Year: 1879

britain has been dealing with administers
tive problems and abuses, in various par
tlculars analogous TO those presented in this
country, and that in recent wears the
measures adopted were understood to have
been effective, and in every respect highly
satisfactory, | thought it desirable TO have
fuller information upon the subject, and
accordingly requested the Chairman of the
civil Service Commission 10 make a
thorough investigation for this purpose.
The result has been an elaborate and com
prehensive report The report sets forth
the history of the partizan spoils system in
Great Britain and of the rise and fall of the
parliamentary patronage and official inter
ference with the freedom of elections. 1t
shows that after long trials of various kinds
Of examination, those which are competitive
and open on equal terms to all, and which
are carried on under the superintendent of
a single commission, have with great advan-
tage been established is conditions of admis-
sion to almost every official place in the
subordinate administration of that country
and of British India. The completion of
the report owing to the extent of the labor
involved in Its preparation, and the omis
sion of Congress to make any provision
either for the compensation or the expenses
of the commission, has been postponed
until the present time. 1t is herewith
transmitted TO Congress. While the reform
measures of another Government are of no
authority to us, they are entitled to infu-
ence to the extent to which their intrinsic
wisdom and their adaptation to our insti-
tutions and social life may commend them
to our consideration. The views l have
heretofore expressed concerning the


DEFECTS AND ABUSES


in our civil administration remain un-
aav,t fs.t- ,lar.r .raf
experience has deepened my sense of the
duty, both of officers aud of the people
themselves, to cooperate for their removal.


The grave evils and periIs of partisan
spoils system Of appointment to office, and
of office tenure, are now generally recog-
niZed. In the resolutions Of the great
parties, in the reports of Departments, in
the debates and proceedings of Congress. in
the messages of Executives, the gravity of
the evils has been pointed out, and the need
Of their reform has been admitted. To
command the necessary support, every
measure of reform must be based on COM
mon right and justice and must be compati-
BILE with the healthy existence of great
parties, which are inevitable and essential
in a free State. When the people have
approved Il policy at a national election,
confidence on the part of the officers they
have selected and of the advisers who in
accordance with our political institutions
should be consulted i'll the policy which it
is their duty to carry into effect, is indis-
pensahle. 1t is eminently proper that they
should explain it before the people, as well
as illustrate its spirit in the performance of
their official duties. 1t hardly need be
pointed out that very different considerations
apply to the greater number of those who
fill the subordinate places in the civil
service. Their responsibility is to their
superiors i'll official position. 1t is their
duty to obey the legal instructions of those
upon whom that authority is devolved, and
their best public service consists in the dis
charge of their functions irrespective of par
tisan politics. Their duties are the same
whatever party Is in power, whatever policy
prevails. As a consequence, it follows that
their tenure of office should not depend on
the prevalence of any policy or the suprem-
acy of any party, but should be determined
by their capacity to serve the people most
usefully, quite irrespective of partisan
interests.


THE JETTIES.


The Secretary of War further reports that
the work, foI the improvement of the South
Pass of the Mississippi river, under contract
with Mr.. James B. Eads, made in pursu-
ance of an act of Congress, has been prose-
cuted during the past year with greater
measure of success in the attainment of re-
suits than during any previous year. The
channel through the South Pass, which at
the beginning of operations Tin June, 1879
had a depth of only seven and one-half feet
of water, had on the 8th of July, 1879, a
minimum depth of twenty-six feet, having
a width of not less than two hundred feet,
and a central depth of thirty feet. Pay
ments have been made in a,cordances with
the statute as the work progressed, amount
ing in the aggregate to 81, 250 900, and fur
ther payments will become due as provided
oy the statute in the event of success in
maintaining the channel now secured


The appropriation for judicial expenses,
which has heretofore been made for


THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


in gross, was subdivided at the last session
of Congress- and no appropriation whatever
was made for the payment of the fees of
Marshals and their Deputies either in the
service of process or for the discharge of
other duties; and since June 3, these officers
have continued the perfol nance of their
duties without compensation from the Go v
ernment, taking upon themselves the neces-
sary incidental outlay as we'll rendering their
own services. In only a few unavoidable
instances has the proper execution of the
process of the United States failed by reason
of the absence of the requisite appropriation.
This course of official conduct on the part of
these officers, s,,highly.cTeditable to their fidel
ity was advised by the Attorney General,
who informed them however that they would
necessarily have to rely for their compensa-
tion on the prospect of future legislation by
Congress. / therefore especially recommend
that immediate appropriation be made by
Congress for the purpose. The act making
the principal appropriation, for the Depart
ment of Justice at previous sessions has
uniformly contained the following claus
es: "And for defraying the expenses which
may be incurred in the enforcement of the
act approved February 20, 1870, entitled an
act to amend an act approved May 30, 1870,
entitled an act to enforce the right of citi-
zens of the United States to vote in the
several States of the United States, and for
other purposes, or any acts amendatory
thereof or supplementary thereto" No
appropriation was made for this purpose for
the current year. As no general election
for member OF Congress occurred, the omis-
sion wassa matter of little practical impor-
tance. Such election will, however, take
place during the ensuing year, and the ap-
preparations for the pay of Marshals and
deputies should be sufficient to embrace
compensation for the services they may be
required to perform at such elections.


THE BUSINESS OF THE SUPREME COURT


is at present largely in arrears. 1t can not
be expected that more cases can be decided
than are now disposed of in its annual ses-
sion, or that by any assiduity the distin-
guished Magistrates who compose the court
can accomplish more than is now DONE In
the courts of many of the circuits, also, the
business has increased to such an extent
that the delay of justice will call the atten-
tion of Congress to an appropriate remedy.
1t is believed that all is done in each cir
cult which can fairly be expected from its
judicial force. The evils arising from delay
are less heavily felt by the United States
than by private suitors, as its causes are
advanced by the courts when it is seen that
they involve the discussion of questions of
public character. The remedy suggested
by the Attorney General is the appointment
of additional Circuit Judges and the crea-
tion of an intermediate Court of Errors and
Appeals, which shall relieve the Supreme
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