Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-23
ALifa renure Of Ohce.

Washington city is nest OF office-hold-
ers and ofice-seekers 1t has o pubic
opinion of its own. The people OF that
city sincerely believe that they have
right TO more Offices tAan their numerical
strength would entitle them to have.
What an influence local notions can exer-
else upon the whole body of the people
was we'll exemplifed last Saturday, when
Judge BRADLEY. OF the Circuit Court OF the
District of Columbia. decided in the case
of discharged letter-carrier that an en-
ployee of the government. appointed under
and subject to the civiLservice laws. could
not be dismissed without just and sum-
Gent cause, and that the courts have
right to pass upon the sufficiency OF the
cause.
The reader will SEQ at once that
this decision would be an important
one IL the court which rendered u
were one OF high standing and with Iuris-
dictIon. Judge Bradley usurps. or at any
rate exercises. the powers of the execu-
tive department of the Federal Govern
ment. for he decides in effect that when
ever any official in Washington city lie re-
moved from Office by the President OF the
United States, or by any of the Cabinet
secretaries. or by any other officer having
the right 20 remove that official from Oh
fee. the removal cannot be accomplished
until be (Judge BRADLEY) has passed upon
the suficlency of the cause assigned tor
the removal. OF course, if Judge BRAD
LEY possesses the power thus to thwort
the will OF the people as expressed at the
ballot-box and the will of the President
and his advisers. the circuit and district
Federal judges oil possess the same power.
And we have government run now by
judicial usurpers but soon 10 be run by
gang of JEFrREYsEs scattered oil over the
land.
The United States Constitution pro-
vides that the President shall take care
that the laws be faithfully executed
But Judge BRADLEY changes that provision
so as TO make it read that the President
shall take care that the laws be executedln
such a manner as to please the judges OF
the Federal courts. The same Constitu-
ton provides that the President shall ap-
point certain officers therein named, and
AL other officers of the United States
whose appointments are not therein other
WISE provided for, and which shall be
established by law" The power TO ap-
point includes the power to remove. and
tho power TO remove includes the power
TO appoint. The President holds this
power, or these powers, under the Con-
stitutIon; but Judge BRADLEY says, No;
lie cannot remove an officer without my
consent. and, of course. he cannot appoint
an officer without my consent"
It may be argued that the Constitution
empowers Congress to vest the appoint
ment of such inferior officers as they think
PROPER in the courts of law, and that the
civil.service regulations are under this pro-
vision constitutional laws; and conse-
quent!y that the President himself cannot
remove officials protected by these OWL
service regulations unless and until the
courts of law have decided that there Is
sufficient cause for removal. If this Is the
state of the casa as il stands, Congress
ought 10 repeal forthwith all laws (uncon-
stitutional laws providing for such civil
service reform as that-all laws empower
ing men to hold Office for lifo-all laws
thus coming in direct conflict with the
principles upon which this government IS
founded-this government of tho people.
10y the people. and for the people. We
have always opposed these laws, and we
think Judge BRADLEY has opened the path
which will lead our lawmakers to get rid
Of all legislative barnacles as we'll as of all
personal barnacles.
Let the people assert through Congress
Their rights to all the privileges accorded TO
them in the Constitution of the United
States. II Judge BHADLEY holds that 1t Is
his duty to construe the law as he has con-
strued il. then let the law be repealed
without moments delay.