Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-12-07

+; PRE- SIS, + X ID A Y
ADVANTAGE the country would find in "lscry-
inc strictly the plan of the constitution
winch imposes upon the executive the H"ic
duty and responsibility of the selection ui
thns, federal officers who 10y law are appoint
ed. not elected. and which III like manner
assigns to the senate the complete ilSh' !"
a,lvis, and consent to or to reject the nohil-
nations so male. whilst the House ol Repre-
srntntivrs stands AS the public censor oil the
performance of official duties. with the pre-
roGntive of investigation and prosecution III
all cases Of dercictlon. The blemisheS anu
impertrctions IN the civil service may ms !
think, be- traced in most cases to practical
confusion of the duties assigned to the seNer'i
of the government. My pur-
pose in this respect has been to return 10
the system Is. abliShcd 10y the fundamental
law and to do this with the heattiest co-optr'-
ton and most cordial understanding with th'
Senate and House of Representatives. Inc
practical difficulties III the selection "i mum
crnus officers. Tor posts OF widely varying re
spnnsibilitirs aud duties are acknowledged 10
Toe very great. No system can he tNpecteh
Ia secure absolute freedom from MISTAKES
aud the beginning of any attempted 'hah6e
of custom Is quite likely to be more embar-
period. Ii is here that the constitution seems
To me to prove its clam to the great wisdom
accorded to It, 1t gives 10 the executive the
assistance OF the knowledge and experience
oil the Senate, Whl,h, when acthS upon
nominations Us to which they may he dlslli-
tcrcsted and impartial judges. secure as
strong guaranty of freedom from errors OF
Importance AS is perhaps possible III human
affairs In addition To tins ! recognize the
public advantage of making all nominations
as nearly AS possible impersonal, IN the SENSE
of being free from mere caprice or mNor III
the selection; and III those offices III which
special training is of greatly Increased value,
| elieve such rule US to the tenure OF office
should obtain as may induce men OF proper
qualifications to apply themselves indnstrl-
uusly To the task of becoming proficient
Bearing these things III mind, have endeaN-
nred TO reduce the number of changes IN sub
ordinate places usually made upon the
change nj the general administration ana
shall most heartily cooperate with Congress
III the better systenatlZlng "t such methods
and rules Ut admission to the public service
and of promotion within IT as may promise
to be most successful i'll making thorough
competency, efficiency and character the
decisive tests IN these matters.
THE CIyII. SERVICE COMMISSION.
ask the renewed attention OF Congress to
what has already been done 10y the civil ser
vice commission, appointed III pursuance OF
Act OF Congress by my predecessor. t" pre-
pare and revise civil service rules. In regard
To much of the departmental service, espec-
tally at Washington, 1t may be difficult to
organic a better system than that which
has thus been provided. and IL now
being used to considerable extent
under nv direction. The commission
has still a legal existence. although for sew
eral years no appropriation has been made
| for deirgying its expenses. Believing that
| this commission has rendered valuable ser
| vice and will be most useful agency IN
| improving the administration OF the clNlI
service, | respectfully recommend that II
suitable appropriation. to he immediately
available be made. to enable 1t TO continue
its l,bors. II is my purpose to transmit to
| Congress rs early as practicable report ny
the chairman of the commission, and to ask
| Your attention Ia such measures ON tins sub
! l,ct rs in my opinion will further promote
the improvement OF the civil service.
orr FOREIGN RELATIONS.
During the past year the United States
| have continued To maintain peaceful rela-
| tious with foreign powers. The outbreak OF
war between Russia and Turkey though ut
|
| to its effect upon other European nations,
has had no tendency to disturb the amicahle
relations existing between the United State
and each of the two contending powers.
An attitude Of Just and impartial neutrality
has been preserved. and ! am gratihed To
s,ote that in the midst of their hostilities
both the Russian and Turkish governments
have shown an earnest desire to adhere To
the obligations of all treaties with the United
States. and To give due regard to the rights
If American citizeps
TALL
Ey the terms of the treaty defining the
RIGHTS. immunities and privileges OF consuls
between Italy and the United States. ratih-
ed in 1865. either government may, after the
lapse Of ten years, terminate the existence o'
the treaty 10y giving twelve months notice
VI NJ M ,,,;I;t, has now riytr
the required notice and the treaty will ac-
cordingly end on the 18th of September
1878. II is understood, however, that the
Italian government wishes to renew 1t, IL
its general scope. desiring only certain mod
ifications in some OF ITS articles. In THIS
disposition concur and shall hope TINT NJ
serious obstacles my intervene to prevent
or DELAY the negotiation OF "A satisfactory
I
.....,,..,.-.
"hHNAN
Numerous questlohs III regard 10 P"SSpoi' u
| soryica have confirmed 10 arise in cases o
emigrnnts from Germany who have returned
to their native country. The provisions
the treaty of February -, ls6s, however
have proved to be so ample and So ludlclon'
that the legation Of the United States II
Berlin has been able l" ADJUST an cl'iiii i
arising under 1t, not ohly without ue'riiheh
to the amicable relations EXISTING between 'n'
two governments but 1t Is believed without
injury or injustice to duly naturall1e'
American citizens. Ii is desirable that I'M
treaty originally made with the North "er
man Union, in 1867, should now be extehuel
so as to apply equally to all the states D
THE rAhiS fA''''''oN'
The invitation oil the government
France to participate in the exposition o
the products OF agriculture, industry ar
the fine arts. to he helda Paris. during th'
coming year, was submitted iOr your eohs'
I''h,ot ,ha, r. accentsrce nv the nitet
States and n weil-selected exhibitioh oi ,n'
products OF American ihuus'iS on tnA
occasion Will tend to stimulate ih'ernat,on !.
commerce ana iihmIetatlon' a. "1ai Us =.
} tho two countries.
ExrRaDITIoN WITH GREAT BRITAIN
A question arose. some tine since, a. tt
the pro,er meaning of the extraditlon artl-
cles nf the treaty of 1912 between the Unite(
States and Great Britain. Both govern
| mente, however, are now in accord in th'
, belief that the question is not one tina
sbould be allowed to Illustrate the ends o
| instIee or 10 disturb the friendship between
The two nations No serious difficulty ha
arisen in accomplishing the extradItion o
r criminals when necessary. 1t il probable
that all points of disagreement will in du'
q time be settled, and, If need be, more ex
/ plicit declarations be made in new treaty
-...
/ TIE fishh"i A"A"p ;.