Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-12-05


foreign country the subject is OF national concern,
and Congress alone can afford relief.
PoLYGAMY.
The results which have thus far attended the en-
forcement of the recent statute for the suppression
OF polygamy in the Territories reported by the
Secretary Of the Interior. 1t is not probable that
any additional legislation in this regard will be
deemed desirable until the effect of the ex-
listing laws shall be more closely observed and
studied. / congratulate the Commissioners,
under whose supervision those laws have been put
in operation and encouraged 10 believe that the
evil at which they aimed may be suppressed
without resort to such radical measures in some
quarters have been thought indispensable for sue
cess.
THE TERRITORIES.
The close relation OF she General Government to
the Territories preparing to be great States may
well engage your special attention. 1t is there that
the Indian disturbances occur, and that pclygamy
has found room for its growth. cannot doubt that
careful survey OF the Territorial question would
be OF the highest utility to make life and property
more secure The liability of outbreaks between
the indians and whites would be lesSened, the pub
lie domain would be more securely guarded, and
better progrcss be made in the instruction OF the
Young Alaska is still without any form OF civil
government, Ii means were provided ior the edu-
cation Of its people and for the protection Of their
lives and property, the immense resources OF that
region would invite permanent settlements and open
new fields for Industry and enterprise.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The communication which made to Congress at
its first session in December last contains full
statement Of my sentiments in relation to the
principles and rules which ough. to govern appoint
ments to the public service. Referring to the
various plans which heretofore have been the subject
of discussion in the national Legislature, 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 sys
TEN is distinguished, | felt bound to intimate
whether they or any of them would afford adequate
remedy for the evils which they aimed to correct
Idecared nevertheless that the proposed measures
should prove acceptable to Congress they would re-
ceivethe uphesitating Of the Executive Since
the suggestions were submitted for your c0nsidera-
ton there has been legislation upon the subject
to which they relate but there has meanwh ie been
increase in public interest on that subject, and
the people OF the country, apparently without dis
tinction Of party, have in various ways and upon
frequent given expressions 10 their earnest
wish for PROMPT and definite action. In my jUdg-
ment such &C ion should no longer be postponed.
may add that my own sense OF its pressing import
ance has been quickened by observation in practical
phasa OF the matter, TO which attention has more
than once been called by my predecessors. The civil
list nov comprises about 100000 persons, far the
larger part of whom must, under the lines OF the
Constitution. be selected by the President, either
directly or through his own appolntees. 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 for the
Executive but now that the burden has increased
fully hundred fold IL has become greater than he
ought to bear. 1t necessarily divefts his time and
attention 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 few who have
given study and reflection to this matter the nation
has Outgrown the provisions which the Constitution
established for filing the minor offices in the public
service but whatever may be thought OF the wis.,
dom or expediency OF changing the fundamental
law in this regard, it is certain that much relief
ln prlT IN tba m
the heads of the departments, but to Senators and
Representatives in Congress- by discreet legislation
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 importantly,
and the labor Of examining the conflict
ing claims aud pretensohs OF candidates
trust that before the close OF the present
some decisive action maybe taken for the correction
of evils which inherit the present methods of ap-
pointment, and assure you of my hearty co-opera-
ton in any measures which likely to conduce to
that end AS they must define the 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 affairs OF
party or fidelity to the fortune of an individual. 1t
matters little to the people at large what competent
person is at the head of this department Of that
bureau If they feel assured the removal of one and
the accession of another viii not involve the retire
ment Of honest and faithful subordnates, whose
duties are purely administrative and have no legii-
mate connection with the triumph Of any political
principles or the success Of any political party or
faction. 1t is to this latter class OF officers that the
Senate bill, 10 which have already referred. exclu-
svely applies. While neither that bill nor
any other prominent scheme for improv-
ing the civil service concerns the higher
grade Of officials, Who appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed by the Senate, feel bound to
correct prevalent misapprehension to the fire.
queney with which the present Executive has dis
posed OF the incumbent OF an office and appointed
another in his stead. IL has been repeatedly alleged
that he has n this particular entirely departed from
the course which has been pursued under previous
administrations of the Government TIE facts are
as follows The whole number Of Executive ap-
pontments during the four years Immediately
preceding Mr.. Garfeld's administration was l,696.
OF this number, pa, nine per cent,
involved the removal Of previous incumbents
The rates of removals to the whole number of ap.
pOintments must be the same during each Of those
four years In the first year, with 100 appoint.
ments. there were "a removals, or 90 per cent. In
the second, with Az appointments, there were S.
removals, or s. per cent. In the third, with 4s0
appointments, there were 80 removals. or 10 per
cent. In the fourth with 420 appointments, there
80 removals, or Sc per cent In the four
months OF President Garfeld's administration there
were 800 appointments and 50 removals, or % per
cent, precisely the same number of removals as
have taken place in the fourteen months which have
since elapsed; but they constitute only seven
eghths per cent. of the whole number of appoint
nents, one and one-eightE within that period, and
less than two-sXtbs Of the entire list OF officials
3459l, exclusive of the army and navy, which are
hlled by Presidential appointment.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
declare my approval Of such legislation as may
be found necs ssary for supplanting the existing
provisions of the law in relation to political
nents. In July last authorized public announce.
ment that employees of the Government should re.
gard themselves as at liberty to exercise their
pleasure in contributing to helping to make political
campaigns, refusing to make contributions that
their action in that regard would in no manner
affect their official status. In this announcement
acted the view which / had always main-
tanned, and still maintain that public officers should
be absolutely free to give withhold a contribution
for the aid of the political party of hs choice 1t
has however, been urged, and doubtless not with
out foundation that by the solicitation of superors
and by other modes, such contributions have at
times been obtained from persons whose only motive
for giving was the fear of what might befll them il
they refused. 1t goes without saying that such
contributions not voluntary and in my judg.
ment their collection should be prohibited by law
bill which VIII effectually suppress them will
ceve my cordial approval.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
l 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 suffrage in its re-
iation to national, state and municipal action, i'm
poses on Congress the duty If sfordng the best ad-
ADMINISTRATION which its wisdom devise. The re-
port of the District Commissioners indicates certain
measures whose adoption would seem to he very de-
srable. ! instance in particular those which relate
10 arrears Of tax TO steam railroads. and the
sessment Of real property
TWO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
Among the questions which have been the topic
of recent debate in the halls of Congress- none are
of greater gravity than those relating to the ascer
tainment of the vote for the Presidential Electors
and the intendment OF the Constitution in its pro.
visions for devolving executive functions upon the
Vice President when the President suffers rem in
ability to discharge the powers and duties of his
office. trust that embarrassment may result
from g failure to determine these questions before
another National election.
CONCLUSION.
The closing year has been repiete with blessings
We owe to the Giver Of all Good our reverent az
knowleigment for the uninterrupted harmony of
foreign relations for the death of sectional ami
mosties; for the eNuberance OF our haryests and
the triuInphs Of our mining and manufacturing in.
terests; for the prevalence of health fer the spread
of intelligence and the conservation of the public
interest for the growth of the country in all ele-
ments of national greatness. For these and count.
less other blessings should rejoice and be glad
trust that under the Inspiration OF this great pros
psrity our counsels may be harmonious, and that
the dictates OF prudence, patriotism, justice and
economy may govern the adoption of measures in