The Portland daily press., 1873-12-03
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

The District of Columbia, under the very
efficient management OF the Governor of the
Board of Public Works of this District. the
city of Washington is rapidly assuming the APP
pearauce of a capital OF which the nation may
well be proud. From being a most unsigbtly
place three years ago, disagreeable to pass
through in the summer in consequence of the
dust arising from unpaved streets, and almost
impossible in winter from the mud, it is now
one of the most slightly cities in the country,
and can boast of being the best paved The
work has been doue Systematically; the plan,
grades location of sewers, water aud gas mains
being determined upon befOIe the work was
commenced, thus securing permanency when
completed. 1 question whether so much has ever
been accomplished before in any American city
for the same expenditure. The government
having large reservation in the city and the
nation at large having an interest intheir capitol
would recommend a liberal policy towards
the District of Columbia, and that the govern
ment should bear its just share of the expense
of these improvements Every citizen visiting
the capital feels pride in It's growing beauty
aud that he too is part owner in the investments
made here. 1 would suggest to Congress the
propriety of promoting the establishment in
the district of an institution of learning, or a
university of the higher class, by the donation
of land. There is no place better suited for
such an institution than the National Capitol.
There is no other place in which every citizea
is SO directly interested.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In three successive messages to Congress, l
have called attention to the subject of Civil
Service Reform" Action has been taken so
far as to authorize 9he appointment OF board
to devise rules governing the methods of max
ing appOintn ents and promotions, but there
never has been any action making these rules
binding, or even entitled to observance where
the removal of an official who may be disagree
able to them.
To have any rules effective, they must have
the acquiescence of Congress, as well as of the
executive.
| i recommend, therefore, the subject to your
attention and suggest that special committee
| of Congress might confer with the civil service
board during the present session for the pur-
| pose of devising such rules as can be maintain.
| ed and which will secure the services of honest
| and capable of1c Ials, and which will also pro-
tect them in degIee of independence while in
Office. Proper rules will protect Congress as
| we'll as the Executive from much needless per-
secution and will prove of great value to the
| public at large
| COLORADO.
recommend for your favorable consideration
the passage of an enabling act for the admit
| tance of Colorado as State in the Union. II
| possesses all the elements eff prosperous State
| agricultural and mineral. and believe has a
population to justify admission. In connection
with that, would also recommend the encour-
IL
| ton from the eastern slope of the Rocky Noun
tains to the Missouri river.
As rule am opposed to a further donation
of public lands for internal improvements own
ed and controlled by private corporations, but
| in this instance would make an exception be-
| tween the Missouri river and the Rocky Noun
| tains. There is an arid beltof public land from
| three hundred to five hundred miles in width
| perfectly valueless for the occupation of man
for want of sufficient rain to secure the growth
| of any products. A canal would make produc-
tive belt as wide as the supply of water could
be made to spread over across this entire coun-
| try and would secure q Gordon of settlements
connecting the present population of the noun.
| tain and mining regions with that of the oldel
States. All the land reclaimed would be clear
| gain if alternate sections are retained by the
| government. l would suggest that the retain
| ed sections be thrown open to entry under the
homestead laws or sold to actual settlers for
very low price.
| GENERAL AMNESTY.
1 renew my previous recommendation K
| Congress for general amnesty. The number
engaged in The late rebellion yet labOring under
disabilities is very small, but enough to keer
! up constant irritation. No possible danger
1 can accrue to the government by restoring them
to eligibility to hold Office.
| CIVIL RIGHTS.
| suggest for your consideration the enact
| ment of a law to better secure the civil rights
| which freedom should secure but has not effec
| tualy secured to the unfranchised slave.
(Sigued,) U. s. GRANT.
| Executive Mansion, Dec. 1. 1873.