Year: 1877




commercial value, and the restora-
tion Of the sil-er dollar at q rate
which once was, but has ceased to
be, its commercial value. Certainly
the issue of our gold coinage, reduc-
ed in weight materially below its lie.
gal tender value, would not be the
less q present debasemento of the coin.
age by reason ofits equaling, or even
exceeding in weight, gold coinage
which at some past time had been
commercially equal to the legal ten
der value assigned to the new issue.
In recommending that the regula-
tion Of any silver coinage which may
be authorized by Congress should
observe these conditions of CONNER
cial value and limited legal tender 1
am governed by the feeling that
barely possibly an increase should be
given to the volume of metallic money
which can be kept in circulation, and
thereby every possible aid afforded
to the people in the purpose Of resum-
ing specie payments. 1t is because
of my firm conviction that a disre-
gard of these conditions would frus-
trate the good results which are de-
sired from the proposed coinage, and
embarrass with new elements ef con-
fusion and uncertainty the business
Of the country, that l urge upon your
attention these considerations and
respectfully recommend to Congress
that In any legislation providing for
a silver coinage and imparting to it
the quality of legal tender there be
impressed upon the measure irm
provision exempting the public debt,
heretofore issued and now outsLand-
ing, from payment either as principal
or interest in any coinage of less
commercial value than the present
gold coinage Of the country.


THE CIVIL sEEyIcE.


In the organization of the civil SER
vice Of the country, which has for a
number Of years attracted more and
more oft be public attention so general
has become the opinion that the
methods of admission TO it and the
conditions of remaining in it are un-
sound, that both the great political
parties have so agreed in the most
explicit declarations of the necessity
of reform and in the most emphatic
demands for it that l have fully be-
lieved theseIdeclarations and demands
to be the expression of sincere COZ
victiOn of the Intelligent masses of
the people upon the subject, and
that they should be recognized and
followed BY earnest and prompt ac-
ton on the part of the legislative and
executive departments of the Gov
ernment. In pursuance Of the pur-
pose indicated, and before my acces-
sion to this office, / endeavored to
have my own views distinctly under =
stood, and upon my Inauguration my
accord with the public opinion was
stated in terms believed to be plain
and unsmbiguous. My experience
in the Executive Chair has strongly
con irmed the belief in the great ad-
vantage the country would find in
observing stricly the plan Of the
Constitution, which imposes on the
Executive the sole duty and respon-
sibility of the selection of those Fed
eral officers who, by law, are ap-
pointed, not elected, and which in like
manner assigns to the Senate the
complete right to advise and consent
to or to reject the nominations so
made, while the House of Represen-
tstives stands as the public censor Of
the performance Of official duties,
with the prorogative Of investigation
and prosecution in all cases of dere-
LECTION.


The blemishes and imperfections
OF the civil service may, as l think,
be traced iu most cases to q practical
confusion of the duties assigned to
the several departments. My purpose
in this respect has been to return to
the system established by the funda-
mental law, and to do this with the
heartiest cooperation and most cor
dial understanding with the Senate
and House of Representatives. The
practical difficulties in the selection
Of numerous officers for posts of
widely varying responsibility and
duties are acknowledged to he very
great. No system can be expected to
secure absolute freedom from mistake,
and the beginning of any attempted
change Of the custom is quite likely
to be more embarrassed in this res
pect than at any subseqent period. 1t
is here that the Constitution seems
to me to prove its claim to the great
wisdom accorded to it. 1t gives to
the Executive the assistance of the
knowledge and experience of the Sem
ate, which, when acting upon nomi-
nations as to which they may be dis
interested and impartial judges, se-
cures as strong guaranty of freedom
from errors of importance as Is, per-
haps, possible in human affairs. In
addition to this, l recognize the pub
lie advantage of making all nomina-
tions as nearly as possible impersonal,
in the sense of being free from mere
caprice or favor, in the selection; and
in these offices in which special train
ing is Of greatly increased value, /
believe such q rule as to the tenure Of
office should obtain as may induce
men OF proper qualifications to apply
themselves industriously to the task
OF becoming proficient.


QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROMOTION.


Bearing these things in mind, l
have endeavored to reduce the mum
ber Of changes in subordinate places
usually made upon the change of the
general administration, and shall
most heartily cooperate with Con
gress in the better systematizing of
such methods and rules of admission
to the public service, and Of promo
tion within it, as may promise to be
most successful in making thorough
competency, efficiency and character
the decisive tests In these matters. l
ask the renewed attention Of Congress
to what has already been done by the
Civil Service Commission, appointed
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