The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-12-08

APPOINTMENTS AND PUBLIC SERVICE
The communication which I made to con.
Sress at its first session in November last con-
famed somewhat full statement of nv senti-
ments in relation TO principles and rules
which ought to govern appointments to public
service. Referring to various plans which had
Heretofore 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 System is distn guished, I felt bound
to intimate my doubts whether they or
any of them, would afford adequate
remedy for the evils which they
aimed to correct I declared, nevertheless,
acceptable to congress, they would receive the
unhesitating support of the executive Since
the suggestions were submitted for your con-
siderahon, there has been no legislation upon
the subject to which they relate, but there has
meanwhile been an increase in the public in
terest In that subject and the people Of the
country, apparently without distinction OF
party, have, in various ways, and upon fire.
euent occasions, given expression to their
earnest wish for prompt and definite action.
In my judgment such action should no longer
be postponed may add that my own sense
Of its pressing importance has quickened by
observation in practical phase OF the matter
called by my predecessors
THE CIVIL LIST
now comprises 1O0, 600 persons, the larger pa
of whom must, under the terms of the consti-
tuition, be selected by the president, either di-
rectly or through his appointees. In the
early years of the administration of the gov
eminent, the personal direction of the ap-
pointments to the civil service may not have
been an irksome task for the executive, but
now that the burden has increased fully hun
dred-fold, 1t has become greater than he ought
to bear, and it necessarily diverts his time and
attention from the proper discharge of his du-
ties, 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 to this
matter, tbs nation has outgrown the provis-
ions which the constitution has established
for filing the minor Offices of the public
service. But whatever may be thought of the
wisdom or expediency of changing the funda-
mental 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 in con-
gress. / trust that before the close of the
present session some decisive action may be
taken for the correction Of the evils which
inhere In the present methods of appointment
and assure you of my hearty cooperation in
any measures which are likely to conduce to
that end as to the most appropriate term
and tenure of the official life of the
subordinate employees of the govern
ment 1t seems to be generally agreed
that, swhateWsr 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 for
tunes of an individual 1t mstte4s little to the
people at large what competent person is at
the head of this department or that bureau, if
they feel assured the removal and accession
of another will not involve the retirement of
honest and faithful subordinates whose duties
are purely administrative, and have no legiti-
mate connection with the triumph of any po-
htical principles or the success Of any political
party or faction 1t lis to this latter class of
officers that the senate bill, to which we 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 appoint
ed by the president and confirmed by the
senate feel bound to correct prevalent mis-
apprehension as to the frequency with which
the present executive has displaced the incum-
bent Of an Office and appointed another in his
stead. 1t has been repeatedly alleged that he
has in this particular signallv departed
from the course which has been pursued I'M
der recent administrations Of the government
The facts are as follows: The whole number
years Immediately preceding Mr.. Garfield's
accession to the presidency, was 1895; of this
number 234, or per cent, involved the re-
moval of previous incumbents. The ratio Of
removals to the whole number of ap
pointments was much the same during
each of those four years. In the first
year, with 100 appointments their were
"a removals, or 93 per cent; in the
second, with 917 appointments, there were
So removals, or 85 per cent; in the third,
with 400 appointments, there were 418 re-
movals, or 10 per cent IN the fourth, with
42O appointments, there we're 81 removals, or
or Sc per cent in the four months of Presi-
dent Garfelds administration there were $50
appointments and ~ removals, or 227 per
cent. Precisely the same number of removals
(S0 has taken place in the fourteen months
which have since elapsed, but they constitute
only q per cent of. the whole number of az
pointments l "A within that period and less than
two-sixths of the entire list of officials Z, 450),
exclusive Of the army and navy, which is
filed by presidential appointment
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
declare my approval Of such legislation az
may be found necessary for supplanting the
existing provisions Of law in relation to politi-
ical assessment In July last 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 stations. In
this announcement / acted upon the
view which l had always maintained and
still maintain-that a public officer should
be as absolutely free as any other citizen to
give or to withhold a contribution for the aid
of the political party of his choice. 1t has,
however, been urged, and doubtless not with
out foundation in fact, that by the solicitation
of superiors and by other modes, such con-
tributiOns have at all times been obtained
from persons whose only motive for giving
has been fear of what might befall them if
they refused It goes without saying that
such contributions are not voluntary. In my
Judgment their collection should be prohibited
by law. bill which will effectually sup
press them will receive my cordial approval.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Hope that, however numerous and urgent
may be the demand upon your attenton, the
interest of this district will not b. forgotten
The denial to its residents Of the greatright of
suffrage in all its relations TO national, state
and municipal action imposes on congress
the duty of affording them the best sCminis-
tration which its wisdom can devise
The report of the district commissioners
indicate certain measures whese adoption
would seem to be very desirable. l instance
IN particular those which relate to arrears OF
taxes, to steam railroads, and to assessments
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 relating
to the ascertainment Of the vote for presiden-
tial electors and the intentment of the constr
tuition in its provisions for devolving the exec
utive functions upon the vice president when
the president suffers from inability to dis
charge the powers and duties Of ais { ice.
trugt that no embarrassment may Fesult froTn
failure to determine these questions before
another national election.
CONCLUSION
The closing year has been replete with
blessings for which we owe TO the Giver Of all
Good our reverens acknowledgement For
the uninterrupted harmony Of our foreign re-
lations; for the decay Of sectional animosities;
for the exUberanos of our harvests and the
triumphs Of our mining and manufacturing