Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-02-17
OLYMPIA, WASHING TER.
FRIDAY EVEG, FEB. II, 1oS2.
An Important Measure.

Il i \ l.
An Important Measure.
A proposed Change In the manner of
making Federal Appointments.
1t is now proposed to remove from
the duties of President the most
onerous responsibility, involving as
has been shown by the assassin's
work the peril Of his life, the ap-
pointing power, and confer it upon
a commission consisting of two com
missioners, to be selected by
nomination of the President and
confirm .tion of the Senate, who
shall act conjpintly with the head of
the Department in which the APP
pointments are required to be made.
These commissions are to run for
term of six years. The suggestion
comes in the form of an amendment
to the Constitution, presented in the
House of Representatives by Judge
Geddes, of Ohio. 1t is substitute
for oil that part Of Art. II. Sec. of
the Constitution which vests in the
Chief Executive the power of APP
pointing public officers, and reads
as follows:
Article l6. section1. The power Of nomi-
mating and appointing public officers, such
as embassdors, other public ministers and
consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and
all other officers Of the Uuted States ex-
cepting the heads OF the executive depart
ments, known as cabinet officers, shall he
vested in acommission of three, composed
OF two commissioners appointed by the
President, with the advice and consent of
the Senate, and the head of the executive
department to which the business of the
appointees belong; and all appointments
by such commission shall he forthwith re-
ported to the Senate of the United States,
and shall be temporary until confirmed
and approved for the full term of the Office
by the Senate.
Sec. 2. The term OF Office of all execu-
tive officers appointed by said commission
shall be six years, and until their sue
Gessors are duly appointed and qualified.
The commission shall have the power of
removal from Office for good and sufficient
cause, subject to the approval of the Sem
ate.
Sec. 3. Each member of such commits
sion shall be liable to removal from
office by the President on sufficient cause,
with the advice and consent of the
Senate. and the term of office of the com
missioners appointed to act with the head
OF each of the executive departments shall
be six years, and until their successors
shall be appointed and qualified,
This must be regarded as the most
important measure submitted to Con-
gress for many years. twill change
the whole system of American poll
tics, and make the government really
a democratic republic, having
plural executive head, as distin-
guished from the monarchical re-
publics, with but one man as execu-
tive.
John Adams. in his three volumes
in defence OF the Constitution of the
United States. makes this classified.
ton of republics. A monarchy is the
government of one man. 1t may be
absolute or limited. Ours is limited
by the powers conferred upon co-or-
dinate branches-the Legislative and
judicial-but so far as the supreme
executive power is concerned, it is
vested in one man. A monarchy
may not necessarily be based upon
hereditary power. 1t may be cleo
tive, and that eminent authority
affirms that history shows elective
monarchies to be the most corrupt
form of government known. They
have been found "inseparable from
the connections, conflicts and in
creasing warfare of political factions,
struggling and wrangling for politi.
cal power" Our own history veri-
fees the statement. The will of the
people has time and again been set
aside, with anc without the form of
law.
The more conscientious of even
machine" politicians have been
led to deplore the corruptions Of
the spoils system. Ito enormity is
increasing with every succeeding
Administration. The tendency has
been to centralize the form Of govern
ment and add to the powers and
patronage of the Executive. He
now Yields greater authority than
did ever any King of England, be-
sides the immense patronage ct his
disposal. He is charged with exc
cution of the lave, is commander-in-
chief of all the military on land and
sea, collects and dikburses revenue
1890, 0OO, 900 annually, has power
to make treaties and has charge of
the intercourse between our govern
ment and foreign powers. This is
too much power to place in the
hands of one man. It is contrary to
the popular idea of free government,
and occasion has already arisen in
which the boldest men trembled at
the possible result of an effort to
enforce the will of the majority, con-
stitutiopally expressed. against the
dictum of party.
The proposition of Judge Geddes
will receive the support of those who
wish to bring the government near
er to the people. It may not be all
that can be desired; it doubtless is