Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-08

discreet legislation They usuld be protectedir
z great measure by the bill now pending before
me senate. or by any other which should en-
BODY ITS important features from the pressure Of
personal importantly and from the labor of ex-
aiming eonncting claims and pretentions Of caHii-
oates trust that before the close Of the present
session some decisive action may be taken Tor the
eorrec9on Of bills which inherit the presen-
Cetnoos OF appointment, and I assure you Of
my hearty cooperation in any measures which
are hkely to conduee 10 that end. As to the
most appropriate term and tenor Of the official
sunsrdinate employees Of the government 1t seems
tent or character, the one should be definite and
,ne other STABLE and that neither should be regu-
lated oy the zeal In the service Of the party or e.
deity to the fortunes of an individual.
1s matters little to the people at large wha
competent person is at the head of this depart
ment o. that bureau if they feel assured that
the removal Of one and the accession of another
WIN not involve the retirement of hones5 and
faithful subor0ina;es whose duties are purely
administrative and have no legitimate connection
With the triumph of any political party fac
i9I. IL IS to this latter calSs Of officers that the
senate bill to which we have already re-
Iced exclusively applies while neitht, that
OH nor any other prominent scheme for
itnpFoV 'is the civil service concerns the
higher grade officers who re
appointed ~ the president and confirmed by the
ser s;s.
IhE PRESIDENT DEFENpS HIMSELF.
feel bound 10 correct a prevalent mis-
apprehension rs % the frequency with which the
presen! executive has displaced the incumbent of
an oinct and appointed another in his stead. 1t
has been repeatedly alleged that he has in this
part1eclas sisnally departed from the course
winch las been pursued under recent administra-
mons OF the government. The facts are as fol-
lows: The whole number of executive appoint
inents during the four years Immediately pre-
cedlns Mr.. Garheld'S accession to the presidency
was : ,o9o; OF this number PA or . per cent. in
y"lved In the removal of previous incumbents.
Inc ratio OF removals to the whole number OF ap-
polntments was much the same during each OF
these four years. In the first year with 100 ap-
polntments there were "a removals or S.3 Pc
cent; In the second, with 9l7 appointments there
were 80 re novals or9.S per cent; in the third.
with $50 appointments there were As removals,
or 10 per cent; in the fourth, with 429 appoint
meats thare were ~ removals or Sc per cent. In
the four months of President Garfeld's admins
'%fation there were 800 appointments and SO re
he Same or number i Fee removals. SSn s Sc ss
AIKEN place in the fourteen months which have
nee elapsed, but they constitute only rs per
sent of the whole number of appointments Q,llS)
within that period. and less than &c per cent OF
the en- re list OF officials t3,459 exclusive eff the
q ~ aud navy, which is filed by presidential
appcintment).
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
may be found necessary for supplanting the ex-
sting pr DIVISIONS of the law in relation to polit
cal assessments. In July last I authorized
public announcement that employees of the gov
ernment 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
l acted upon the view which had always main
tanned and still maintain that a public officer
a nm Ofh rnSfiU In
give or withhold a contribution for the aid of
the political party of his choice. 1t has however
been urged, and doubtless not without foundation
that such contributions have at times been OBJ
tanned from persons whose only motive for giving
has been the fear of what might befall them If
they refused. 1t goes without saying, that
such contributions are not voluntary. In my judg-
ment, their collection should be prohibited BY
aw. bill which will effsctually suppress them
wi receive my cordial approval.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
hope that, however numerous and urgent
may be the demands upon yeur attention, he in
teress of this district will not be forgotten. The
denial to its residents of the great right of suf-
frage in all its relation to national state and
municipal fairs imposes on con gIess the duty of
affordiHg the best adm 1istration which its wis
dom can devise.
The report of the district comm, ssioners indi-
Gates certain measures whose adoption would
seem to be very desirable. l instance in particu-
lar those which relate to arrears of taxes, 10
steam railroads, and to the assessment o. real
property.
COUNT ING THE VOTES FOR PRESIDENT.
among the questions which have been the topic
of reccn debate in the halls of congress
none are of greater gravity tina
those relating to the ascer:ainment o.
The vote for president and the intendment of the
constitution in its provisions for devolving func-
suffers from inability to t'sch.tge the powers ana
duties Of his office. / nus, that no en-
barrassrlent may result from failure to deter
mine these questions before another national