Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-08

pressure Of personal importantly aud from
the labor Of examining the conflicting claims
and pretentions Of candidates. trust that
before The close Of the present session some
decisive action may be taken for the correc-
ton Of the evils which inhere in the present
methods OF appointment and | assure you
| OF my hearty cooperation in any measures
which are likely 10 condnce 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 chr
actcr, the one should he definite and the other
stable, and that neither should lc regulated
by zeal in the service Of party or cnmity 10
the fortunes Of an individual. 1t matters
little to the people at large what competent
person is at the head Of this department or OF
that bureau, If they feel assured that the re-
noval of one and the accession of another
Will not involve the retirement of honest and
faithful subordnatcs, whose duties are pure
~ administrative and have no legitimate
connection with the triumph of any political
principles or the success Of any political
party or faction. II is to this latter class OF
officers that the senate bill to which | have
already referred exclusively applies.
President Arthur's Appointments and
Removals.
While neither that bill nor any othei
prominent scheme for improving the civil
service concerns the higher grades OF officials
who are appointed by the President and con
hrmed by the Senate, | feel bound to correct
prevalent misrepresentation as to the fire.
quency with which the present Executive
has displaced the incumbent Of an office ard
appointed another in his stead 1t has been
repeatedly alleged that he has in this parlc-
nlar sgnally departed from the course which
has been pursued under recent administra-
ton Of the government. The facts are as
follows The whole number of Executive
appointments during the four years immc-
diately preceding Mr.. Garfeld's accession to
the Presidency was 1906. OF this number
PA or per cent involved the removal Of
previous ncumbcnts. The ratio of removals
TO the whole number OF appointments was
much the same during each of those four
years. In the fist year, with 100 appoint
ments there were "a removals, or 3 per
cent in the second, with 9l7 appointments
there were 81 removals, or S.5 per cent
IN tue third with $50 appointments there
were AZ removals, or 10 per cent in the
fourth, with 420 appointments there were 3,
removals, or SO per cent In the folr
months Of President Garfield's administration
there were 800 appointments and 80 remov
ais, or 22.1 per cent. Precisely the sane
number of removals so has taken place in
the fourteen months which have since elaps-
ed, but they constitute only IS per cent OF
the whole number Of appointments 1l1SJ
within that period, and less than 90 of the
entire list of officials. 34j9, exclusive of the
army and navy, which is filled by Presden-
tial appointment.
Political Assessments.
declare my approval of such legislation
as may tc found necessary for suppemcntlrg
the existing provisions of law in relation 10
political assessments. In July last author.
ized public announcement that employees ut
the government should regard them
selves rs at liberty to exercise
their pl, asuie in milking or refusing To make
public 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 mlinIain-
ell and stu maintain that public officer
should tc AS absolutely free as any other
citizen, to give or to withhold contribution
for the aid Of the political party Of his choice.
II has, however been urged and doubtless
not without foundation in fact, that by the
solicitation of supcl0rs, and by other modes,
such contributions have at times been obtain
| cd from persons whose only motive for Civ
lng has been the fear of what would hrfall
them if they refused 1t goes without saying
that such contributions are not voluntary and
| in my Judgment their collection should be
prohibited by law. \ bill which will cilcC-
tually suppress them will receive my cordial
! appruyul