Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-12-13

assigned TO the new ISSUE. III recommending
that the regulation of any silver coinage which
may be authorized by Congress should observe
these conditions of commercial value and linz
/ tied legal tender, ain governed by the feeling
that every possible increase should be given to
| the volume of metallic money which can be
| kept in circulation, and thereby every possI-
| Bile aid afforded to the people in the process
of resuming specie payments. 1t is because
| of my conviction that any one OF these condi-
| tons wouli Illustrate the good results which
| are derived from the proposed coinage, and
| that we can borrow without the elements OF
confusion and uncertainty in the business of
the country, that urge upon your attention
| these considerations. I recommend to Cons
gress that in any legislation providing for sill
liver coinage and imparting to il the quality OF
| legal tender, there be impressed on the meas
| ure frmer provision explaining the public
| debt heretofore issued and now outstanding
| for payment, either Of principal or interest
| in any value less than the present gold coin-
age of the country. f{ ne ss
CIVIL SERVICE. @a ggs.s
| The organization of the civil service of the
country has for number OF years obtained
| more and more OF the attention OF the public.
So general has become the opinion that the
| methods of admission to it, and the conditions
| of remaining in it, are unsound, that both the
most explicit declarations of the necessity of
reform, aud in the most emphatic demands for
| it, have fully considered the declarations
and demands to be the expressions of the sin
| cere convictions of the intelligent masses of
| the people upon the subject, and that they
should be recognized and followed by earnest
and prompt action on the part of the legisla-
| tive and executive departments of the Gov
eminent In pursuance of the purpose indi.
Gated before my accession to office, en-
| deavored to have my own views distinctly un-
| derstood and upon my Inauguration, my sem
timents and the public opiniorwere stated in
terms believed to be plain, and my experience
| in the relative duties has strongly strengthen
ed the belief in the great advantage the coun-
try would find in observing strictly the plan
of the constitution, which imposes upon the
! Executive the sole duty and responsibility of
the selection of those federal officers which by
| law were appoin ted, not elected, and which, in
like manner, assigns TO the Senate the COM
plete right to advise and CONSENT or to reject
the nominations so made, whilst the House of
Representatives stands rs the public censor Of
public official duties, with the prerogatiye of
investigation, and Furnishing in all cases OF of.
fetal wrong-doing. The blemishes and imper-
fections in the civil service, may, as | think,
be ascribed in most cases to practical con-
fusion Oh Tile duties dSSlSuSu W tHc uC~
partments of the Government. My purpose in
this respect has been to return to the system
established by the law, and to do this with the
heartiest co. operation and most cordial under
standing with the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives The political difficulties in the Sc
lection of numerous officers for posts of ser.
vice varying in responsibilities and duties, are
cknowledged to be very great. No system
can be expected to secure absolute freedom
from mistakes. The beginning of any attempts
ed change of the system is quite likely to be
more embarrassed in this respect than at any
subsequent period. II is here that the consti.
tuition seems to most prove its claim to be the
great wisdom accorded to it. 1t gives to the
Executive the assistance of the knowledge and
experience of the Senate, which, when acting
upon nominations as to which they may be
disinterested and impartial judges, secures as
strong action and freedom from errors of inn
portance as is perhaps possible in human at
FAIRS In addition to this recognize the ad
vantage of making all nominations as nearly as
possible impersonal in the sense of being free
from mere caprice or favor in these directions
and want in those Offices in which special
training is of greatly increased value. | be-
lieye such a rule as to the tenure of Office
should obtain as many induce men of proper
qualifications to apply themselves indu strious
ly to the task of becoming prohcients. Bears
ing these things in mind have endeavored
TO reduce the number of changes in subordi-
nate positions usually made upon the change of
the General Administration, and shall most
heartily cooperate with Congress in the bet.
ter systematzipg of such methods and rules of
admission to the public service and of promo.
ton within it as may promise to be most sue
cessful in making, thorough competency. eff
Cheney and character, the decisive tests in
these matters. / ask the renewed attention of
Congress to what has already been done by the
Civil Service Commission, appointed in pur-
suance of an act of Congress by my predeces-
sor, to prepare and revise the civil service
rules in regard to much OF the departmental
service, especially at Washington. 1t may be
difficult to organize better system than that
which has thus been provided, and it is now
being used to a considerable extent under my
direction. The commission has still legal
existence, although for several years no APP
preparation has been made for defraying its
expenses Believing that this commission has
rendered valuable service and will be most
potent agency in improving the efficiency of
the civil service, | respectfully recommend
that suitable appropriation be Immediately
made to enable it to continue in service. 1t is
my purpose to transmit to Congress as early
as it will be practicable report by the chair
man of the commission and to ask your atten-
ton to such measures upon this subject as in
my opinion will greatly promote the improves
ment of the civil service.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
During the past year the United States have
continued to maintain peaceful relations with
foreign powers. The outbreak of the war be-
tween Russia and Turkey, though attended
with great apprehensions as to its effect upon
other European nations, has had no tendency
to disturb the amicable relations existing be-
tween the United States and each of the con-
tending powers. An attitude of just and inn
partial neutrality has been preserved, and
am gratified to state that in the midst of their
hostilities, both the Russian and Turkish Gov
ernments have ehown an earnest desire to ad,
here to the obligations of all treaties with the
United States, and give due regards to the
rights of American citizens
By the term of the treaty defining the rights,
immunities and privileges of Congress between
Italy and the United States, ratified in 1868,
either Government may, after the lapse of ten
years, terminate the existence of the treaty by
giving twelve months notice of its intention.
The Government of Italy, awaiting itself of this
facility, has now given the required notice, and
the treaty will accordingly end on the 10Th Of
September, 1878. II is understood, however,
that the Italian Government wishes to renew
il in its general scope, desiring only certain
notifications in some of its articles. In this
disagreement | concur, and shall hope that no
serious obstacles may intervene to prevent or
delay the negotiation of satisfactory treaty.
Numerous questions in regard to passports,
naturalization and exemption from military
service have continued to rise in cases of emil
grants from Germany who have returned to
their native country. The provisions of the
treaty of February %, 1868, however, have
proved to be so simple and so judicious that
the legation of the United States, at Berlin,
have been able TO adjust the claims arising un>
der it, not only without de.riment to the AMIGA
BILE relations existing between the two Governs
ments, but it is believed without injury or in
justice to any duly naturalized citizen. 1t is
necessary that the treaty originally made with
the North German Union in 1857, should now
be extended so as TO apply equally to all the
States of the empire of Germany.
FRENCH EXPOSITION.
The invitation of the Government of France
to participate in the exposition of the products
of agriculture, industry and fine arts, TO be held
at Paris during the coming year, was submitted
for your consideration at the extra session. 1t
is not doubted that its acceptance BY the Unit
ed States and well selected exhibition Of the