The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-12-15

pursuance of the purpose indicated
before my accession to Office, endeavored
to have my own views distinctly understood,
and upon my Inauguration my accord with
the public opinion was stated in terms
believed to be plain and unambiguous.
My experience in the executive
duties has strongly confirmed the belief
in the great advantage the country would
find in observing strictly the plan of the con-
stitution, which imposes upon the executive
the sole duty and responsibility of the Sc
lection of those federal officers
who by law are appointed, not
elected, and which in like manner
assigns to the senate the complete right to ad-
wise and consent to or reject the nomina-
tons so made, whilst the house of repre-
sentatives stands as the public censor of the
performances of official acts with
the prerogative of investigation in
imperfections in the civil service may, as
think, be traced in most cases to practical
confusion of the duties assigned to the sew
eral departments of the government. My
purpose in this respect has been to re-
turn to the system established by the
fundamental law and to do this with the hear
test cooperation and most cordial under
standing with the senate and house of repre-
sentatives. The political difficulties in the
selection of numerous officers, for posts of
widely varying responsibilities and duties,
are acknowledged to be very great. No sys-
tenn can be expected to secure absolute free
dom from mistakes, and the beginning of
any attempted change of custom is quite
likely to be more embarrassed in this re-
spect than any subsequent period. 1t is here
that the constitution seems to best prove
the great wisdom accorded to it. 1t gives
TO the executive the assistance of the knowl-
edge and experience of the senate, which,
when acting upon nominations as to which
they may be disinterested and impartial
Judges, secures as strong guarantee of
freedom of errors of Importance as is, per-
haps, possible in human affairs. In addition
to this, recognize the public advantage of
making all nominations as nearly as posi-
BILE impersonal in the sense of being
free from mere caprice or favor. In
these directions and in those offices
in which special training is of greatly in
creased value, believe such rule as to
the tenure of Office should obtain as may in
duce men of proper qualifications to apply
of becoming profcients. Bearing
these things in mind, / have
endeavored to reduce the number of changes
IN subordinate places usually made upon
the change of the general administration,
and shall most heartily cooperate with con-
gress in the best systematizing of such
methods and rules of admission to
the public service, and of promotion
within it as may promise to be most success
full in making thorough competency, eff
fcie1cy and character, the decisive tests in
these matters. I ask the renewed attention
of congress to what has already been done
by the civil service commission appointed in
pursuance of act of congress by any pre-
decessor to prepare and revise the civil SER
vice rules. In regard to much of the de-
partmental service especially at Washing
ton. 1t may be difficult to organize better
system than that which has thus been provid-
ed and it is now being used to considerable
extent under my direction. The commits
sion has still legal existence, although for
several years no appropriation has been
made for defrayifg its expenses. Believing
that this commission has rendered valuable
service, and will be a most unusual agency
in improving the administration of the
civil service, | respectfully recommend
that a suitable appropriation be inn
mediately made to enable it to con.
tinue service. 1t is my purpose to
transmit to congress, as early as practicable,
a report by the chairman of the commission
and to ask your attention to such measures
upon this subject as in my opinion will
further promote the Improvement of the
civil service.
OUR RELATIONS.
During the past year the United States
have continued to maintain peaceful rela-
tons with foreign powers The outbreak
between Russia and Turkey, though at one
time attended by grave apprehen sions as to
its effect upon other European nations, has
had no tendency to disturb the amicable re-
lations existing between the United States
and each of the two contending powers.
A attitude of iuctica arti al a,1fr
ity has been preserved and am gratified to
state that in the midst of their hostilities
both the Russian and the Turkish govern
ments have shown an earnest desire to
adhere to the obligations of all treaties with
the United States and give due regard to
the rights of American citizens.
By the terms of the treaty defining the
rights immunities and privileges of consuls
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 the intention. The gov
eminent of Italy, availing itself of this
facility, has now given the required notice,
and the treaty will accordingly end on the
10Th of September, 1878. 1t is understood,
however, that the Italian government wishes
to renew the treaty in its general scope, de-
string only certain notifications in some of
It's arCcleS-ln tnls ulSpOS1tlOn concur
and shall hope that no serious
obstacles may intervene to prevent or delay
the negotiation of a satisfactory treaty.
Numerous questions in regard to passports,
naturalization and exemption from military
service have continued to arise in cases of
emigrants from Germany who have returned
to their native country. The provisions of
the treaty of February 3d. 1868 however,
have proved to be so ample and SO judicious
that the legation of the United States at
Berlin has been able to adjust all claims
arising under it, not only without detriment
to the amicable relations existing between
the two governments, but it is be-
ieved without injury or injustice to
duly naturalized American citizens. 1t is
desirable that the treaty originally made
with the North German union in 1867 should
now be extended so as to apply equally to
all the states of the empire of Germany.