Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-12-14


regular service, supplied the men and officers
for the vessels of the Coast Survey, and has
completed the surveys authorized by Con-
gress of the Isthmus of trien and Tehuan-
tepec, and under like authority, has sent
on. an expedition, completely furnished and
equipped, to explore the unknown ocean OF
the North. The suggestions OF the report
as to the necessity for increasing and i'm
proving the material Of the navy, and the
plan recommended for reducing the personne
of the service TO peace standard, by the
gradual abolition of certain grades OF
officers, the reduction Of Others, and
the employment of some in the service OF
the commercial marine, are well considered
and deserve the thoughtful attention OF
Congress. | also recommend that all pro-
motions in the navy above the rank of Cap
tain be by selection instead OF by seniority.
This course will secure, in the higher grades,
greater efficiency, and hold out an incentive
to young officers to improve themselves In
the knowledge of their profession. The
present cost of maintaining the navy, its
cost compared with that of the preceding
year and the estimates for the ensuing year,
are contained in the accompanying report of
the Secretary of the Navy.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
II has been the aim of the Administration
to enforce honesty and efficiency in all public
Offices Every public servant who has violated
the trust placed in him has been proceeded
against with all the rigor 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 sufficiently well known
TO them personally, or who give letters in
dorsng the character of office-seekers, with
out a proper sense of the grave responsible
tiles which such a course deyolyes upon
them A Civil Service Reform which can cor
rect this abuse is much desired. In mercan-
tile pursuits the business man who gives
letter of recommendation to friend to en-
able him to obtain credit from stranger, is
regarded as morally responsible for the integ-
rity of his friend, and his ability to meet his
obligations. A reformation which would en-
force this principle against all indorsers of
persons for public place, would insure great
caution in making recommendations. A sal
utary lesson has been taught the careless and
the dishonest servants in the great number of
prosecutions and convictions of the last two
years. 1t is gratifying to notice the
favorable change which is taking place
throughout the country in bring
ing to punishment those who
have proved recreant to the trusts confided to
them, and in eevating to public office none
but those who possess the confidence OF the
honest and virtuous, who, it will always be
found, comprise the majority of the commun-
ity in which they live. In my message to
Congress, one year ago, | urgently recon-
mended reform in the civil service of the
country. In conformity with that recommen-
dation, Congress, i'm the ninth section of an
act making appropriations for sundry civil
expenses of the Government and for other
purposes, approved March 3, 1871, gave the
necessary authority to the Executive to nau-
gurate civil service reform, and placed up
on him the responsibility Of doing so. Under
the authority of said act, convened board
tI.,,, fnI e., fl,..
work to devise rules and regulations to effect
the needed reform. Their labors are not yet
completed, but it is believed that they will
succeed in dcvising plan which can be
adopted to the great relief of the Executive,
the heads Of Departments and members of
Congress, and which will rebound to the true
interest of the public service. At all events,
the experiment shall have fair trial
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Under the provisions of the act Of Con-
gress, approved February q, 1871 a Terri
torial Government was organized in the Dis
trict OF Columbia It's results have thus far
fully realized the expectations of its advo-
Gates. Under the direction of the territorisl
officers, system of improvements has been
inauguratcd by means of which Washington
is rapidly becoming It city worthy of the ma
tional capital. The citizens of the district
having voluntarily taxed themselves to
large amount for the purpose of
contributing to the advancement OF the seat
of Government, | recommend liberal appro-
priations on the part of Congress in order
that the Government may bear its just share
of the expense of carrying out the various
systems of Improvement.
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS IN CHICAGO.
BY the great fire in Chicago, the most i'm
portant of the Government buildings i'm that
city were consumed. Those burned had al
ready become inadequate to the wants of the
Government in that growing city, and look
ing to the near future, were totally made |
quate. recommend, therefore, that an APP
preparation be made Immediately to purchase
the remainder of the square on whichthe
burned buildings stood, provided it can be
purchased at a fair valuation, and provided
the Legislature of Illinois will pass a law au-
thorizing its condemnation for Government |
purposes, and also an appropriation of as
much money as can properly be expended |
towards the erection of new buildings during
this fiscal year
CONCLUSION.
have thus hastily summed up the opera
lions OF the Government during the last year.
and made such suggestions as occurs to me to |
be proper for your consideration l submit
them, with confidence that your combined
action VIII be wise, statcsmanlike and in the
best interest of the whole country
U. 8. GRANT, President.
EXECUTIVE MANSION Decamhor 4 1871