Year: 1879

issued. They anticipated the 1edemp-

 tion and withdrawal of these notes at the

 earliest practicable period, consistent

 with the attainment of the object for

 which they were provided. The policy

 of the United States, steadily adhered to

 from the adoption of the Constitution.

 has sbeen to avoid the creation of a a

 national debt, and when, from necessity,

 In the time of war, debts have been

 created, they have been paid of on the

 return of peace as rapidly as possible.

 With this view, and for this purpose, it

 is recommended that the existing laws

 for the accumulation of sinking fund

 sufficient to extinguish the public debt

 within 8 limited per1od be maintained.

 If any chauge of the objects or rates of

 taxation is deemed necessary by Con.

 gress, it is suggested that experience

 has shown that a duty can be placed op

 tea and coffee, which will not enhance

 the price of those articles to the con.

 sumer, and which will add several mil

 lions of dollars annually to the Treasury. REFORMING THE CIVIL SERVICE.

 In former message invited the at-

 tentlon of Congress to the subject of

 the reformation of the civil service of

 the Government, and expressed the in-

 tention of transmitting to Congress, as

 early as practicable, report upon this subject by the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission. In view of the facts that during considerable period the Government of Great Britain has been dealing with administrative prob-

 lems and abuses, Tn varions particulars

 analogous to those presented in this country, and that, in recent years, . the

 measures adopted were understood to

 have been effective and in every respect

 highly satisfactory. I thought it desira-

 ble to have fuller information upon the

 'utject, and accordingly requested the

 Chairman of the Civil Service Commis- sion to make @ thorough investigation for.this purpose. The result has been an elaborate and comprehensive report.

 The report sets forth the history of the partisan spells system in Great Britain and of the rise and fall of the Parliamentary patronage, and of official interference with the freedom of elections. It shows that, after long trials of various kinds of examinations, those which are competitive and open on equal terms to all, and which are carried on under the superintendence of single commission, have with great advantage been established as conditions of ad-

 mission to almost every official place in

 the subordinate administration of that country and of British India. The com pletion of the report, owing to the ex. tent of the labor involved in its prepara- tion, and the omission of Congress to make any provision either for the com- pensation or the expenses of the com mission, has been postponed until the present time. It is herewith transmitted to Congress. While the reform measures of another Government are of no authority for us, they are entitled to influence to the extent to which their our institutions and social life may com- mend them to our consideration.

 The views have heretofore expressed concerning the defects and abuses in our civil administration remain un- changed except in so far as an enlarged experience has opened my sense of the duty, both of officers and of the people themselves, to cooperate for their re- moval. c The grave evils and perils of a partisan-spoils system of appointment of office and of office tenure are now generally recognized. In the resolu- tions of the great parties in the reports of departments, in the debates and pro- ceedings of Congress, in the Messages of Executives, the gravity of these evils has been pointed out and the need of their reforms has been admitted. To command the necessary support, every measure of reform must be based on common right and justice, and must be compatible with the healthy existence of great parties, which are inevitable and essential in free State. When the people have approved policy at na- Glonal election, confidence on the part of the officers they have selected and of the advisors who, in accordance with our political institutions, should be con. suited in /the policy which it is their duty to carry into effect is indispensable. u IS eminently proper that they should explain it before the people as we'll as illustrate it's spirit in the performance of their official duties.

 It hardly need be pointed out that very different considerations apply to the greater number of those who fill the subordinate places in the oivil service. Their responsibility is to their superiors ln official position. It is their duty to obey the legal instructions of those upon whom that authority is devolved, and Gheir best public service consists in the discharge of their functions irrespective or partisan politics. Their duties are the same whatever party is in power, and whatever policy prevails. As consequence, it follows that their tenure of office should not depend upon the prevalence of any policy, or thesuprem-