Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-09
Senator Eduunds' civil service Reform


posed to be conservative victory had really
been defeat.
Senator Edmunds' civil service Reform
bill.
Senator Eimunds introduced bill in the
Senate on Wednesday of last week, which
contemplates some important reforms affect
ing the civil service. The bill invests the
President the sole power Of appointing
large number OF officers who are now APP
pointed "by and with the advice and CON
sent Of the Senate" such as postmasters of
all classes, collectors of customs In small
ports and districts, and all other customs Of |
ficers territorial officers, except judges of
supreme courts, all district attorneys, and
United States marshals, Indian agents and
district land officers. But the bill also pro
vides that every official 30 appointed shall
hold his place for term of four years, UNI
less cause for removal be proved before
United States court.
As explained by Mr. Edmunds, the bill is
not intended 10 supersede, but to supplement
the present civil service law and has been
introduced for the purpose of curing some
Of the admitted defects in the present statute.
opinion Of Mr.. Elmunds, is the fact that the
unconditional power of removals is still
vested in the President Of the United States
and in the heads of the Executive depart
ments. At the time the civil service law was
enacted II appeared from the discussions in
both houses that there was great doubt as to
the constitutionality of any law which would
limit the power Of removal. The provision
in the present law which prescribes the egi-
BILE lists Is a concession to the view that the
constitutional power of the President to
choose from several applicants should not be
infringed. Since the civil service law was
passed, however, it appears that the United
States Supreme Court has rendered a decis-
ion which declares that Congress has the
right to limit the power OF removal as to
certain classes Of offices. That decision re-
Gently rendered has been overlooked 30 far
as it is applicable to the civil service of the
Government, but it is the decision upon
which the new bill of Senator Edmunds is in
part based.
Mr.. Edmunds's purpose in introducing the
bill is thus stated by himself:
1.-THE bill means, in the first place, that
the influence Of the Executive over the SEN
ate and Senators, on account of his posses
sion of vast patronage, is 80 great that he
practically has now the power of appointing
all Of these officers that are not named in
this bill. 1t is only in the instance so ex-
treme of discovered circumstances of bad
conduct and character, and the like, that, If
1t came to the knowledge of any President Of
the United States himself, he would refuse
to make the appointment, that the Senate re-
jects the nomination. Therefore, l have
thought that it was an object of public in
terest to diminish the extent and power oil
Executive patronage, particularly as connect
ed with its influence upon the deliberations
( of the two houses of Congress, and especial
Q " of the Senate. l have therefore on tina
g branch of the case supposed that the Senate
in giving him the same power of appoint
; ment of these officers, is not giving up
d function that is now Of any substantial, prsc
d ticAl value. As to the other part Of the bill
:. which fixes the tenure Of these offices, hav
l., thought that the same considerations o
q diminishing the power of Executive patron
age, of promoting the interest of a service il
= which the officer should be a servant of tn,
law which fixes and regulates and describe
" his duties, and not henchman of the Pres
l. dent Of the United States, holding his officie
10 life at the pleasure of the President at a
,r times would be also great public advantage
Il 1t is now within the competence of the pee
~ pie, through Congress- if they wish for res
= civil service reform, TO take the great body c
y these mere working, administrative officer
a. out of the prizes of politics and party re
l. ward, and l believe, just as it has been foun
t. In all Of the States that the work of til
10 Government will go on infinitely better, an
that the contests of politics will become
good deal more contests as to measures and
. good deal less a struggle for place. In th
course of few years, If this law were no
~ passed, and Republican successor OF NJ
We Cleveland should find all offices filed wit
be Democrats, the whole thing would adju
to itself, because during each four years a
-, those offices would have become vacant an
have been re6lled, and consequently ther
o, need not be, in the incoming of any admin
80 tration or the outgoing one, any scramble {
o. hurrying on to Washington by thousands
be secure places. Vacancies would occur fro
ia day to day, week to week and month
month, and would be filled in the regul
20 way"
Mr.. Edmunds's measure is one of the mo
be important and far reaching that has been il
m. troduced in Congress for a long time, al
he will, of course, awaken wide discussion. III
va chief point Of criticism on the part of Il
sw friends of civil service reform will be, dout
N. less, that in limiting the tenure of Office
of four years 1t would seem to perpetuate Il
lid vicious theory and practice of rotation
,st Office" and create vacancies for parts
in Presidents to fill without the trouble
IN. odium Of making removals The four-ye
act term law has been feeder to the patrons
ial mill for the offices to which it applies.
would be q step backward to apply it to
the subordinate offices. A fixed, short te
ure is likewise Objectionable as tending
10 laIness in discipline, to cause political acti
ill ty in the incumbents of offices, and to lose
ost the government the benefits of training a
I'VE experience in its servants, through freque
lon changes. The constitutional tenure for 6
ing pointive oficers-during good behavior
oP- the only system consistent with an efficie
eV and economical civil service and this fl
ought not to be lost sight of in any new Ii
u ialafion NON tha anhiaot