Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1879-12-06

! opinions of the members of the Cabinet
%SHSs' cnr.S And ad' in m the be' ANNUAL message
are expressed and an appropriation for con.
tinung the work of the Commission again adj
vised. The appropriation was not made, and,
Commission was suspended, leaving the Com
mission itself still in existence without the
means therefore of causing qualifications TO
be tested in any systematic manner, or oe Sc
| curing FOR the public service the adyan-
tages of competition upon any extensive plan;
recommended in my annual message of
December, 1877, the making OF an appropria-
tion for the resumption of the work of the
Commission. In the meantime, however,
\ barrassments, have been conducted within
limited spheres in the Executive Departments
! in Washington, and In a number of the Gus
/ tom-houses and post-offices of the prin-
cipal cities of the country, with view
every instance they have been found
70 be rs salntary as they are stated 10
have been under the Administration of my
predecessor: l think the economy, purity and
efficiency of the public service would be great
| ly promoted by their systematic introduction,
Civil service Of the Goyernment. Together
| with ample provision for their general super
vision, in order to secure consistency and uni
Reports from the Secretary of the Interior,
from the Postmaster-(ie ieneral, from the Post
master IN the CITY OF new ~ ORR, wnere iet sacn
| and also from the Collector of the Port, the
| Naval officers and the Surveyor in that city,
and from the Postmasters and collectors in
several of the other large cities, show that the
| competitive system, where applied, has in ya-
rious ways contributed to improve the public
| service. The reports show that the, re-
| sults have been salutary in a marked degree,
and that n general application, OF similar
the service. The reports of the Government
| officers In the City of New York especially
bear decided testimony to the utility It'll of open
! Offices, showing that these examinations, and
the excellent qualifications of those admitted
4 to the service through them, have had a
marked incidental effect upon the personspre-
viousy in the service, and particularly upon
| those aspiring TO promotion. There has been
\ ON the part of the latter an increased inter.
est In the work, and desire to extend ac-
quaintancc with Ii beyond the particular desk
force has been raised. The examinations have
been attended by many citizens. who have had
an opportunity TO thoroughly investigate the
method of determining the results, and those
visitors have without exception approved the
publicly attestod their favorable opinion
Upon such considerations 1 deem It
my duty to, renew the ,recommenda,
December, 1877, requesting Congress TO make
the NECESSARY appropriations for the resump-
sion. Economy wiz be promoted by author.
fzing a moderate compensation to persons in
the public service who may perform extra
Executive may direct am convinced that
II Just and adequate test of merit be en-
forced for admission to the public serv-
good cause and partisan, and ofi.,
the the appointing power win npi in large measpfe
disappear There are other administrative
abuses TO which the attention of .Coueress
should be asked in this sconuection. Mcrc par
tisan appointments and the constant peril of
removal without cause very naturally lead to
an absorbing and mischevious political activity
"a f1f
only fnterferes with the due discharge of Off
ciai duty, but Is Incompatible with the freedom
several of my predecessors in the Presidential
ofiice,and directly in accordance with the law of
Isal already c.ea' iendeavorreeI rel 2y regnaI,0n
reasonable limits TO such abuses. 1t may not
be easy. and 1t may never, perhaps, be neces.
of political action ON the part of Federal Off
GERS. But while their right TO hold and freely
express their opinions cannot be questioned,
allowed to- devote to other subjects
the timeF needed for the proper dis
charge of their official duties, nor to use the
authority of their Office to enforce their own
opinions or to coerce the political action of
thoee who hold different opinions. Reasons Of
those which forbid the use of official lower
for the oppression of the private citizen i'm
iectinR lis officers and agents from arbitrary
exactions. In whatever aspect considered,
the practice of making levies for party lpur
moralizing to the public service aud discredit-
able to the country. Though an officer
should be as free as any other r., citizen s to to
opinions or his party, he shoul also be as
free as any other citizen to refuse TO make
such gifts. If salaries nre but a fair compeIl-
sGtion for the time and labor of the officers, II
IL gross injustice.tO levy n tax upon them II
they are made excessive in order that they
may bear the tax, the excess is an indirect
robbery of the public funds Irecomm end,
therefore, such n revision and extension of
every grade of official life or public employ
ment the protection with which great and
enlightened Nation shall guard those who are
faithful I'm It's service.
5.as FOREIGN RELATIONS.
: Our relations with foreign countries have
there are still unsettled questions, growing
out OF the local laws Of the maritime PROV
inces, and the action of provincial authori-
ties deemed 10 be in derogation OF rights So
cnred by treaty 10 American fishermen. The
United States Minister in London has been
instructed to present a demand for slOS,S5.9
citizens at Fortune Bay on e6th day of Janu-
sary, 1873. The subject has been taken into
consideration by the British Government, and
an early reply is anticipated. Upon the COM
pletion of tPe.necessary preliminary exsuniri-
alton, the subject of our participation in the
provincial fisheries, as regulated by treaty,
villa once be brought to the attention of
the British Government with view to an
carly and permanent settlement of the whole
question, which was only temporarily ad-
tusted by the Treaty of Washington. Efforts
of restrictions found : Injurious to the
-exportation of cattle to the United Kingdom.
Some correspondence has also occurred with
regard TO the rescue and saving of life and
property upon the lakes, which has resulted in
important notifications of the previous regl-
latfons OF the dominion Government on this
subject, in the interest OF humanity and COM
merce. =
, In accordance with, the joint resolution of
were appointed to represent the United States
at the two International Exhibitions in Aus
tralia, one of which is now in progress at sgd
ncy, and the other to be held next
year at Melbourne. A desire has been ex-
pressed by our merchants and manufacturers
Interested In the important and growing tradc
with Australia that an Increased provision
should be made by Congress for the reprcsen-
tation of our industries at the Melbourne Ex-
hibition of next year, and the subject Is re-
spectfuly submitted to your favorable con-
sideration.
given TO the landing ON the coast of Massa-
chusetts of new and independent transat-
lantic cable between France (by way of the
subject to any future Legislation of Congress
on the subject The conditions imposed, be-
fore allowing this connection with our shores
to be established, are such rs 70 secure
its competition with any existing or
future lines of marine cable, and pre-
clude amalgamation Herewith, and TO pro-
vide for entire equality of rights to our
Government and people with those OF
France in the use of the cable, and prevent
any exclusive possession of the privilege as
accorded by France TO the disadvantage OF amy
future cable communication between France
and the United States which may be projected
and accomplished by our citizens. An inn
portant reduction of the present rates of com
munication with Europe felt to he too burden
some To the interests Of our commerce, must
necessarily iiow from the establishment of this
Competing line. The attention of Congress
U43 drawn TO the propriety of some general
rcRutttion by Congress of the whole subject
pf transmarine cables by my predecessor In
hif message of December Z, 1873, and re-
Importance of Congressional action in this
matter.
The questions of grave Importance with |
Spaln, growing out of the Incidents of the |
CuDan insurrectton, have been for the most |
part happily and honorably settled. 1t may
sion now sitting in Washington for the de- |
clslon OF private cases in this connection will |
soon DC nnie to bring it's labors 10 u com |
eu42n- The long-standing question of the !
~ ~ fl0rIna clnims has latelY heen rcnewed |