Year: 1877

uAlnt0t0cu, Hnlcn Will Keep DOt0 mCt0I6 III
circulation, in their appropriate spheres OF
mcrcial value. free from disturbing fluctua.
tions Ia hardly attainab!e, and without it an
unlimited legal tender for private transactions
| assigned to both metals would tend to drive
| out Of circulation the dearest coinage, and
disappoint the principal object proposed by
the legislation in view. tapprehcnd, there.
fore, that the two conditions Of near ap.
proach to equality of commercial values
between the gold and silver coinage Of the
same denomination and of limitation OF
tho amounts for which silver coinage is to
be legal tender, are essential to maintaining
be successfully observed the issue from the
mint Of silver dollars would afford material
assistance to the community, in the transition
to redeemablc paper money, and would facili.
tatc the resumption OF specie payments and
permanent establishment. Without these
fortune would follow from coinage Of silver
dollars with the quality OF unlimited legal
tender, even In private transactions. Any ex-
pectatiOn OF temporary ease from an issue of
silver coinage to pass ~ legal tender at a
rate materially above its commercial value Is,
am persuaded, delusion.
Nor con think that there is any substanti.
al distinction between an original issue OF
silver dollars at q nominal value mate rally
above their commercial value and the restor-
alton of the silver dollar at rate which was
once, but has ceased to be its commercial
value. Certainly the issue Of onr gold coin
age, reduced in weight materially below Its
legal tender value would not be any the less q
debasement OF the coinage by reason Of It's
cqualing Or even exceeding In weight gold
coinage which at some past
time has been commercially
useful at the legal tender value assign
ed to the new issue. In recommending that the
Ia uia1ofinn ~ ai1x-nr nriporo xrh oh NV
be authorized by Congress should observe
these conditions Of commercial value and
limited legal tender, l am governed by the
feeling that every possible 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 pro-
cess of resuming specie payments. 1t is in the
exercise of my conviction that disregard of
this condition would frustratc the good re-
suits which are desired from the new
coinage and embarrass with new elements Of
confusion and uncertainty the business Of the
considerations


respectfully recommend to Congress that
in any legislation providing for silver coin
age aud imparting to it the quality Of legal
tender there be impressed in the measure q
firm provision exempting the public debt here
tofore issued and now outstanding from pay
ment either principal or interest, in any coin
age Of less value than tue present gold coin
age O! the country.


CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.


The organization Of the civil service OF the
country has for number Of years attracted
more and more of public attention. So gen.
eral has become the opinion that the methods
OF admission to it and the conditions of re-
naming in it are unsound, that both the great
political parties have agreed on the most ex-
plicit declarations of the necessity of reform,
and inthe mostemphatic demands for it. have
fully considered these declarations and de-
mands to be the heexpressions ofthe sincere con-
victions of the intelligent masses of the people
upon the subject, and that they should be re-
cognized by earnest and prompt action on the
part Of the legislative and executive
departments of the government. In pursu-
ance Of the purpose indicated before my sue
cession to Office endeavorcd to have my own
auguration my accord with the public opinion
was stated in terms believed to be plain and
unambguous. Ny experience in the execu-
tive dutic. has strongly confirmed the belief
in the great advantage the country would
find in observing strictly the plan of the
tive the sole duty and responsibility of
the selection Of those federal officers who by
law arc appointed, not elected, and which in
like manner assigns to the Senate the
complete right Ito advise and consent to or
reject the nominations so made, whilst
the House Of Representatives stands as the
public censor of the performance Of official
duties with the prerogativc Of investigation
and proceeding IN all cases Of dereliction. The
blemishcs and imperfections of the civil service
/ may, rs think, be traced in most cases to a
practical confusion of the duties assigned
to the several departments Of the govern
ment. My purpose in this respect has been
fundamental. law and to do this with the
heartiest cooperation and most cordial under
standing with the Senate and House Of Rep
| reaentatives.


The practical difficulties in the selection
OF numerous officers for posts Of widely
be very great. No system can be expected
to secure absolute freedom from mistakes.
The beginning Of any attempted change Of
custom is quite likely to be more embarrassed
in this respect than any subsequent period.
1t is here that the constitution seems to most
to it. It gives to the executive the assist
ance Of the knowledge and experience of
the Senate, which when acting upon
nominations, as to which they may be disin-
tcrested and impartial judges, secures as
strong guarantee Of freedom OF errors of
importance as is perhaps possible in human
affairs. In addition to this recognize the
public advantage Of making all nominations
as nearly as possible impersonal in the sense
Of being free from mere caprice or favor.
In those directions and in those offices
where special training is Of greatly increased
value, believe such q rule as to the tenure of
office should obtain as may induce persons OF
proper qualifications to apply themselves in
dustriously to the task Of becoming profici-
ents.


Bearing these things in mind have en-.
dcavored to reduce the number OF the
changes in subordinate places usually
made upon the change Of the general ad-
rate with Congress in the best systematizing
Of such methods and rules OF admission to
the public service and Of promotion within
it as may promise to be most successful in
making thorough competency, efficiency
and character the decisive tests in these
ask the renewed attention Of Congress to
what has already been done by the civil scrv-
ice commission appointed in pursuance Of an
act OF Congress-, by my predecessor to pre-
pare and revise the civil service rules. In re-
1 a q the d SfsrSs
to organize better system than
that which has thus been provided and
Is now being used to considerable
extent under my direction. The commission
has still legal existence, although for several
years no appropriations has been made for de-
mission has rendered valuable service, and
will be most unusual agency In improving
the administration Of the civil service, I
| respectfully recommend that q suitable
appropriation be made Immediately to enable
it to continue its services. It Is my purpose
to transmit to Congress as early as practicable
q report by the chairman Of the commission,
| and to ask your attention to such measures on
| the subjecta as will, in my opinion, further pro.


mote the improvement Of the civil service.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
During the past year the United States have
continued to maintain peaccfni relations WITH


foreign powers. The outbreak Of war between


Russia and Turkey, though at one time at.