The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-04

AAouoo VI representatives etanQs as IN
public censor of the performance of off
, cisl duties, with the prerogative of inves
, tisatien aad prosecution in all cases O
dereliction. The blemishes and imper
fections in the civil service may, as
think, be traced, IN most cases, to
practical confusion of the duties assigned
to the several departments of the gov
eminent. My purpose in thi
respect has been to return
to the system established by the fun.
damentsl law, and to do this with the
hesrtiest cooperation and the most cordial
understanding with the Senate and House
of Representatives. The practical diff.
hculties in the selection of the numerou:
officers for posts of widely varying re-
sponsibilities and duties are acknowledg.
to be very great. No system can be ex-
pected to secure absolute freedom from
mistakes, and the beginning of any at
tempted change of custom is quite likely
to be more embarrassed in this respect
than at any subsequent period. 1t
IS here that the constitution
seems to me TO prove its claim
to 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 nomi-
nations, as to which they may be dlsln-
terested and impartial judges, seems as
strong guaranty of freedom from er-
rors of Importance as is perhaps possible
in human affairs. In addition to this,
recognize the public advantage of max
ing all nominations, as Learly as posi-
! bic, impersOnal, in the sense OF being free
| from mere caprice or tavor in their Sc.
lection, and in those offices to which
special training is of greatly increased
value, think such rule as to the ten
uTe OF office should obtain rs may induce
men OF proper qualifications to apply
themselves industrlously to the task OF
becoming proficient. Bearing these
| things in mind, | have endeavored to re-
duce the number of changes in suDordi-
nate places, usually made on the change OF
| the general administration, and shall most
heartily cooperate with Cor gress in the
better systematiziIg OF such methods
and rules of admission 20 the public
service and OF the promotion within 1t as
may promise to be most successful In
making thorough competency, efficiency
and character the decisive tests IN these
| matters. l ask the renewed attention OF
Congress to what has already been done
| by the civil service commission sp-
| pointed in pursuance Of an act OF Con-
gress by my predecessor, to prepare ana
revise the civil service rules in regard to
much OF the departmental service,
especially at Washington. 1t may be
d tfilult 10 organize better system tnan
that which mas thus been provided. IL
Is now being used to considerable
extent under my direction. The COM
mission has still LEGAL existence, al
though for several years no spproprIa-
ton has been made for detraying ex-
penses. Believing that this commission
mas rendered valuable service, and VIII
be q most useful agency IN improving
the administration OF the civil service,
respectfully recommend that suitable
appropriatlon, to be Immediately aValla-
HE. he made TO enable 1t to continue us
labor. 1t is my purpose to transmit 10
Congress, as early as practicable, report
bv the chairman of the commission, anu
ASK your attention to such measures on
this subject as in my opinion Will iurtheT
promote the improvement OF the CIVIL
service.
Foreign ReIatiOns-Russia and lur-
key.
During the past year the United
States have continued to MAINTAIN
peaceful relations with the foreign
mowers. The outbreak OF the
war between Russia and Turkey,
though At one time attended by grave
spprehensions a to its effect on other Eu
ropean nations, has had no tendency 10
| disrurb the amicable relations existing be-
tween rs and the two contending powers.
An attitude of firm and impartial heu-
| trnliJy ms been preserved, ana L AN
grn,iHed 10 state that IN the MIDST Oh
! ihpir bosuhties both the Russian ana
| Turkish Governments have shown an
earnest disposition to adhere to the obi
cations OF all the treaties with the
! limited States, and to give due regard to
the rights of American citizens. BY Tue
terms of the treaty defining the rights
immunities and privileges OF consuls, DE-
tween Italy and the United States rail-
/ fed in 1868, either government may
after the lapse oil zen
wears terminate the existence o'
of the treaty by giving twelve mohIuS
notice of lis intention. The government
of Italy, availing itself OF this provision,
has now given the required notice, and
the treaty will accordingly end on the
I7tb O. September, 1878. 1t is under
! stood. however, that the ltalian govern
! ment wishes to renew 1T in Its genera
scope, desiring only certain modlhcalon
! in some artic es. In this disposition
concur. ard shall hope that no serious
obstacles may intervene to prevent OF
DELAY the ne. citations OF satisfactory
treaty.
Numerous questions in regard to pass
ports, nature izatlo. and exemption
/ from military service have con'lhueu
10 arise in the cases oil ouii-
Grants from Germany who have returned
70 their native place The provisions
of the treaty OF February y, 1865, now
over have proved to be so ample and so
iud,cious thst the legation OF the United
states At Berlin has been able to ADJUST
AL claims arising under 1t not only Win
ont detrlment to the amlcaole relauohs
existtrg between the two governments
hut Il is believed, without Jury or ln-
Justice 70 any duly naturalIzed American
crizens II is desirable that the treaty
originally made with the North German
ITn1on in 1868 should now be extended
50 as to apply equally to all the States OF
the Empire OF Germany.
Pals 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 in Paris during
the the coming year was submitted for your
consideration; at the extra session. 1t is
not doubted that its acceptance
at once by the United States, and q
well selected exhibition of products OF
+ the American Industry on that occa;