The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-12-10

the time and attention of appointing
officers, TO their great detrment in
tho discharge of other official duties, prevent
ing the abuse Of the service Ton the mere fur
therance OF private or party purposes, and leav-
ing the employee of the Government, reed from
the obligations imposed by patronage, to de-
pend solely upon merit for retention and adj
vancement and with this constant incentive TO
'xertion and improvement
These invaluable results have been attained
in high degree in the Offices where the rules
FOR appointment by competitive examination
have been applied.
method which has so approved itself by
experimental tests Mt points where such tests
may be fairly considered conclusive should be
extended to all subordinate positions under the
Government. believe that strong and grow
ing public sentiment demands immediate meas
ures for securing and enforcing the highest
pos.iIie efficiency in the civil service, and its
protection from recognized abuses, and that
the experience referred to has demonstrated
the feasibility of such measures.
The examinations in tho Custom Houses and
Postoffices have been held under many embar-
easements, and without prov sion for compen-
sation for the extra labor performed by the Of
hcers who have conducted them, and whose
commendable interest in the improvement OF
the public service has induced this devotion Of
time and labor without pecuniary reward. A
continuance OF these labors gratuitously ought
not 10 De expected, ana WITHOUT an hpprODrld-
ton by Congress for compensation ii Is not
practicable to extend the system of
examinations generally throughout the
civil service. It IL also highly
important that all such examinations
should be conducted upon a uniform system
and under general supervision. Section /. 1853
of the Revised Statutes authorizes the Presi-
dent TO prescribe the regulations for admission
to the civil service of the United States, aud for
this purpose to employ able persons TO con-
duct the requisite inquiries with reference to
''the fitness of each candidate, in respect to
age, health, char cter, knowledge. and ability,
| for the branch Of service into which he seeks
to enter y but the law is practically inoper-
alive for the want of the requisite appropria-
ton.
therefore recommend an appropriation Of
| S25, 900 per 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-
tons, and to supervise the application of the
same throughout the entire civil service OF the
Government. / am pursuaded that the fncili-
| ties which such n commission will afford
for testing the fitness of those WHO apply
! for Office will not only be as welcome
relief to members of Congress as
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 conf citing
| claims of patronage between the Legislative
| and Executive departments. The most effect
| nal check upon the perfncious competition OF
influence and official favoritism i'll the best WA
of Office will be the substitution of an open
| competition OF merit between the applicants
| i'm 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 officer as free any other either
to express his political OF inions and to use his
means for their advancement, shall also enable
him to feel as safe IA any private either
In refusing all demands upon his salary FOL
political purposes. law which should thu
J guarantee true liberty and Justice to all wht
are engaged in the public service and likewise
contain stringent provisions against t.-e use Of
Official authority to coerce the pOLt Cal Sclon 81
| private citizens of official subordinates, l.
greatly to be desired.
The most serious obstacle, however, to al
improvement of the civil service, and especial
~ to reform in the method Of appointmon
and removal, has been found to be the prac
tice, under what ia known AZ the spoils system
| by which the appointing power has been ~
largely encroached upon by members of Con
gress. The first step in the reform OF the
civil service must be a complete divorc'
etween Congress and the Executive il
the matter of appointments. The cor
rupting doctrine that Ito the vctors helons
the spoils" Is inseparable from Congress
sional patronage as the established rule and
practice of parties in power. 1t comes 10 b,
understood by applicants for Office, and by
the people generally, that Representative
and majors are entitled to disburse the
patronage of their respective districts ant
States. 1t is not necessary TO recite at length
the evils resulting from this INVASION of thu
Executive functions. The true prncip'es o.
gov rnment oil the subject of appointnIcl IL e
Off @. Az stated in the National Conventions Of
the leading parties Of the country, have again
and again been approved by the American PEG
| pie and have not Deen called in question II
any qlarter. These authentic expressions OF
puohc opinion upon this all-important subject
are the statement OF principles that belong
TO the constitutional structure of the Govern
melIt.
"Under the constitution the President an(
heads of departments are to make nomination.
or Office. The Senate is TO advise and consen
to appointment =, and the House of Represen
tatiSes Is to accuse and prosecute faithlcss Off
GERS. The best interest OF the public seryic,
demands that these distinctions be respected
that Senators and Representatives, WHIT
may be judges and accusers, shoulS
not dictate appointments to of
Tee. To this end the coo eration OF thu
Legislative Department of the Government il
required, ali,e by the necessities of the cas-,
and Ly public opinion. Memb rs Of Congress
viii not he lie loved from the dema nds mad,
upOn them with reference to appointments Il
Office until, by legislative enactment, the per
nicious practice is condemned and forbidden
IL IL therefore recommended that an act b,
nassod defining the relations of members o.
Congress with reference to appointments to of
tice by the Pr, sident, and / also recommend
that the provisions of section 1,767, and Of In,
sections following, of the Revised Statutes
comprising the Tenure-of Office act, of Marcel
3, 1867, be repealed.
Believing That to reform the system an(
methods Of the civil service in our countro IL
one Of the highest and most imperative dut,e
of statcsmanship and that it can be per
manently done only by the CO operation OF Tin,
Legislative and Executive Departments of til,
Government, l again commend the whole sub
iect to your considerate attention.
1t is the recognized duty and purpose Of The
people of the United States to suppress
polvgamv where it now exists in or Terri
tories, and to prevent its extension. Faith
full and jealous efforts have been made ",
the United st I authorities in Utah TO en-
force the laws against il. Experience hut
shown that the legislation upon this subject
to be effective requires extensive mo iiiica
ton and amendment. The longer action
is delayed, the more difficult it will be 10 nc
complish what IL desired. Prompt and dc
cided measures are necessary. The Mormon
sectarian organic tion which holds poygam,