Year: 1879

demand great attention from our people


both in the sphere of national and Slats
authority, find no reason to qualify tht
opinion 1 expressed in my last annua'
message, that no temporary or admins


trative interests Of government, how
ever urgent or weighty. will ever dis.
play the zeal of our people in defence ol
the primary rights of citizenship, and
that the power OF public opinion will


override all political prejudices and al
sectional ard State attachments, IN de-
manding that all over our wide territory
the name and character of citizen of the
United States shall mean one and the
same thing, and carry with them un.
challenged security and respect. I ear.
nestly appeal to the intelligence and
patriotism of all good citizens, of every
part of the country, however much
they may be divided in opinions on
other political subjects, to unite in com.
pelling obedience to existing laws aimed
at the protection of the right of sui.
frage. I respectfully urge upon Con-
gress to supply any defects in these
laws which experience has shown, and
which it is within its power to remedy.
again invoke the cooperation of the
executive and legislative authorities OF
the States in this great purpose. am
fully convinced that if the public mind
can be set at rest on this paramount
question Of popular rights, no serious
object will thwart or delay the complete
paciication of the country, or retard the
general diffusion of prosperity.


REFORMING THE CIVIL SERVICE.


In former message I invited the at
tention of Congress to the subject of the
reformation Of the civil service of the
government, and expressed the intention
of transmitting to Congress, as early as
practicable, a report upon this subject by
the chairman of the civil service COM
mission. In view Of the facts that dur
ing q considerable period the govern
ment of Great Britain has been dealing
with administrative problems and
abuses, in various 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 desirable to
have fuller information upon the sub
ject. and accordingly requested the
chairman of the civil service commission
to make q thorough investigation tor
this purpose. The result has been an
elaborate and comprehensive report.
The report sets forth the history of
tile partisan spoils system in Great
Britain and Of the rise and fall
Of the parliamentary patronage, and of
official interference with the freedom of
elections. 1t 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 a single
commission, have with great advantage
been established as conditions Of admis-
sion to almost every official place in the
subordinate administration of that coun-
try and of British India. The compile
tion Of the report, owing to the extent
of the labor involved in its preparation
and the omission of Congress to make
INV provision either for rthecompensation
or the expenses of the commission, has
been postponed until the present time.
1t is herewith transmitted to Con-
gress. While the reform measures of
another government are of no authority
for us, they are entitled to influence to
the extent to which their intrinsic wis
dom and their adaptation to our institu-
tions and social life may commend them
TO our consideration.


The views have heretofore expressed
concerning the defects and abuses in our
civil administration remain unchanged
except in so far as an enlarged expert
ence has opened my sense of the duty,
both OF officers and the people them
selves, to cooperate for their removal.
The grave evils and perils of a partisan
spoils system of appointment to office
and of office tenure are now generally
recognized. In the resolutions of the
great parties, in the reports of depart
ments, in the debates and proceedings OF
Congress-, in the messages OF executives,
the gravity of these evils. has been
pointed out, and the need of their reform
has been admitted. To command the
necessary support, every measure OF re-
form must be based on common right
and Justice, and must be compatible
with the healthy existence of great
parties. which are inevitable and es-
sential in free State. When the people
have approved policy at 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 cen
suited in the policy which it is their
duty to carry into effect is indispensa-
BILE. 1t is eminently proper that they
should explain it before the people as
well as illustrate its spirit in the per-
formance of their official duties.


1t hardly need be pointed out that
very different considerations apply to
the greater number of those who ill the
subordinate places in the civil service.
Their responsibility is to their supe-
riors in 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 discharge of their functions ire
spective of partisan politics. Their du-
ties are the same whatever party is IN
power, and whatever policy prevails.
Asa consequence, it follows that their
tenure of office should not depend upon
the prevalence OF any policy, or the su-
prelnacy of any party, but should be de-
termined by their caracity to serve the
people most usefully, quite irrespective
of partisan interests. The same consic-
erations that should govern the tenure
should also prevail in the appointment,
discipline, and removal of these subor-
dinates. The authority of appointment
and removal is not perquisite
which may be used to aid a
friend or reward a partisan, but is Il
trust to be exercised in the public inter
est under all the sanctions which attend
the obligation to apply the public funds
only for PUBLIC purposes. Every citizen
has an equal right to tue honor ana
profit of entering the public service OF
his country. The only just ground OF
discrimination is the measure OF charac-
ter and capacity he has to make that
service most useful to the people. Ex-
cept in cases where, upon just and re-
cognized principles, rs upon the theory
of pensions, offices and promotions are
bestowed as rewards for past services,
their bestowal upon any theory which
disregards personal merit is an act OF in
Justice to the citizen, as well Us 6reacn
of that trust subject to which the ap-
pointing power is held.


PROPER METHODS OF EXAMINATION.


In the light of these principles, it be-
comes of great Importance to .provloe
Just and adequate means, especially lor