National Republican., 1882-12-05

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long delayed unless better methods than now
prevail shall be adopted for their protection and
cultivation Ihe aitemlion Of Congress is invited
| the preservation of the valuable forests still re-
naming on the public domain, especially in the
! extreme Western States aud Territories where
the necessity for their preservation is greater than
| In less mountuin1us regions aud where the pre-
| vnillng dryness OF the climate renders their res
toriu0n, IL they are once destroyed, well nigh
Civil Service.
The communication which 1 made to Congress
at its first session, in December last, contained
| somew hat iull statement of my sentiments in re-
lation TO The principles ana rules which ought to
govern appointments to the public sevlce.
Referring u The various plans which had there
ioiofe been the subject of discussion in the Ma
tionai Legislature tplnns which in the main were
| moaeled upon The system which obtains in Great
Brltain, but which lacked certain of the promi-
guished), 1 felt bound to intimate my doubts
! whether they or any of them, would afford ade-
| correct.
l declared, nevertheless that If the proposed
measures should prove acceptable to Congress-
| lney would receive the unhesiatng support OF
| the Executive.
Since these suggestions were submitted for your
consideration there has been no legislation upon
| the subject to which they relate, but there has
| meanwhile been an increase in tue public inter-
| est in that subject, and the people of the county
| apparently Without distinction OF parry have in
various ways, and upon frequent occasions,
given expire sion to their earnest wish for prompt
| and definite action. In my judgment, such action
shuuld no longer be postponed.
PRESSURE UPON PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.
| may add that my own sense Of It's pressing i'm
portanCo has been quckened by observation of q
practical phase OF the matter, to which attention
has more than once been called by my prede-
| cessors.
The civil list now comprises about 100000 per-
sons, far the larger part of Mlpm must, under the
terms of the Constitution be selected by the Presi
dent either directly or through his own ap-
| pointees.
In the early years of the administration OF tho
| government tue PERSONAL direction of ap-
| 10 ntluCnts to the civil service
| have been an irksome task r the Executive;
| but now that the burden has increased iully
hundred fold, It has become greater than he ought
to bear and 1t necessarily diyerts his time and at
tention from the proper discharge OF other dutea
no less delicate aud responsible, and which, in
! the very nature of things, cannot be delegated TO
In In the % Judgment of not a few who have given
study and reflection to this matter the Nation has
outgrown the provisions which the Constitution
has established ior filling the minor offices in the
| public service.
BILL NOW ON SENATE CALENDAR CALCULATED 10
REMEDY THE EVILS.
But whatever may be thought of the wisdom or
eXpediency of changing the fundamental law in
this regard it is certain that much relief may be
Afforded not only TO the President and TO the
| heads oi the departments. but TO senators and
Representatives in Congress, by discreet legisla-
| ton. They would be protected IN great measure
| by the bill now pending before the senate, or by
| any other which should embody its important
features, from the pressure OF personal importun-
Ivy and from the labor OF examining conflicting
| claims and pretensioIs of candidates
| ASSURANCE OF co. OPERATION.
l trust that before the close of the present ses-
sion some decisive action may be taken for the
correction of the evils which nhere In the present
methods of appointment aud assure you of my
| hearty cooperation in any measures which are
likely to conduce to that end.
TENURE.
As to the most appropriate term and tenure OF
the official life Of the subordinate employees of the
| government it seems TO be generally agreed that
whatever their extent or Character the one should
| be definite and the other stable and that neither
should be regulated by zeal III The service OF party
or fidelity to the fortunes of an individual
| PENDLEToN BILL.
IL matters little to the people at large what COM
peteut person is ut the head of this department. or
Of that bureau, If they feel assured tbat the re.
moyal OF and the accession of another Will not
involve the r. ltrement of honest and faithful sub
| ordna,es, whose duties are purely administra-
tive and have no legitimate connection with le tne
triumph of any political principles or the success
ofuny political party or faction. 1t Is to this lat.
ter class of officers that the Senate BILL to which
| have already referred, exclusively applies.
NO DEPARTURE FROM OLD METHODS
While neither that bill nor any other prominent
! scheme for improving the eiyil service concerns
ne Y hn hsPSr s and Confirmed by the Senate
l feel bound TO correct prevalent misapprenension
as to the frequency w1n which the present NJ Exsc Co
and appointed another i'll his stead.
1t has been repeatedly alleged that he has In
this particular sgnaily departed from the course
which has been pursued under recent admnistra-
tons of the government. The facts are US ioliows:
HAYEs's APPOINTMENTS AND REMOVALS
| during the four years Immediately proceeding Mr..
Garfeld's accession to the Presidency was 2o9e;
OF this number IA, or Per CENT involved the
The ratio Of removals to the whole number of
appointments was much the same during each OF
those four years.
In the first year, with 700 appointments, there
were "a removals, or 9.3 per cent; in the second,
with 9l7 appointments, there were 50 removals, or
IS per cent in the third with 4s0 appointments,
| there were As removals, or 10 per cent; in the
fourth, with 429 appointments, there " removals,
| or Sc per cent.
In the four months of President Garfeld's ad.
minis ration thore were 800 appointments and "
| removals, or 22,7 per cent.
ARrHUR's.
Precisely the same number of removals 1897 has
| taken place in the fourteen months winch nave
cent. cent Of tie Whole number OF appointments ,ils)
within that period, and less than 26 OF the entire
list of officials exeiuSlve 81 .he army 9na
| Navy, which Is hilea py fresiuehtai appoins-
| ment.
declare my approval of such legislation as may
he found necessary for supplementing the existing
provisions of law in relation TO political assess
ments. -.
that employees of the government should regard
themselves as al liberty to exercise their pleasure
in making or refusing 10 make political contribu:
lions and thai their action in that re gard would
in no manner affect their political status,
In this announcement acted upon the view
which I had always maintained and still main
tain, that public officer should be as absolutely
free as any other citizen TO give or 70 Wlthhold a
contribution for the aid OF the political party OF
doubtless not without foundation in fact, that by
solicitation of official superiors, and by other
modes such contributions have at times been ob-
tanned from persons whose only motive lot giving
has been the fear of what might befall them II
they refused 1t goes without saying That such
contributions are not voluntary and IN my ludg-
ment their collection should be prohibited by law;
bill which will ehectually suppress them VIII
receive my cordial approval
District OF Columbia.
hope that however numerous and urgent may
be the demands upon your attenuon, tne inter
esls of this District will not be forgotten.
NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT AND WHY THEY SHOULD
BE SUPPLIED
The denial to its residents of the great right of
suffrage in all its relation TO national, stale, and
municipal action imposes upon Congress the duty
OF afUrding them the best administration winch
It's wisdom can advise. :,
The re port of the District Commissioners indi-
Gates certain measures whose adoption would seem
to be very desirable Instance in particular h se
which relate to arrears of lRNes TO steam RAILROADS.
and to assessments Of real property.
AsCERTAINMRNT OF VOTE AND QUESTION OF PREsI-
DENTAL INABlLIrY,
Among the questions which have been the
topic OF recent debate in the halls of Congress
none of greater gravity than those relating TO
the ascenanment OF the vote for Presidential
electors aud the intendment of the Constitution In
its provisions for devolviug executive functions
upon the Vice. President when the President
suffers from inability 10 discharge the powers and
duties OF his office.
trust that no embarrassmenls may result hom
failure determine these questions before another
national election.
YEAR FILLED WITH BLESSINGS.
The closing year has been replete with blessings