Year: 1877

/ Deen commercially uSeful 10 tie legal
tender value assigned to the new: issue.


In recommending that the regulation


of any coir ge which may be author
lied by cong IS. should observe these


conditions OF commercial value and


limited legal tender, l am gov
erend 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 the
people in the process of resuming specie
payments. 1t is the excuse of my con-
viction that disregard of these condi-
| tions would Illustrate the goodI results
which are desired from the proposed
coinage and embarrass, with new ele-
ment of confusion and uncertainty, the
business of the country, that | urge up
on your attention these considerations.
/ respectfully recommend to congress
! that in any regulation providing for a
silver coinage and imparting to it the
quality oflegal tender, there be impress
ed in the measure provision exempt
ing the public debt heretofore issued
and now outstanding, from payment
either of principal or interest in any
| coinage of less value than the present
gold coinage of the country.


TIIR ORGANIZATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
of the country has for number of years
attracted more and more of public atten-
ton, so general has become the opinion
that the methods of admission to it and
the conditions of remaining in it are
unsOund; that both of the great political
parties have agreed in the most explicit
declarations of the necessity Of reform,
and in the most emphatic demands for
it. | have fully considered the declara-
tions and the demands to be the express
siOns of sincere convictions of the intel
ligent masses of the people upon the
subject, and that they should be recog-
nized and followed by earnest and


prompt action on the part of the legis-
lative and executive departments
of the government in pursu-
ance of the purpose indicated.
Before my accession to office | endeav-
ored to have my own views distinctly
understood, and upon my Inauguration
my accord with the public opinion was
stated in terms believed to be plain
and unambiguous. My experience in
the executive duties has strongly con-
firmed the belief in the great advant-
age the country would find, in observ-
ing strictly the plan Of the constitution,
which imposes upon the executive the
sole duty and responsibility Of the
selection Of those federal officers, who
by law are appointed, 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, whilst the house of represen-
the performance of official duties with
the prerogative of investigation, and
providing for all cases of dereliction. The


blemishes and imperfectiOns in the civil
service may, as | think, be traced in
most cases to a practical confusion of
the duties assigned to the several de-
partments Of the government My
purpose in this respect has been to re-
turn to the system established by the
fundamental law, and to do this with
the heartiest cooperation, and most
cordial understanding with the senate
and house Of representatives. The po-
litical difficulties in the selection of nu-
merous officers for posts of widely


varying responsibilities and duties, are
acknowledged to be very great. No
system can be expected to secure abso-
4 lutte freedom from mistakes, and the


beginning of any attempted change of
: custom is quite likely to be more EN-
barrassed in this respect than any sub
sequent period. 1t is here that the consti-
tuition seems to most cOnclusively prove
its claim to be the great wisdom accorded
to it. 1t 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
disinterested and impartial judges, Sc
cure as strong a 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 be-
ing free from mere caprice, or favor in
these directions, and in these offices,
which special training has greatly in


creased in value. | believe such rule,


as to the tenure of office, should obtain,


as may induce men of proper qualifica-


tions, to apply themselves industriously


to the task of becoming proficient


Bearing those things in mind, | have


endeavOred to reduce the number of
changes in subordinate places, usually


made upon the change of the general


administration and shall most heartily


cooperate 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 COM


potency, efficiency and character the
decisive tests in these matters. | ask the


renewed attention of congress to what
has already been done by the civil SER
vice commission, appointed in pursu-
: ance of the act of congress by my pre-
decessor, to prepare and revise the civil
service rules. In regard to much Of
the department service, especially at


Washington, it may be difficult to or


ganize a better system than that


which has there been provided and is


now being used to a considerable ex-


tent under my direction. The COM
mission has still legal existence, al


though for several years no appropria-
ton has been made for defraying its ex-
penses. Believing that this commission
has rendered valuable service, and will
be most unusual agency in improving


the administration of civil service, /
!. respectfully recommend that suitable
pp1opriation be Immediately made to


enable it to continue It's service 1t is
nv purpose to transmit to congress, as


early as practicable, the report by the


chairman of the commission, and to


ask your attention to such features


Il