty and Justice to all who are en-
gagged In the pubic service, and likewise con
tain Stringent provisions against the use OF
Official authority TO coerce the political action
OF private citizens or Of official subordiuates is
greatly to te desired.
The most serious obstacle however to an i'm
pr0yement OF the civil service and especially IN
reform IN The method OF appointment ana re
moYal, has been found TO be the practice. under
ts What Is known as the spolls system. by which
cToached upoa py members OF Congress. The
fSt step In the reform or the civil service must
De complete divorce between Congress and
Inc Executive In the matter or appointments.
Ine corrupting doctrine that "to the victors
belong the spoilsr Is inseparable from congress
slOna! patronage as the established rule and
understood by applicants for Office ana by the
people generally, that Representatives aud SEN
atoiS are entitled to discourse the patronage OF
their respective districts and states. II is n0t
necessary to recite at length the evils resIitinp
from this invasion OF The Executive functlons
The true principles OF government on the SUB.
national conventions OF the leading parties OF
The country, have again and again been an
proved by the American people, and have not
afnente Gaileo IN ,l9sSloh IN any quarter These
this all,important subject are the statement OF
principles that belong to the constitutional
II nder the constitution, the President and
heaCs Of departments are to make nomjnationS
1or once. The Senate is to advise and consent
to appointments, and the House OF Representa-
uveS Is TO accuse and prosecute faithleSs
officers. The best interest or the public service
demands tnat these distinctions be respected
that Senators and Representatives, who mA
De Judges and accusers. should not dictate ap-
polntments TO office TO this end the co-opera-
tion OF the legislative department OF the gov
ernment is required, alike by the necessities OF
IN hU rt,Hr min
Congress will not be relieved from'the demands
made upon them with reference to appoint
menls 10 olilce until, by legislative enactment,
hidden.
1t is therefore recommended that an act be
passed 0ehnlng the relations or members OF
Sobgres Ss IS Wild respect to appointment 10 ofi;e
Dy The I'TeSde ut, and also recommend that
The provisions OF section 1I61, and of the sec
tions following, OF the Revised Statutes com
pilsing the tenure-of' Office act, OF March2, 1857,
be repealed.
Believing that 70 reform the system and
methods OF the civil service in our country l.
one OF the highest and most imperative duties
OF craftsmanship, and that it can be perma-
Dently Gone only by the cooperation OF The
legislative aLd Executive Departments CT the
Government, l again commend the whole sio-
Ject 10 YOUR ccnSldeTdte attention,
Ii IS the recognized duty and purposp of the
Ieople or the United States TO suppress p1ly.c
amy where 1t now exists in our territories, a1J,
TO prevent It's extension. Faithful ana ZaaIons
efortS have Deen made by the United States an,
thorities In Titan to enforce the laws against #.
Experience has shown that the legislation upon
this subject, to be effective, requires extensive
modification and amendment. The longer
action Is delayed, the more difficult t viii be to
accomplish what Is desired. Prompt and
decided measures are necessary The Mormon
sectaTian organization which upholds polygany
has the whole power or making and executing
the local legislation OF the territory. By its con,
troi or the grand and petit iurieS 1t POSSESSES
large Influence over the administration Of jas
iee. Exercising, as the heads OF this sect do. the
local political power Of the territory, they are
able TO make effective their hostility ia the law
OF Congress OIL the subject OF polygany, ana
IN 1act, do prevent its enforcement. PoIygamy
VIII not be abolished If The enforcement OF the
law depends On those who practice and uphold
the crime. II can only be suppressed by taking
away the political power OF the sect which en-,
couTages and sustains 1t. The power OF Con
gTess TO enact table laws to protect the terri
measures. The political power OF the Mormon
sect Is increasing; 1t controls now one OF our
Wcathiest aid most populous territories. L is
extending steadily into other territories.
Wherever IL goes il establishes rolygany ana
sectarian political power. The Sanctity OF
marriage and the family relation are the corner
stone Oh our American society and civilization
kellgiouS liberty and the separation OF church
and state are among the elementary Ideas OF
free institutions. TO re-establish the Interests
ana principles which polygamy and Mormonism
have imperilIcd, and TO fully reopen to lnteIu-
gent aud VirtuouS immigrants OF all creeds that
part or ou" domain which has been In q great
utgitt clooeu 10 general immigration by fntOln-
rant and Immoral institutions It is recon-
melded that the government OF the territory OF
Utah b6 ~eOTganiZed.
recommend that Congress provide for thf.
government or Utah by governor aud Judges
or commissioners appointed 10y the President
and confirmed by the Senate-a government
analogous 10 the provisional government esfab-
,lshtd LOT the territory northwest OF the Ohio,
py lhe ordnance o. l7eI. II, however, II is
deemed best TO continue the existing form OF
local government. recommend that the right
10 vote, hold 01lice, and sit on jurles In The
leIlitofy or | tan. De conhDed 10 those who
neither practice nor uphold polygamy. Ii
tnoIougl measures are adopted. ii is believed
inat WITHIN lew years the evils which noT
alllct | TAN Will be eradcated and that this
territory Will in good time become one OF tie
most prosperous and attractive OF the new
states OF the Union.
our relations with all foreign countries have
oeen those or undlsturbed peace, and have pre-.
seDted no occasion for concern as to their con
tlnued maintenance.
MY anticipation OF an early reply from the
BRUSH government TO the demand or indemnity
10 cur llShefmen for the injuries suffered bf
lhat INDUSTRY at Fortune Bay, In January. ISIS.
winch expressed In my last annual MESSAGE
was disappointed. This answer was received
Oily III the latter part OF April in the present
year, anu, "hen received, exhibited failure O;
aSloIu oetWeen tne TWO governments, as to the
measure OF The lnshOre-tishing privilege secured
10 our lSncfmeH by the Treaty OF Washington.
OF so serious character that I made if thc
r,tSnty