The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-07

prominent features whereby that syS-
tenn is distinguished, l felt bound
to intimate my doubts whether
they or any of them would afford
adequate remedy for the evils
which they aimed to correct. declare
nevertheless that if the proposed meas
ures should prove acceptable to con-
gress they would receive the unhesi-
tating support of the executive. These
suggestions were submitted for your
consideration. There has been no
legislation upon the subject to which
they relate. but there has been an in
crease in the public interest on that
subject, and the people of the country,
apparently without distinction of
party, have in various ways and upon
frequent occasions given expression to
their earnest wishes. Prompt and
definite action, in my Judgment, should
no longer be postponed. may add
that my own sense of its import
ance has been shown by observa-
ton of the practical phase of the
matter to which attention has MOI 9
than once been called by my prede-
cessor. The civil list now comprises
about 100000 persons, far the larger
part of whom must, under the term of
the constitution, be selected by the
president either directly or through
his own appointees. In the early
years of the administration of the
| government the personal directions of
appointments of 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 much
greater than he ought to bear,
and it necessarily diverts his time and
attention from the proper discharge of
other duties, no less delicate and re-
sponsible, and which in the very ma
ture of things cannot be delegated to
other hands. In my judgment, of not
a few who have given study and re-
Election to this matter, the nation has
ontgrown the provisions which the
constitution has established for filling
the minor offices in the public service
but whatever may be thought of the
wisdom or expediency of chang
ing 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 departments, but to senators
and representatives i'll congress by
discreet legislation. They would be
protected in a great measure by the
bill now pending before the senate or
by any other which should embody
its important features, from the pres
sure of personal importantly and from
the labor of examining conflicting
claims and pretensions Of candidates.
l trust that before the close of the
present session some decisive action
may be taken for the correction of the
evils which is burden the present meth
DDS of an appointment, and assure
you of my hearty cooperation in any
measures which are likely to conduce
to that end. AS to the most appro-
pirate term and tenure of the official
life of the subordinate employ
es of the government, it
seems to be generally agreed that
whatever extent the one should be de-
finite and the other stable and that
neither should be regulated by zeal in
the service of party or fidelity to the
fortune by any individual. 1t matters
little to the people at large what COM
petent person is at the head of this
department or of that bureau, f
they feel assured that the removal of
one and the admission of another will
not involve the retirement of honest
and faithful subordinates whose du-
ties are purely administrative and
have no legitimate connection with
the triumph of any political princi-
pies or the success of any
political party or faction. 1t
is to this latter class of officers that
the Knott bill, to 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 officials who are appointed by the
president and confirmed by the senate.
SELF DEFENSE.
feel bound to correct a prevalent
misrepresentation as to the frequency
with which the present executive has
displaced the incumbent of an Office
and appointed another in his stead. 1t
has been repeatedly alleged that he
has in this particular signally departed
from the course which has been pur-
sued under the recent administra-
ton of the government. The facts
are as follows: The whole num-
Der of executive appointments
during the four years Immediately
preceding Mr.. Garfeld's accession to
the presidency was 1886 of this num-
Der 244, or nine per cent, included the
removal of previous incumbents. The
ratio of removals to the whole num-
Der of appointments was much the
same during each of these four years.
In the first year, with $40 ap-
pointments, there were seventy-four
removals, or 8 3-10 per cent in the
second year, 917 appointments, there
were eighty-fve removals, or 5-l0
per cent in the third year, with 430
appointments, there were forty-eight
removals, or ten per cent f; in the
fourth year, with 429 appointments,
there were thirty-seven removals, or
s 6-10 per cent. In the four months
of President Garield's administration
there were 800 appointments and
eighty-nine removals, or % 7-10 per
cent. Precisely the same number of
removals (eighty-nine) has taken place
in the fourteen months which have
since elapsed, but they constitute only
$40 per cent of the whole number of
appointments Q118) within that period,
and less than Clio of the entire
list of officials 2459, exclusive of the
army and navy, which is filled by pres
idential appointment.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
declare my approval of such legis-
lation as may be found necessary for
supplementing the existing provisions
of the law in relation to political as
sessments. In July last l authorized
public announcement that employees
of the government should regard
themselves as 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
on view which L had always main
tanned, and still maintain, that pub
lie officer should be as abso-
lutely free as any other citizen
to give or withhold contributions
for the aid of the political party of his
choice. 1t has, however, been urged,
and doubtless not without foundation
in fact, that by the solicitation of Of
fetal superiors and by other modes
such contributions have at times been
obtained from persons whose only mo-
tive for giving has been the fear of
what might befall them if they re-
fused. 1t goes to show, without say
ing SO, that such contributions are
not voluntary and in my judgment
should be prohibited by law. A bill
which will effectually suppress them
will receive my cordial approval.
TIE DISTRICT.
hope that however numerous and
urgent may be the demands upon your
attention the interests of this district
will not be forgotten. The denial to
its residents of the great right of suf-
frage in all its relations to national,