The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-04-16

civil administration alone. These
officers of the government having
neither political power nor choice
of politics, but on the route admin
istratiou they all touch at some
point and in some degree the ma.
terial interests Of every one OF our
so, goo, 600 of people. Is not q wise
and faithful administration of this
great trust matter demanding the
dearest judgment, and most con-
scientious devotion to duty and
most approved m-thods? L will
not argue to this assemblage of ems
| lightened men.
The offices of the Government are
ssusts for the people; the perform
snce ST the duties of these offices is
for the Interest of the people. There
is no. excuse for the existence of one
Office or the payment of one salary,
except that it is necessary for the
welfare OF the people. Every super
fuous Office should be cut off, every
incompetent Office holder should be
dismissed. The employment Of two
where one will suffice is robbery.
Salaries so large that they can SUBJ
NIT to extortion of 20 or 80 per cent.
assessments, are excessive and ought
to be diminished. Appointments
should be made of those best fitted
to perform duties. Capacity, fidel-
ity, honesty, were Mr.. Jefferson's
crucial tests. Are these not plain
and sound propositions, applicable
alike to the conduct of government
and Of private affairs? Do they not
commend themselves to your COM
science and judgment? If 1t were
possible to imagine that any of you
we're conducting this government as
a private enterprise for private ad
vantage, would you not adopt and
put In force every one of these rules
and insist that there should be no
departure therefrom? What less
can you do than to clothe
the officers whom you Sc
lect to manage this great
public b1siness-which to each OF
you and your fellow-citiZens at
sometime becomes private-with |
power, and by an inexorable public
opinion require them to exercise it
to attain the same fidelity, efficiency
and economy ? The idea that 1000
Offices, purely administrative, almost
clerical, paying Loco, 900
a year, are to be distributed by the
President and his sppointies after
every election, and as often during
his term as the rapacity of place
hunters can persuade or force him
hat they shall be the reward OF
mere partisan service, to be earned
)y personal activity or by contribu-
ion of money is a crime against
,ivilization.I gladly turn to the merit
ystem! What contrast! 1t would
pen the civil service to all who
those to aspire. It would fill
hat service with men proven to be
he best fitted by fair competition
t would elevate the tone of all as
'irants, by making them feel they {
we all to merit and not to patron {
ge. 1t would make the service {
enfold more efficient, and greatly {
educe expenditures. It would t
make principle, not salary, the e
hief end of party struggles. Its I
enefcent spirit would give to 7
1erit the highest reward, and would f
Emulate excellencies into comEeti- L
ion. 1t would demand and stimu- S
ate higher grade of intellectual T
nd political education. It would
1 time reach the popular elections 2
nd appointments which dictate b
olicies. 1t would reach popular T
pinion and stamp out all interior t
nee with free ballot and fair count, il
7hether by fraud or force or intim> U
latlon. It would put an end to all a
breed assessments and expenditure v
immense corruption funds. P