St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-12-16

l Ol uiSCuSSlOH III Uile NdLlQudl
plans which in the main were modelled upon
| the system which obtains in Great Britain,
| but which lacked certain of the prominent
features Whereby that system is distin-
| guished, felt bound to intimate my doubts
! whether they or any of them would afford
| adequate remedy for the evils which they
aimed to correct. declared nevertheless
that if the proposed measures should prove
acceptable to Congress they would receive
the unhesitating support of the Executive.
since the suggestions were submitted for
your consideration there has been no legis.
lation upon the subject to which they relate.
But there has meanwhile been an in
crease in the public interest on
that subject. and the people
q the country. apparently without
distinction OF party, have in various ways and
upon frequent occasions given expression to
their earnest wish for prompt and definite &C.
ton. In my Judgment snch action should no
longer be postponed. / may add that my
own sense of its pressing importance has
been quickened by observation, in practical
more than once been called by my predeces
sOrS The civil list now comprises about l00,-
0oonersons, the larger part of whom must,
under the terms of the Constitution, be Sc
lected by the President, either directly or
through his own appointees.
In the early years of the administration OF
government the personal direction of APP
pOintments to the civil service may not have
been an irksome task for the Executive, but
now that the burden has increased fully
hundred fold it has become greater than he
DEAR, ana 1t necessarily Q1VeftS his
time and attention from the proper discharge
OF other duties no less responsible, and which
in the very nature Of things can not be dele
gated TO other hands: In the Judgment OF
not Jew who have given study and refiec-
ton to this matter the nation has outgrown
the provisions which the Constitution has es-
tablished for filing the minor offices in the
public service. 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 of the depart
ments. but to Senators and Representatives
In Congress, by discreet legislation. They
would be projected in great measure by the
Dill now pending before the Senate, or by any
features from the labor of examining conflict
ing claims and pretepsions of candidates.
trust that before the close of the pre- sent
session some decisive action. aybe taken
Tor the correction OF the evils Whlchtfe in the
present methods of appointment and assure
you of my hearty co operation in any meas
ures which are likely to conduct to that end.
of the official life OF the subordinate EN-
ployees of the Government, it seems
to be generally agreed that whatever
their extent or character the one
ashould! 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 to
at the head of this department or of that
bureau. ii they feel assured that the removal
OF one and the accession of another will not
involve the retirement of hon. st and faithful
snbord1nates, whose duties are purely ad-
ministrative, and have no legitimate connec-
ton with the triumph OF any political princl-
pies or the success of any political party or
faction. 1t is to this latter class of officers
that the Senate bill to which have already
referred exclusively applies. While neither
that bill nor any other prudent scheme tor
higher grade Of officials who are appointed
by the President and confirmed by the Senate,
feel bound to correct a prevailing misap-
nrehension as to the frequency with which
cnmbent OF an Office and appointed another
in his stead.
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE
It has been repeatedly alleged that he has
in this particular signally departed from the
course which has been pursued under recent
administrations of the government. The
facts are as follows: The whole number of
executive appointments during thefour years
Immediately preceding Mr. Garf1eld,s access
sion to the Presidency was 1896. OF this mum
Der 254 or nine per cent, involved the removal
of previous incnmbents. The rates of remov-
ais to the whole number of appointments was
much the same during each of these four
years In the first year, with 100 appoint
ments there were "a removals. or 9.3 per cent;
in the second. with 9l7 appointments, there
y remoys or s. Per cent in the third
ais. OF 10 per cent; in the fourth, with 429
appointments there were 81 removals,
or Sc per cent; in the four months
there were 800 appointments and SO removals.
or %. per cent. Precisely the same number of
SO, has taken place in the fourteen
months which have since elapsed, but they
constitute only Y per cent. of the whole num-
Der of appointments: TX within that period
and less than e of the entire list Of officials,
3 45s exclu sive Of the Army and Navy which
clare my approValof such legislation as may
be found necessary for supplementing the ex.
listing provision of law in relation to A ~
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
IN July last I authorized public announces.
ment that employees of the Government
should regard themselves as at liberty to ex-s
make political contributions, and that their
action in that regard would in no manner af.
[ect their official status. In this announce
mentI acted upon che view which Ihad al.
ways maintain and till maintain that apub-
tic OFF srssho n1 be as absolutely free assany \
other eftfzen to give or to withhold contrf- 4
button for the aid of the political party of his
doubtless not without foundation in fact, that
BY the solicitation of superiors and by other
NODES such contributions have at times been
obtained from persons whose only tives for
giving has been fear of what might befalIs
hem II they refused. 1t goes without saying
that such contributions are not voluntary!
Ind in my jud gme1lt their collection should
De prohibited by law.s bill which will efect.5
tally suppress them will receive my cordial
DISTRICT oFyC0LUMBIA.
Ihope that, however numerous and urgent |
nay be the demands upon your attention, the |
interests of this district will not be forgotten.
The denial to its residents of the great right |
VI suffrage in all it's relations to national
states and municipal action imposes on Con.
sress the duty of affordfng them the best adj
ninistration which its wisdom can devise. |
rhe report of the District Commissioners in
lfcate certain measures whose adoption |
would seem to be very. desirable. I instance |
n particular those which relate to arrears of |
axes to spare railroads and to assessments of |
cal property. A5a bsa s&
Among the questions which have been the
opic of recent debate In the balls of Congress, |
zone are of greater gravity than those relat-
ng to the ascertainment of
THE VOTE FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS
nd the intendment of the Constitution in |
he provisions for devolving executive func-
ions upon the Vice-President when the |
suffnra from, in hilitv To d;snharra |