Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-12-23

40 appropriation be made Immediately to
purchase the remainder o: the square on
which the burnt buildings stood. provided
il can be purchased at fair valuation, and
provided the Legislature OF Illinois will
pass a Law authorizing the condemnation
Of the land for Government purposes :.
and also an appropriation of as much money
IS eau be properly expended towards the
erection Of Government buildings.
-. IMMIGRATION.
During the fiscal year the number Of
Immigrants, ignorant of our laws and habits.
and coming into our country annually, has
become so numerous aud facrant, that |
suggest Congressional action for their pro.
lection. 1t seems to me the affair is sub
ject of legislation by Congress. cannot
now state as fully as | desire the nature
OF the complaints made by immigrants Of
the treatment they receive. but will cndea-
vor to do so during the season Of Congress.
particularly if the subject should receive
your attention.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
1t has been tic aim cf the Alministra.
ton to enforce honesty in public servants.
He who has violated the trust placed in
him should be proceeded against with all
the vigor of the law. If bad men have
secured places, it has been the fault OF the
system established by law and custom for
making appointments, or the fault Of those
who recommend for Government positions
persons not we'll known to them personally,
or who give letters indorsing the character
Of Office seekers, without proper sense
of the grave responsibility which such a
course Gevolves upon them. a civil ser.
vice reform which can in measure cor.
rect this abuse is much desired. In mer-
camille pursuits the business man who gives
a recommendation to a friend to enable him
to obtain credit from stranger, is regard
ed as morally responsible for the integrity
Of his friend and his ability to meet his OBJ
legations. To enforce this principle against
all endorsers Of persons for public place
would insure great caution in making rec
concentrations. A salutary lesson has
been taught the careless and dishonest SER
wants in the great number of prosecutions
and convictions of the last two years. 1t is
gratifying to notice the favorable change
that is taking place throughout the country
in bringing to punishment those who have
proved recreant to the trusts confded to
them, aad in clevating to public Offices
none but those possessing the confidence of
the honest aud virtuous, who it will always
be found, comprise the majority of the
community in which they live.
In my message to Congress one year ago,
recommended reform in the civil ser
vice Of the country. In conformity with
that recommendation, Congtess, in the
ninth section of an act making an appro.
priation for sundry civil expenses of the
Government and for otLer purposes, ap.
proved March Sd, 1871, gave the necessary
authority to the Executive to inaugurate
civil service refom, and placing upon him
the responsibility Of doing so. Under the
authority of said act, convened board
Of gentlemen eminently qualified for the
work, to devise rules and regulations to
effect the needed reform. Their labors
are not completed, but it is believed that
they will succeed in devising plan which
can be adopted, to the relief of the Exec
ntive, heads Of the departments and mem,
bers of Congress, and which will rebound
to the true interests of the public service
At all events the experiment shall have a
fair trial.
have thus hastily summed up the oper-
atoms of the Government during the last
year, and made such suggestions as occur
to me to be proper for your consideration.
submit them with a confidence that your
combined actions will be wise statesman.
like, and in the best interests of the whole
country. U.S.. GRANT,
President.
Executive Mansion. Dec. 4. 1871.