The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-19
Government Officers.
Civil Service Discussions in washington
Time.


II. W. Higgnson, in Harper's Magazine for Febru-
sryl
It seems curious to find in the correspon-
dence of the public men of that day SO little
that relates to the appointment or removal
of particular officials. One reason is that
the officials were then so few. The whole
number in civil Office during Washington's
administration were, in his own phrase, "a
mere handful and during his two Presi-
dental terms he removed but eight, all for
cause, this list not including Mr.. Pinckney,
the French Minister, who was recalled by
desire of the government of that nation.
The question of removal was almost wholly
an abstract one, but, fortunately for us, the
men of that period had a great taste for the
abstract principles of government; and the
consequence was that this particular ques-
ton was debated as fully and ardently as if
the number of officials had already been
reckoned by tens of thousands. Many points
In the prolonged controversy seem like the
civil service discussions of to-day. The main
debate took place in the House OF kepresep-
tatives, beginning June is, 1889, and lasting
four days; and it is fortunately preserved to
us in full as part of the appendix to Eli
otis Debates. 1t arose on the bill to estab-
lish the Department of Foreign Affairs, af-
terward called the State Department. II was
moved to strike out the words-as applied 10
the officer thus created-''to be removable
from office by the President of the United
States" The Importance of the subject was
amply recognized, Mr.. Madison going so far
as to say: THE decision that is at this time
made will become the permanent exposition
of the constitution; aud on permanent ex-
position of the constitution will depend the
genius and character of The whole govern
ment." He and others took the ground that
in no way could full executive responsibility
be placed upon the President unless be had
corresponding power over his subordinates.
All the familiar arguments in favor of a
strong government were brought forward,
and they were met by the obvious arguments
againstit. s''fhis clause of the BILL" said
Mi. Page, of North Carolina, contains in it
the seeds of royal PREF ogative. Everything
which has been said in favor of energy in
the Executive may go to the destruction of
freedom, and establish despotism. This very
energy, SO much talked of, has led many pat
riots to the Bastie, TO the Block and to The
halter" Perhaps the abest assailant of the
power of removal was Elbridge Gerry, of
Massachusetts-he through whom q new
and permanent phrase was added TO the
American dialect in the word gerry,aander.
He claimed in this debate that unlimited
removal belonged only to king; that to
four years. President such power could only
be made useful by ''being the means of pro-
curing him reelection" If this step were
taken, he said, the Presidency should be for
life, or even hereditary. With some fore
sight of our later experience he added: 1.-The
officers, instead of being The machinery of
the government, moving in regular order
prescribed by The legislature, will be the
mere puppets of the President, to be en-
ployed or thrown aside as useless lumber ac-
cording to his fancy" His arguments did
not prevail; the C ause was struck out by
vote of thirty-four to twenty, and after some
further modification the bill passed by
vote of thirty-four to twenty, and after some
further modification the bill passed by a
small majority in the House, and by the
casting vote of the President in the Senate.
The result of that vote has not been fol-
lowed by quite the evils tina. Page and Ger
ry feared, bat it has undoubtedly Influenced,
as Madison predicted, the genius and char
acter of the whole government. 1t is to be
remembered that no prophetic vision had yet
revealed to any one the vast future popula-
tian fol which Congress was legislating, and
Madison plainly thought himself making
very bold guess when he estimated that 1t
might SIN some years" double in number,
and reach six millions