The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-12-08


tant than mere intellectual at f,
tainments. If Congress should I
deem ii advisable at the present |
session to establish a competitive test for the !
admission OF service, no doubt such as have |
been suggested shall not deter from giving
the measure my earnest support, and earn /
estly recommend that should this be a
failure to pass any other act upon this sub |
ject, that an appropriation of $4,000 per
year may be made for the enforcement of
section 1855 of the revised statutes. With
the aid thus afforded me | shall strive
to execute the provisions of the let
ter according to its letter. and | am
unwilling in justice to the present civil
servants of government to dismiss this sub
ieCt without declaring my dissent from the
service, and almost indiscriminate Censure
with which they have been reccntlyassailed. .
That they are as class indOlent, Inefficient
and corrupt, as a statement which has been
often made and widely edited but when
the extent, variety, delicacy and importance
Of their duty or duties are considered the
great majority of the employees of the Gov
eminent are, in my Judgment, deserving Of
high commentator.
MARINE AFFAIRS
The continuing decline of the Merchant
Marine of the United States is greatly to be
depored, in view of the fact that we furnish
so large proportion of the ireights of the
commercial world, and that our shipments
are steadily and rapidly increasing. 1t is
cause of surprise that not only as the nayi-
CATION interests are diminishing, but il is
less than when our exports and imports
were not half as large as now either in bulk
or value. There must be some peculiar
hinderance to the development of the inter
pntprnrlSp Of
American mechanics and capitalists
who have kept this country at
least abreast of our rivals in
the friendly contest for ocean supremacy.
The substitution of iron for wood, and of
steam for sail, have wrought great reyolu-
tons in the carrying trade of the world. |
But these changes could not have been adj !
verse to America, if we had given to our
navigation interest proportion of special
aid and protection that has been so wisely
bestowed on our manufactures. | COM
mend the whole subject to the wisdom of
Congress, with the suggestion that no cues
ton ofgreater magnitude or further reaching
importance can engage their consideration,
In 1870 the Supreme Court of the United
States declared unconstitutional that stat
ute of certain States which imposed upon
snip owners or consignees n
tax of $3.50 for each passenger
arriving from foreign country, or in lieu
thereof required bond to indemnify the
State and local authorities against expense
for future relief in the support of such pas
senger. Since this decision the cy
pense attending the care and supervision
OF emigrants has fallen on the States at
whose. ports they haue landed. As a large
majority of such immigrants Immediately
upon Their arrival proceed to the inland
states and the territories to seek permanent
homes it is manitcstly unjust to impose
upon the state, whose shores they first
reach the burden it now bears. For this
reason, and because of the national impor-
lance of the subject, | recommend legisla-
ton regarding the supervision and transit
ton of immigrants at the ports Of
declaration. | regret to state
that the people of Alaska
have reason to complain that they are vet
unproylded with any form of government
oy Wllch NE and property can be pro-
tected. While the extent of its population
does not Justify the application oithe costly
machinery oftcrritoriai,a administration there
is immediate necessity for constituting such
a form government as will promote the ed
uca;ion OF the people, and secure to the adj
miniStration iuStce. The Senate at-its last
session passed Il bill providing for
the construction Of a building for
the library of Congress, but it
failed to become a law. The
provision of suitable protection
for that great collection of books, and for
the copyright department connected with
1t, has become a subject of national import
ance, and should receive prompt attention
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The report of the Commissioner ofthe Dis
trict of Columbia, herewith trans
mitted, will inform You fully of the
condition of affairs of the District.
They urge the vital importance
OF Legislation for reclamation and improve
ment of the marshes and for the establish
ment OF harbor lines along the Potomac
river front It's represented TINT i'm their
present condition the marshes seriously ai-
lect the health, Of the residents Of ada
cent parts of the city, and that
they greatly mar the general aspect of the
park, in which stands the Washington
monument, and the improvement of that /
park, and the park south of the Executive /.
Mansion and large area of valuable |
land, and would transform what is |
now believed to be dangerous
nuisance, into an attractive landscape, eX. |
tending to the river front. They recon- |
mend the removal Of the steam railway |
lines from the surface of the streets of
the city, and the location |
OF the necessary depots in such |
places as may be convenient for the public !
accommodation, and they call attention to |
the deficiency OF the water supply, which |
seriously affects the material prosperity of !
the city, and the health and comfort OF its !
inhabitants. commend these suggestions !
toyour favorable considerations
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, ETC.
The Importance of timely legislation with
respect to the ascertainment and declara-
ton OF the vote for Presidential |
electors was sharply called to the attention
OF the people more than four years ago. IL |
Is to be hoped that some well.dehned meas |
urc may he devised before another national |
election, which will render unnecessary a |
resort to any expedient ola temporary char. |
acter for the determination Of questions |
upon contested returns; questions which |
concern the very existence of the |
government and the liberties of the people |
were suggested by the prolonged illness of |
the late President, aud his consequent inca. |
pacity to perform the functions of his office.
II is provided by the second article of the |
Constitution, in the fifth clause
of its first section, that in
case of the removal Of the President from
Office, or of his death, resignation or in.
ability to discharge the powers and duties
OF said Office, the same shall de-
yolve on the. Nicc.Prcsidcnt. What is the
intention of the constitution in its specified.
lions OF inability to discharge the powers
ana duties OF said office, as one of the con-
tlnScncies Of which calls the Vice.p President
to the exercise of the Presidents functions2
is the inability limited in nature TO long.
continued intellectual incapacity, or has Il
n broader imuort, What r,ust No |