Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-05

NAlOA tuSe Acldtc. bul lUefe mas meanwhile
been an increase in the public interest in thai
subject, and the people of the country appar-
emily, without distinction of party. have In va
rlous ways and upon frequent occasions given
expression to their earnest wish for prompt and
dennlte action. In my judgment such action
should no longer be postponed. | NAV add
that my own sense of its pressing importance
has been quickened by observation of a prae-
teal phase of the matter to which attention
mas more than once been called by my prede-
cessor. The civil list now comprises about
one hundred thousand persons, the larger part
OF whom must, under the terms of the Consti
tuition, be selected by the President. either di
rectly or through his own appointees. In the
early years of the administration of
the government the personal direction
OF appointments to the civil service
may not have been an irksome task
Tor the Executive, but now that
the burden has increased fully hundredfold
1t has become greater than he ought to bear.
and i necessarily diyerts his time and atten-
ton from the proper discharge of other duties
no less delicate and responsible. and which in
the very nature of things cannot be delegated
to other hands. In the judgment of not a few
who have given study and reflection 10 this
matter, the nation has OutgrOWn the prOvis-
ions which the Constitution has established
for filling the minor offices in the public SER
vice. But whatever may be thought of the
wisdom and eXpediency of changing the fun
damental law i'll this regard, it is certain that
much relief may be afforded not only
to the President and 10 the
heads Of The departments, but to
senators and Representatives in Congress BY
discreet legislation. They would be protected
in a great measure by the bill now pending
before tbs senate OF by anv ather, which
should embody Its important features, from
the pressure of personal importantly and from
the labor OF examining the conflicting claims
and pretensions of candidates. | trust that
before the close OF the present session some de-
cisive action may be taken for the correction
OF the evils which inhere in the present
methpdse OF appointments, ana assure you of
my hearty cooperation in any measures
which are likely 10 conduce to that end. 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 in the service of party or
fidelity to the fortunes of an individual. 1t
matters little tG the peaple at large what
competent person is at the head of this de-
partment or of that bureau, if they feel as
sured thOt the removal of one and the acces-
sion of another will not involve the retire
ment of honest and faithful subOrdinates,
whose duties are purely administrative, and
have no legitimate connection with the tri-
umph Of any political principles or 4he success
of any political party or faction. 1t is to this
latter class of officers that the Senate bill
which ! have already referred exclusively
applies, while neither that bill nor any
other prominent scheme for improving the
civil service concerns the higher grade of Off
cials, who are appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate.
PLEA FOR HIMSELF.
| feel bound to correct a prevalent misap-
pfehenslOn as to the frequency with which the
present Executive has displaced the incumbent
or an once and appointed another in his stead.
IL mas been repeatedly alleged that he has in
tins particular signally departed from the
course which has been pursued under recent
administrations of the government The
facts are as follows: The whole
number 9f executive appointments
curing the four years immediately preceding
Mr.. Gartieldis accession to the Presidency was
2,696. OF this number, pa, or per cent, in
yOlVed the removal of previous incumbents.
The ratio OF removals to the whole number of
appointments was much the same during each
OF these four years. In the first year, with 100
appointments, there were "A removals, or 93
per cent: In the second, with 8l7 appoint
ments, there We're IS removals, or S.5 per
cent, In the third, with 4S0 appoint
ments, there were As removals, or 10
per cent. In the fourth, with 429 appoint
ments, there were 81 removals, or Sc
per cent. In the four months of President
p0lntmenta ana 50 removals, or 22.7 per cent.
Precisely the same number of removals (S9per
cent? has taken place in the fourteen months
Whlch nave since elapsed, but they constitute
only t,s pei cent. Of the whole number of
appointments Q,llS) within that period and
less than 26 per cent. of the entire list of Off
cials (3459, exclusive of the army and navy).
which Is filled by Presidential appointment.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
l declare my approval Of such legislation as
the existing provisions of the law in relation
to political assessments. In July last | au-
thorlzed q public annQuncement that en-
ployes of the government should regard them
selves az at liberty to exercise their
pleasure in making or refusing to make
political contributions, and that their action
in that regard would in no manner affect their
official status. In this announcement [ acted
upon the view which had always maintain
ed, and still maintain, that a public officer
should be as absolutely free as any other citi-
zen to give or withhold a contribution for the
ald OF the political paEty Of his choice 1t
has, however, been urged, and doubt
less not without foundation. in fact,
That by solicitation of official
superlors and by other modes such cOntribu-
tions have at times been obtained from per-
sons whose only motive for giving them has
been the fear of what might befall them if
they refused. 1t goes without saying, that such
eontrlbutlons are not voluntary, and, in my
Judgment, their collection should be prohib-
tied by law. A bill which will eflectually sup
press them viii receive my cordial approval
THE DISTRICTS NEEDS.
hope that, however numerous and urgent
may be the demands upon Your attention the
interest of this District will not be forgotten.
The denial to its residents of the great right
of suffrage in all its relation to nation
al, State and municipal action imposes unon
Congress the duty of aflOrding them the best
which its wisdom can devise
The report of the District Commissioners in
hcates certain measures, whose adoption
would seeM to he very desirable / in
stance in particular those which relate to
arrears OF taxes, to steam railroads and to as
'essment of real property.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
Among the questions which have been the
topic of recent debate in the halls of Congress
none are of greater gravity than those relat-
ng to the ascertainment of the vote for Presi-
tential Electors and the intendment of the
Constitution IN its provisions for devOlving
5he executive functions upon the Vice Presi-
lent when the President suffers from ina
Dllity to discharge the powers and the duties
nay result from failure to determine these
questions before another national election
CONCLUSION.
The closing year has been replete with bless
ngs, for which we owe to the Giver of All
IoOd our reyerent Acknowledgement for
he uninterrupted harmony of our foreign re-
atiOns, for the decay of sectional animosities
or the eNuberance of our harvest and the
of our mining and manufacturing
ndqstrles, f4r tlG prevalence Or health. the
pread al Intelligence and the conservation of
he public credit, for the growth of the coun-
ry In all the elements of national greatness
or these and bOundless other blessings we
hould rejoice and be glad. / trust that nnder
he inspiration of this great prosperity our
may be harmonious, aud that the
lictates of prudence, patriotism, justice and
n which the Congress and the Executive NAV
heartily unite.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
December 4, 1857 -'--