Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-12-13
dryness of the climate renders their restoration
II they are once destroyed. we'll nigh impossible.

II they are once destroyed, we'll nigh impossible.
-. :; aCivil Service Reform. ...-.,.
! The communication which. made to con-
gress at the first session in December last,
contained 4 somewhat full statement Of my
sentiments in relation to the principles or
the public service. Referring to the various
plans which heretofore had been subjected to
discussion in the national legislature, plans
which were in the main modelled
upon the system which obtains in
Great Britain, but which lacked GER
tain of the prominent features whereby
that system is distinguished, felt bound to
them would afford an adequate remedy for the
evils which they aimed to removed. de-
clared, nevertheless, that If the proposed
measures should prove acceptable to congress
they would receive the undertaking support of
the executive. Since the suggestions were
submitted for your consideration there has
been 60 legislation upon the subject to which
increase in the public interest on that subject
apparently without distinction Of party, have
in various ways and upon frequent 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 it's pressing i'm
portance has been quickened by observation in
q practical phase Of the matter to which atten-
ton has more than once been called by my
predecessors. The civil list now comprises
about 10000 persons, by far the larger part of
whom must, under the terms of the constitu-
ton, be selected by the President, either
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 hun
dred fold, it has become greater than he ought
to bear and it necessarily diverts his time and
| attention from the proper discharge of other
which, in the very nature of things cannot be
delegated to other hands. In the judgment OF
not q few who have given study and reflection
| to this matter, the nation has outgrown the
| provisions which the constitution has estab'
| lished for filling the minor offices in the
public service. But whatever may be thought
Of the wisdom or expediency of changing the
law in this regard it is certain that much relief
may be afforded not only to the President and
heads of the departments, but to senators and
representatives in congress BY discreet legisla.
ton. They would be protected in great meas.
! ure by the bill now pending before the senate
| or by any other which should embody important
features to relieve the pressure Of personal i'm
| portunity and from the labor OF examining
conflicting claims and pretentions q
candidates. I trust that before the close
of the present session some decisive
action may be taken for the correction Of bill
which inherit the present methods of appoint
ment, and l assure you Of my hearty co-opera
ton in any measures which are likely to con
duce to that end. As to the most appropriate
term and tenor Of the official life of the sub
ordinate employees of the government, it Seems
to be generally agreed that whatever their ex
| tent or character, the one should be definite
and the other stable and that neither should b,
regulated by zeal in the service Of party or fdel
ity 10 the fortunes of an individual
It matters little to the people at large wha
competent person Is at the head of this depart
ment or that bureau, if they feel assured tn
removal of and the accession of another vii
not involve the retirement of honest and faith
full subordinates whose duties are purely ad
ministrative and have no legitimate cOnnec
ton with the triumph of any political prin
ciples or the success of any politica
party or faction. 1t is to this latter class O.
already referred exclusively applies. Will,
neither that bill nor any other. prominen
scheme for improving the civil service concerns
the higher grade of officials who are appointed
by the President and confirmed by the senate
feel bound to correct a prevalent misappre
hension as to the frequency. will
which the present executive has displaced
/
other in his stead. 1t has been repeatedly al
legged that he has in this particular signaIy de
parted from the course which has been pur
sued under recent administrations of the gov
eminent. The facts are as follows: Tn
| whole number of executive appointments dur
ing the four years Immediately preceding Mr.
Gar6eld's accession to the presidency wa
volved the removal OF previous in
cumbents. The rate, of removals to tn
whole number of appointments was much tn
same during each of those four years. In tn
first year, with 790 appointments there were
removals, or 90 per cent; in the second wit
917 appointments there were IS removais, or 8.
per cent; in the third with 400 appointment
fourth with 429 appointments ther
were 81 removals, or 8.6 per cen
In the four months of President Garfield
| administration there were 800 appointment
and 80 removals, or 22.7 per cent. Precisel
the same number. of removals $780, has take
place in the fourteen months which have sine
elapsed, but they constitute only Is per cent. c
the whole number of appointments. ~ With
that period and less than one third of the er
tire list of officials, 8, 1885, exclusive of the arm
and navy, which is filed by Presidential az
pointment
declare my approval of such legislation a
may be found necessary for supplanting the e.
| listing provisi ons of the law in relation
political assessments. In July last authorize
government should regard themselves as 8
liberty to exercise their pleasure in making c
refusing to make political contributions an
that their action in that regard woul,
in no manner affect their offici
status. In this announcement I acted upo
the view which had always maintained an
still maintain that publican officer should b
oIo ~oI.p %o
withhold = contribution for aid of the polite
of his choice. It has however been urged an
doubtless notl without foundation, that b
solicitation of superiors and by experiment
such contributions have at times bee
obtained from persons whose onl
motive for giving has been fear of what migl
befall them if they refused. 1t goes witho,
saying that such contributions are not yolu!
tary; in my judgment, their collection ,shoul
be prohibited by law. A bill which will effec
ually suppress them will receive my cordial O.
District Of Columbia.
| I hope that however numerous and Nrgel
may be the demands upon your attention Il
interests of this district will not be forgotte
The denial to it's residents OF the great right
suffrage in all its relations to national, sta
and municipal action, imposes on congress Il
duty Of affording the best administration whi<
| its wisdom can devise. The report of the di
trict commissioners indicates certain measur
whose adoption would seem to be very desi
able. T instance in particular those which r
late to the arrears of taxes, to steam railroa,
and to assessments Of real property.
!. Presidential Vote.
Among the questions which have been Il
topic of recent debate in the halls of congre
none are of greater gravity than those relati1
to the ascertainment Of the vote lfor1 presidel
ial electors. and the intendment Of the const
tuition in its provisions for devolving the ex
critive functions upon the vice president whit
the president suffers from inability to di
charge the powers and duties of his Office.
trust that no embarrassment may result fro
failure to determine these questions befo
another national election.
+ Thanksgiving.
The closing year has been replete with BILE
sings, for which We owe to the Giver of
good our reverent acknowledgment. For t
uninterrupted harmony of our foreign relation
for the decay of sectional animosities, for t
exuberance of our harvests, and the trump
Of our mining and manufacturing indu
tries, for the prevalence of health, t
spread of intelligence and the conservation
the public credit, for the growth of the coun
in all elements Of national greatness, for the
and countless other blessings We should rejci
and be glad. trust that under the inspirati
of this great prosperity our counsels may
harmonious and the dictates. of prudent
patriotism, Justice and economy may lead to t
adoption Of measures in which the congre
and the executiva NAV heartily mite