The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-12-07
THE CIVIL SERVICE.

WHAT SHOULD DE DONE
A communication which made to congress-
in It's FIRST session, III December last contains
d. somewhat full statement o: 1,;y sctt'l,::'', II!
relation to the principles AMI rules wi!i"E
ought to govern appointments To public hc:v-
ice Referring 10 the various plans which
heretofore had been subjected to dis
cuesion in the national legsla-
tures-plans which, in the main. are
modelled upon the system which obtains in
Great Britain, but which lacked certain OF the
prominent features whereby that system ls
dstinguished-I felt bound +, Intimate my
doubts whether any OF them would at
ford adequate remedy for the evils which
they aimed to eradicate declared. neverthe-
less, that il these proposed measures should
prove acceptable to congress they would re-
ceive the support of the executive. Since the
suggestions wore submitted for your considers
ton there has been legislation upon
the subject to which they relate, but
there has, meantime, been an increase
in the public talk on that subject
without distinction OF purity, have in various
ways and upon frequent occasi1Is given ex-
preston to their earnest wish for prompt and
definite action. In my judgment, such action
should no longer be postponed. might add
that my own sense of its pressing Importance
teal phase OF tho matter to wheph attention
has been more than once called by my predc-
cessor The civil list now comprises about
loo, 900 parsons, far the larger pa<A or whom
be selected by the rresidenF,> either
directly or through his own appA1ntees.
In the early years OF the administratlonNof the
government, the personal direction OF appoint
ments in the civil service may not have,been
IN irksome task for tho executive; but pow.
that the burden has increased fully hundHe,f
fold. it has became greater than he ought 10
bear, and it necessarily diverts his time and
attention from the proper discharge OF otaer
duties no less delicate and responsible, and
which, in the very nature Of thugs, cannot We
delegated to other hauds. IN the judgment df
not . few who have given study and ret1oct1oa
to this matter, the nation has out
grown the provisions which the constitution
esta blished for filling tho minor Offices in the
public service. But whatever may BIZ thought
Of the wisdom or expediency OF changing Tue
fundamental law in this regard, 1t ls certain
that much relief may be afforded not only to
the president and to the heads Of the depart
ments, but to senators and representatives. IN
congress, by discreet legislation. They would
be protected in ; great measure ov the OH
now pending before the senate or by any other
which should embody its important features
from the
PRESSURE OF PERSONAL OPPORTUNITY u
and from the labor Of examining conflicting
claims and pretension Of candidates i trust
that before tho close of the present session
some decisive action may be taken for the cor.
reotion Of evils which iuhere in the present
methods Of appointment and I assure you OF
| my hearty cooperation in any measures which
| are likely to oonduoe to that end. As TO the
J most appropriate term and tenor Of the official
| life Of the subordinate employees OF the govern.
mont, it seems to be generally agreed thai
whatever their extent or character the one
should be definite and the other stable and tina
neither should be regulated by zes
in ~ sezvioe a9 party OK adsil