The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-05-13
THE SENATE EASING.

The Senate has partially abandoned
lts obstructive policy, and 10 now con-
nrmlng appointments sent II by the
President, Notwithstanding the decla-
ration In the Edmunds resolution that
u would refuse even 10 consider nom.
ination made In place OF a suspended
officer unless the President would fur.
nlsh his reasons for suspension as dis
| ed for.
The first call made In January, de-
manded the reasons OF such suspension
or the papers which show the reasons."
herenpon followed the refusal OF Secre.
lary Manning to give reasons or papers,
the debate In the Senate, and the Presl.
uehl,s message. On the 18th OF March
another style OF request was sent 10 the
Secretary In these words:
U, 3, SENATE, March II, 1885,
| DEAR slR: VIII you please advise
the Committee on Finance whether or
not there are any papers or charges on
nle renecllng against the official or
moral character OF -, late Collector
OF Internal Revenue for the First Dis.
tTict or -, auspended2
there are any such papers or charges
VIII you please communicate their
nature and character TO the cOmmlttev2
Very truly yours, JUSTIN s, MoRRIL,
Hon, DANIEL MANNING,
Secretary OF the Treasury.
| To this Secretary Manning responded
March 49, 1886.
Hon, Justin 8. Morrill,, Chairman of
the Senate Committee on Finance:
slR; Your communication on behalf
OF the Finance Committee of the Senate
dated March II, 1896, asking whether or
not there are any papers or charges on
lile rejecting against the en- ,ial or
moral character OF -, late Collector
of Internal Revenue for the First Dis
trlet or -, suspended, IL received.
In reply thereto | have the honor TO
state that, 40 far 10 this Inquiry relatea
10 suspension from Off So, l feel bound
Oy the rules laid down In the Presidents
recent message 10 the Senate upon the
general subject OF such suspensions.
Bnt IN order that | may surely act
within the requirements OF the statute
relating TO the furnishing by this do.
partment OF information TO the Senate,
beg leave toremind the Committee that
the 0lllce referred 10 has no fixed term at
tached to II, and TO further state that
the President Is aatisled that a change
Ia the lnCumbency OF said office will
result In an Improvement OF the public
service, and that the policy OF the pres.
ent administration Will be better car
rled out by such change.
Except as the same may be involved
In these considerations, no papers con-
tanning charges rejecting upon the
OIL .oial or moral character OF the sus-
pended OH ,er mentioned In your com.
municatlOn are In the custody of this
department. Respectfully yours,
ID, MANNING, Secretary.
Satisfied with this statement, large
number OF revenue officials have been
reported fayOrably by the Finance Com.
mittee for confirmation and will DO
confirmed.
| We do not see that the administration
has In the least acceeded TO the demands
OF the Senate. Many officials have been
removed for "o6noxl0us partlzlnsbip,'
against whose "0tllclal or moral char
acter," no charges were made. The
cases OF MessTs Rutan and Case In
|
were fairly capable 0lllcers OF good NOR
al character. Certainly that could DO
certified, but at the same time we have
no doubt they both glory In the fact
they we're and are obnoxious partisans
In the sense President Clvy sland meant
In hls famous dehnitlon, In his Christ.
mas letter to the Civil Service AsSocla-
ton.
The assertion that the President has
said he would 0uly suspend for cause
going TO personal or official character,
anf that therefore suspension Ia q per-
sonal stigma, and Withholding the pa.
pere IL really refusal OF common jls-
lice 10 a person publicly accused by the
President OF some kind OF official NAL
teheance, Ia an untrue allegation, and
In no degree justified by the words Of
the President. Ho has never said that
no would remove only for cause, In the
sense OF personal or official dishonesty.
His word upon this subject, In the let
tor referred 10, are these:
There 10 class OF Government DO.
sltions which are not within the letter
Of the Civil Service status, but which
are 10 disconnected with the policy Of
tho administration that the removal
thereir0m OF tho present incumbents In
my opinion, should not bo made during
the terms for which they are appointed,
solely on partisan grounds aud for the
purpose OF putting In their places those
who are In sympathy with the appoint
ing power. but many now holding such
positions have forfeited all lust claim
70 retention, because they have used
their places for party purr0leg In dlsre.
gard OF their duty 10 tho people, and
because, instead OF being decent public
servants, they have proved themselves
Offensive partlslne aud unscrupulous
manipulators OF local party manage.
ment. Tho lessons OF the past should
DO unlearned, and such officials, as
well ~ their successors, should be
taught that efficiency, atness and de-
votion TO public duty are the conditions
OF their continuance In public place,
and that the quiet and unobtruaiyo ex.
erciso OF individual political rights Ia
the reasonable measure OF their party
service.
| This 10 plain lntlmatlon that officers
| VIII DO suspended, not for lllclal nal.
feasance only, but for offensive partl.
ennahip, and, ~ Hnrper'a Weekly says,
Ut IL u very poor trick TO insist that In
consequence OF this declaration every
suspended oillcer Ia personally ais.
grocCd, ,"-l Pittsburgh Post.
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