Year: 1879

(


@ @remeoy l again invoke the cooperation Of


u.o executive and Legislative authorities Of the
| o!Ates u tn1 great purpose I am fully con-


ant vaacea "a tnse the public mind can be eet at


r;oh+o rSyt on :nls paramount question of popular
| r,en!ss, no serious object will thwart Of delay
.,le complete paci6cation Of the country, or re-


tsrd the general diffusion OF prosperity,
/ Civll-Servi1e Reform,


IN former nsessageI invited the attention


OF Congress to the subject Of the reformation


OF the civil service of the Government, and


gress, % early - practicable, = report upon
| this subject by the Chairman Of the Civil Serv-
| ice Commission. In view Of the fact that
! during q considerable period the Government
| Of Great Britain has been dealing with


various particulars analagors 10 those present


cd in this country aid that, in recent years.


the measures adopted were understood to have
been efectve and in every respect highly sat-


isfsctcsy, thought it desirable 70 have fuller
requested the Chairman Of the Civil Service
Commission to make thorough investigation


for this purpose. The result has been an elab-


orate and comprehensive report The report


gets forth the history Of the partisan spoils sys


fetal interference with the freedom Of
| elections. 1t shows that, after long
! trials of Various kinds of examina-


tions, those. which are competitive and
ried on under the super;ntendence Of single
commission, have with great advantage been
| established as conditions Of admission to almost
every official place in the subordinate admins
MaIlOn OF that country and of British India.


me completion of the report, owing to the ex-


ent OF the labor involved in its preparation, and
the omission Of Congress to make any provis-
ION either for the compensation or the e1renpes
| OF the commission, has been postponed until
me present time. 1t il herewith transmitted
to Congress. While the measures Of another
government are OF no authority for lis, they
are s enll1led to influence to the extent 10 which
thelr intrinsic wisdom cid their adaptation to
our institutions cad social life may commend
them to our consideration. Tho views have
ueretoloro expressed concerning the defects
ana abuses in our civil administra alton remain
unchanged, except in 60 far as an enlarged ex-


pe'lasco ts mas opened my sense CT the duty both
to cooperate Tor their removal. The grave
evls and periss Of partisan system Of ap-
r.ofntniens to Office and of7irc tenure are now
generally recognized. In tho resolutions Of the
great parties. in !he reports of depa tments, in


the debates and proceedings Of Congress, in the


evils has been pointed out and the neeti of their
| reform 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
ana essential III free state. When tie
people have approved policy at
| national election, confidence on the part of
| the officers they have selected, and of the ad-
vlsers who. in accordance with our political
institutions, should be consulted in the policy


Is indispensable. 1t is eininentiy proper that
they should explain it before the people, as
we'll as illustrate its spirit in the performance
OF their official duties. It hardly need be
pointed on: that very different considerations
apply to the greater number of those who
Their responsibility is to their superiors
in official position. 1t is their duty to
obey the legal instructions of those upon whom


that authority is involved, and their best pub
nc service consists in tho discharge Of their
functions fl, irrespective Of partisan politics


power, and Whatever policy prevails As
consequence, it follows that their tenure of
Office should not depend upon the prevalence
OF any policy or the supremacy Of any party,
but should be determined by their capacity 70
same consideration that should govern
pointment, discipline, and removal Of these
subordinates: M The authority Of appointment





used to sid friend or reward partisan, but
is trust to be exercised in the public interest,
under all the eanctions which attend the
obligation to apply the public funds only for
public purposes. Every citizen has IN equal
right to the honor and profit Of entering the
ground Of discrimination Is tho measure Of
character and capacity he has to make that
service most useful to the people.


Except in cases where, upon just and recog-
nized principles, as upon the theory Of pen
rewards Of past services, their bestowal upon
any theory which disregards personal merit is
an act of injustice to the citizen, as we'll as =
breach Of that trust subject to which the ap-
pointing power is held. In the light Of these
principles it becomes Of great importance to
provide just and adequate mea1 8, especially for
every department and large administrative Of
flee, where personal discrimination on the part
Of its head is not practicable for ascertaiDing
those qualifications to which appointment.
To tail to provide such means is not only to
deny the opportunity of ascertainipg the facts
upon which the most righteous claim to office
depend, but Of necessity to discourage ali
worthy aspirants by handing over appoint
ments and removals to mere influence and
claimant to gain the appointment, and the in
forest Of the people to bestow it upon him,
it would seem clear that = wise and
just method Of ascertaining person
al fitness for Office must needs be
an important and permanent function of every
just and wise Government. It has long since
become impossible in the great offices for thcee
having tho duty Of nomination and appoint
ment to personally examine into the individual
qualifications of more than = small proportion
Of those seeking Office, and with the enlarge
ment of civil service that proportion must con-
tinue to become less. In the earlier years OF
the Government the subordinate Offices were 81
few in number that it was easy for those max
ing appointments and promotions to personally
Party managers and methods had then
become powerful agents Of coercion hos
tile to the free and just exercise Of
rspons}Bis 'es ps9 of tSs duty q resofng the the
civil service to the desired purity and efficiency
rests upon the President; and it has been my
purpose to do what is within my power to i'd
vance such prudent and gradual measures Of
about that radical change Of system essential
to make our administrative methods satisfac-
tory to free and intelligent people by proper
exel else Of authority. It is in the power Of
reform, but lit cannot be TOO clearly understood
that nothing adequate can be accomplished
without cooperation on the part of Congress
and considerate and intelligent support
among tho people. Reforms which challenge
the generally accepted theories of parties and
demand changes in the methodsof departments
are not the work Of day. Their permanent
foundation must be laid in sound principles
and in an experience which demonstrates their
wisdom and exposes the errors Of their adver-
saries. Every worthy officer desires to make
his official action al honor to his country. But
the people themselves, far more than their off,
GERS in public station, are interested in
= pure, economical, and vigorous admin:
istration. By laws enacted in 1853 and
1855. and now in substance incorporated in
the Revised Statutes, the practice OF arbitrary
appointments to the eeveral subordinate grades
in the great departments was condemned. and
examinations as to capacity, to be conducted
by the Departmental Boards of Examiners,
were provided for and made conditions Of ad-
mission to the public service. These statutes
are decision by Congress that examinations
of some sort as to attainments aud capacity are
essential to the well-being of the public ser
vice.. The important questions since the en-
actment Of these laws have been as to the char
| acter of these examinations, and whether Off
cial favor and partisan influence or COM
mon right and merit were to, control the
access to the examinations In practice these
examinations have not A1wav0 hAon omen to