The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-07-06
a GOOD PRECEDENT.

The hearing OF Judge Conger's case befor
Judge shannon nj Bozeman has been com
pieted aud transcript OF the evidence for
warded to Washington. No iniimation o
the purport of Judge Shannon's report ha
yet been made public, and although IL is re
ported Judge CoDger's successor is soon To b,
appointed, sach rumors must be premature
Whatever may be the result Of this inyestI
CATION, we trust It's methods will be accepted
as precedent. Judge Conger is brother
OF Senator Conger. When charges were
preferred against him by Governor Crosby
the President suspende: him aud ordered an
investigation Of the charges here In Montana
where all the evidence bearing OIL the alleged
| ofenses of Judge Conger could be had, and
which doubtless has been adducsd before
Judge shannon. Now, there is Justice and
right in this; and il is precedent that should
be established into inviolaie custom that ali
officer appointed for term shall not h. re.
moved from that Office (unless !, is discon-
tinued) until the expiration "f said term,
except for cause, and that such cause shall
be established before some just and compe.
tent tribunal. Although dozens Of civil Of
ficers have been removed la Montana by a
kind of Star Chamber process, many of them
without any hearing whatever, without an
opportunity to defend themselves, and in
many instances not only denied copy of the
charges preferred against them but denied
the names Of those preferring the charges,
Judge Conger, probably through the fact of
having brother who is United States Sen.
ator, has been the first accorded fair hear
ing In the Territory, with ample opportunity
TO rebnt all charges and have his case fully
and fairly submitted to the President. This
is right. 1t is simple justice. But this in
stance shows how unjust has been the method
heretofore, and this case, thus fairly heard
because Senator Conger Is too great power
and Yields too much influence in American
politics to be put aside with anything less
than justice, should establish the precedent
for every officer against whom charges are
hereafter preferred and who asks a hearing.
What Is right and fair for one is right and
fair for all, and no more demoralizing or in
famous system has ever disgraced the civil
service than that Of removing officers, with
out hearing, on the allegations of secret
and vindi ctive enemies who file charges in
the Department which the accused officer
never has an opportunity to answer or even
to obtain copies Of except through powerful
friends or weak employees in the Depart
ment. If the charges preferred against
Judge Gonger shall have 10 better result,
this alone would be compensation in estab-
fishing the rights Of ofice.holders. For Of
fice-holders have rights too seldom respected
Did officers know that appointment for a
certain term of years meant absolute enjoy
ment of that Office for the term mentioned
in their commissions, except upon good cause
shown on fair hearing why their commission
should be broken, there would be better SER
vice rendered the Government and more re-
spect for it. There are no words too severe
for the system that has obtained for many
years of the appointive power relieving and
removing without hearing officers commits.
stoned for longer term, and there Is no en-
conium too high TO pay an administration
that will accord 10 all the method of justice
which has characterized the case of Judge
Conger, If 1t shall apply to all officers. If
President Arthur shall be as fair to all ap-
pointees, he will have achieved a victory
over vicious and villainous practices that
will entitle him TO the respect Of all good
men. If this shall be but an exceptional
instance of justice, accorded because of in
fuences too powerful to be ignored, it merits
only contempt. The most obscure officer
that ever received q commission from the
President is entitled TO the same considera-
ton and fair hearing that has been accorded
10 Associate Justice Conger, and we trust the
fair record thus opened will not again be
sullied by cutthroat "dismissal" without a
hearing.