The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-02-26

Tor the senate to know the previous con-
dition and management of the office the
state of its affairs, whether there have
been casess of misconduct or abuse of
power, the embeZzlemento of money, and
indeed all the circumstances bearing up
on the administration in order that it
may judge of the suitableness ofappoint-
ing n particular person to take up It's du-
ties, with reference Ia the difficulties
that NAV exist i'm ITS affairs, the state of
the accounts and everything concern
ing It's administration, so as tn measure
fitness and competency of the particular
candidate 10 meet the emergencies of
the case. A table is presented, showing
a large number of persons appointed IN
the place of officers suspended, and the
query Is made: Have these suspended
officials or any considerable number of
them been guilty of misconduct IN office
or of any personal conduct making them
unworthy to be longer trusted with the
performance of duties imposed upon
them by law? If they have, il would
seem To be clear that every considera-
ton of public interest and of public du-
" would require that the facts shall be
made known. In order that the senate
may Understandings and promptly ad-
wise their removal, and that the most
careful scrutiny should be had in respect
of providing better means and sale
guards bv information for administering
the laws of the United States. Such in
formation it would seem the executive
is determined the senate shall not pos
sess, for the alleged reason that il might
enable the senate 10 understand what
circumstances connected with the faith
lul execution of laws induced The presi-
dent To exercise the discretion the stat
ute coniers upon him 10 suspend them
and ask the senate to unite with him IN
their removal from office.
The report quotes the passage on civil
service contained i'll the presidents an
nual message, and saws:
This highly important and valuable
official communication in the presence
of 643 suspensions from office would
seem to lead 10 the conclusion that this
| number of the civil officers of the Unit
| ed States selected to he suspended and
removed, had been So derelict In the
| performance of their functions, or guilty
| of such personal misconduct as To put
| them in the category OF unIalthful pub
lie servants deserving dismissal 10y the
president and the senate, and the con-
demnation of their countrymen. In
| such state of things we think that the
common sense of justice and fair play
that is so much priced, as We believe by
| the people of the United States, would
require that in some way this large body
| of men should have an opportunity to
| know the substance of their alleged mis-
| doings in order that they may either
admit their guilt, or, denying it, explain
| their conduct or show that tue accusa-
tons against them were selfish and
wicked pretexts, and set up for the
! mere purpose of obtaining their suspen
sion and ultimate dismissal from office
in order that others less capable and
worthy might at once receive the honors
and emoluments of their places. II is
| known TO every senator, that, SO far AS
the senate has had TO do both with re-
movals and appointments, II has for a
great number of years been its practice,
when an officer or person was before it
| for removal or appointment, against
whom any serious accusation has been
| made, which would, if true. influence
| the action of the senate I'm the case to
cause the person concerned to be in
! formed of the substance ofthe complaint
against him and give him opportunity to
| defend himself, AMI II Is also known
| that nj tins very session considerable
number of instances of that kind have
occurred and are daily occurring. If
| the senate is proceeding upon false
principle in such instances i, is high
! time that its course in these respects
should be reversed, and that hereafter
! il should act upon such accusations with
out any knowledge other than that de-
rived from the accusers, and leave the
victims of such injustice to console them
selves with the reflection that all par
| ties are now engaged IN an effort to re-
I 4 IL. hNFS ln Il tl,..
| facts as they may appear from the pa
pers on file be suppressed? Is it be-
cause that, being brought To light, il
would appear that malace and misrep-
resentation and perjury are somewhat
abundant, or merely that faithful and
competent officers have been suspended
and are proposed to be removed under
! the advice and consent of the senate IN
order that places may be found for par
/ " men because they are party men, or
are to be special objects of party favor
Does il happen in this time of suggested
reform and purer methods IN govern
ment for the first time that 1t is thought
| important that the history and admin
istrative facts relating Ia the official and
personal conduct of officers of the Uni
| ted States should be withheld and that
the administration of the government
should proceed with a secrecy and mys-
tery as great az in the days of the star
chamber? The nigh respect and con-
sideration that the senate must always
have had for the executive office would
make il reluctant to adopt either the
orv. But at present the impenetrable
veil remains, and as the committee is
unable To suggest any other solution OF
the riddle il must leave II until this veil
| is lifted and the operations of the gov
eminent shall again be known. In this
state of things the committee feels it 10
! be its duty to report for the considera-
ton Of the senate and for adoption the
| following resolutions:
! Resolued, That the foregoing report al
the committee on judiciary be agreed to
and adopted.
Resolcsd, That the senate hereby ex.
presses its condemnation of the refusal
of the attorney general, under whatever
influence, to send to the senate copies
of papers called for by its resolutions OF
the 18th of January, and set forth in the
reports Of the committee on the judic-
larry, IA in violation of his official duty
and subversive of the fundamental prin-
ciples of the government, and OF good
administration thereof.
Res0lred, That il is, under the circum-
4 STANCES, the uuly Vi tic scudtc W fcluSt
| its advice and consent to proposed re-
movals of officers, the documents and
papers i'm reference to the supposed Of
fetal or personal misconduct of whom
are withheld by the executive or any
head of department, when deemed
necessary by the senate, or called for in
considering the matter.
Res0Ired, That the provision of section
1854 of the revised statutes, declaring
"that persons honorably discharged
from the military or naval service by
reason of disability resulting from
wounds or sickness incurred i'll the line
of duty, shall be preferred for appoint
ment to civil offices, provided they are
found To possess the business capacity
necessary for the proper discharge OF
the duties of such Office" ought to be
faithfully and fully put in execution ;and
that to remove, or To propose To remove
any such soldier, whose faithfuness,
competency and character are above re-
preach, and to give place to another
v no has not rendered such service, is a
violation Of the spirit of the law and Of
the practical gratitude the people and
government Of the United States owe to
the defenders of the constitutional liber.
ty and the integrity of the government
All of which is respectfully submitted
GEORGE +. EDMUNDs,
JOHN j. INGALLS,,
S. r. j. MCMILLAN,
GEORGE F. HoAR,
JAMES +. WILSON,
WILLIAM NJ. EvARTs.
SpS.rop Vrcr 10 serinualy III To,