mpanying
papers.[52]

U.S. GRANT.

[Footnote 52: Correspondence relative to the retirement of Constantin de
Catacazy, minister from Russia to the United States.]

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _December 19, 1871_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

In accordance with the act of Congress approved March 3, 1871,
I convened a commission of eminent gentlemen to devise rules and
regulations for the purpose of reforming the civil service. Their labors
are now completed, and I transmit herewith their report,[53] together
with the rules which they recommend for my action. These rules have been
adopted and will go into effect on the 1st day of January, 1872.

Under the law referred to, as I interpret it, the authority is already
invested in the Executive to enforce these regulations, with full power
to abridge, alter, or amend them, at his option, when changes may be
deemed advisable.

These views, together with the report of the commissioners, are
submitted for your careful consideration as to whether further
legislation may be necessary in order to carry out an effective and
beneficial civil-service reform. If left to me, without further
Congressional action, the rules prescribed by the commission, under the
reservation already mentioned, will be faithfully executed; but they are
not binding, without further legislation, upon my successors.

Being desirous of bringing this subject to the attention of Congress
before the approaching recess, I have not time to sufficiently examine
the accompanying report to enable me to suggest definite legislative
action to insure the support which may be necessary in order to give
a thorough trial to a policy long needed.

I ask for all the strength which Congress can give me to enable
me to carry out the reforms in the civil service recommended by the
commission, and adopted to take effect, as before stated, on January 1,
1872.

The law which provides for the convening of a commission to devise
rules and regulations for reforming the civil service authorizes,
I think, the permanent organization of a primary board under whose
general direction all examinations of applicants for public office shall
be conducted. There is no appropriation to continue such a board beyond
the termination of its present labors. I therefore recommend that a
proper appropriation be made to continue the services of the present
board for another year, and in view of the fact that three members of
the