Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-12-13

| eminent has been cautiously, but steadily feeling
its way 10 the adoption OF policy which hss al
| really produced gratifying results, aud which ~
my Judgment 1. likely, IL Congress AMI the eNeeu
tive accord % relieve ere long from difficulties
which have hitherto beset u.s.
First, rscomm:nd the passing Of an act making
the laws OF the various states AMI terrib,ries APP
plicablc 10 the Indian reservations within their Dor
ders aud extending the laws OF the Stale OF Aikah-
sas 10 the portion VI the Indian Territory not occu
pied by the dyo civilized tribes The Indian
should rcCc We the protection OF the law He
should be allowed % maintain In court his rights
Of person and property. lie has repeatedly
begged for this privilege. IT, exercise would be
very valuable 10 him IN his progress toward civil
| izalion.
ueni OF a general low permitting allotment Ia sew
crafty TO such Indians at least n desire II Of rea.
sonRbe quantity of land secured 10 them by patent
aud tor shelr own protection made inalieuHDle Tor
20 or rs years There - reason 20 believe that In.
| dams 10 large numbers would be persuaded % dls
solve the lbary relations and 70 engage NJ once Ia
| industrial pursulis. b. 40 greater iDt1ccmeai
than the assurance OF permanent title q the soil
can they be led 10 engage tn the occupation 81 All
Ing IL aad the enactment OF such statute a. re
| Otnmend would have q direct aud poicui iunueuce
In dlssolvin the tribal baud which u 80 pronluenI
| a feature Of savage life. advise liberal apprrpri
alton Tor the support "a Indian schools because OF
| NV confident belief that that course i consistent
| with the wiscsi econ lmy among the most uaculi-
| vaic, Indian tribes. III. unfortunate that durIag
the past wear the means which have been nj ihc
command % the Interior Department Tor the pur.
! pose os Indian instruction have proyedto BE- lnsd.
| equaic. Tho success Of the schools which are In
| operation at Hampton. Carlisle and Forest Grove
should not only encourage mors generous pro'is,
lon for the support 81 those institutions bat should
| prcmp; the establishment % Others.
The Mormon Question.
The existing statute Tor punl-hmcut Yf the Dii
on. crime Of poly gimy - revolving 10 tue moral
anil religious cease VI chris;cglDn has h,rn per.
| .l-teutly AMI contemptu lusy violated. ever since
| IL enactment Inlcct In spite 81 clmmcndtble
effort. the part of authorities Who Represent The
! Cntcd Ststes. the law u practically dead letter
| The fac, that adhcrcat. of TIC Mormon church
! which rests upon p0lygamy as 70, corner stone
! have recently boon peopling In large humber. Ifa
no Arizona and other u our Wef ,rn territories Is
well calculated % excite the lNeue-. Tut 'rc.t AMI
Inc fac, Of secrecy attending the celebration u
marriage in the territory makes the proof of pllyg
| amy very didlcut and the proPrlcty u suggested
! ~ modifying the law otevitcncc which now makes
| . wife incompetent u tss,fy against her husband
! Thls suggestion - approved. Recommend slso
the passage % an act providing that in territories
! OF the United states the fact that woman has
/ been married % a person charged With highmy
shall LOT dlsquailfy her witness upon his trial
| Tor that orcucn. further recommend legislation
| that any person solcmnlIng a marriage Ia any Of
t.c territories shalt bc required under stringent
pcuaitc, for mex or refusal 81 die arrrlidrnic Of
/ such marriage iu llc supreme Court % tn ri
/ tory.
! Ias,are You ,ny determined purpose 70 cooper.
ste with YOU In any lawful Snl III cree. measure
I watch may b. proposed 10 that cnd.
National Education.
There /. now special reason why b. setting
npar the proceeds % tho sae- Of public laiii' or
| by some other course thr government should AID
/ tho work % clucatlon. May VIA now rNer
ri.r the rlsht of sufTr,c ere unable To- read tho
/ ballot which hoy cAst All that can b. done by
| local loxs1tluu and gvunrOslty should lie supple
mcutrt by such ait can Uc cOnsiiiutionAily
/ adur lei ~ the national government Tor the ciu
cation particularly Ot the c0l0rel people. would
3lgsc,l that 10 any tunl DO dedicated O. tails pur
p.,e /. NAV De wisely distributed u the different
.llfr.s n
tai, mean. those lOcAitcs which are most in need
u, such assistance Will reap IT. especial hencui.
Agriculture.
| Tac stca ~ Increase o. our population ani con
scquCnt adiit!ou u tIc number Uf those engaging
I In N" pursuit. % husbantry are living 10 our ~
! .Tlcugural department = growing iisnity AMI im.
pJrttncc.
The President after reviewing III pension dc.
| partn-nt rrpor at great length. aui reproducing
statistic. R.rrady printed, goys GA ~ say ~ the
} out sci that SUM 80 enormous mu-t b" expended
los The government % meet demands for arrears OF
| pensions ., an admoRlti0n 10 tongre-' aud ihc
/ executive % give cautious considerations 10 any
I similar project IN the future. The great irnipA.
iipu t. TIE presentation u tliOus claim, atouIed
/ los the fact that the average sum obllgat'd upon
each application l. thirteen huudrc'l dollars leads
| the President ~ suggest the prupnctv Of making
some special appropriation Tor The prevention u
| fuut
Tn. Mi.I.sippi River
! Isuxgclt thc adoption Of some measure for the
removal uf the distractions which nov impede the
navigation u the Mississippi River.
CIvii Service Reform.
la ms letter accepting The nomination for Tie Ice
Prr-i,s rc' -tatr'i that In my judgment mo man
I should 10 au incumbent OF an Uricc the duties ~
which Lc j. for any cause unht 10 perform who j.
ack!ug In the ability, hlclty or Integrity when a
/ proper administration OF such OIL demands. ms
| ,euiimtni would dOubte,, meet with general aqu
/ e-c.ncc. but the opinion Ia, been widely divided
| upon the Wi-t,m Anl practcAD.ltr VI TIA various
/ rtfpunatOry schemes " hich have bten suggested
aud % certain prup'-cvi rcsula ions governing "P
tOlntmcut- "a public Oli,e. The efficiency oi surh
regulations have been dl-tgustri uthliiE pcctu ~
/ lhcy have seemed 10 eNAlt mere education And al
-lraCt tc-ts above general business, capacity anu
I special utne.- Tor tie particular Work IN hAnd- II
seems - me the rules which should bc applied 10
I :nu management OF the public serVl'e may properly
conform In the main 20 ~ Ia as regulate NE conduct
! Of successful private business. original appoint
| urui- should L. based upon ascertAincd uinc-s :
thc tcnur. OF oflce should - stable, positions u
responsibility should % far a. prhcc1bie u nied
| by promotion OF worthy and efficient oihccIs IN
yrst.a;lon OF all complaints and puni,hment OF MI
Official mi -conduCt should be prompt AMI thorough
/ The Views expressed ia the foregoing !eueT arv
those which will govern INV administration "i
the executive Office. They are doubtless shared by
all intelligent and patriotic citizens, however dl'er
gent Ia their opinions ~ TO the best lncho'- OF put
/ iiug them lutO practical operation. for eNhnp"
the assertion that original appointments SHOULD DC
based upon asccrtained htness" l. not open 20 dis
putc but the question how In practice such Fitness
L
| Ea- for wears excited Interest and discussion.
lie the similarity OF this civil service scheme
with that OF Great Britain, and says the success, ~
the latter IL the strongest argument IN aNor OF ls
adoption although there Sounc points la the
| English system not received with favor 10 I'M.
country even by the moot prominent advocate oil
civil service reform In this country anu 10 eNml
nate which would effect most radical change Ia
/ tn, English sy-tem. To statute ehb"lyinS the
essential features of thi. system lac would ieel
| Lound To- give his approval.
lie then discusses the characteristics which % TO
| make a model civil servant AMI -ay- 10 make sue
! cess In competitive examination an Indispensable
/ condition 0f public employment l. very likely u
result In the practical exclusion OF older april
cants even though they might possess qualliica'
tons far superior "a their younger and more bril
! liant competitors.
lie does no, oppose the competitive plan, but rec
onimend- serious consideration as 10 the Justice II
the application Of the same educational standard
| to mea OF mature years AMI To young men iresA
| from college. lie thinks IL would not be wise IN
adopt rule 30 rigid - Ia permit no other mode OF
supplying responsible situations OF The service cA
! rept by promotion. The subject under cnnslucra-
/ ton h OF great Importance. The evils con-
planned OF cannot BE- eraficate-i at once. The work
| mus; be gradual AMI he thinks we may probably
await the re,ul. OF further inquiry ami experiment
/ The submission OF portion of the nominations 10
! u central boaUl NJ examiners selected solely Tor
testing the qualifications Of applicants may per,
haps without resort 10 competitive te-t put an en'
to the mischief which attends the present system
OF appointment and il may he feasible Ia vest In
| such a boari n wide discretion 10 ascertain The
| characteristics and attachments OF candidates In
those particulars DO less important than mere latel-
lectual attachments. lf Congress nj this session
establishes competitive tests for admission 10 The
service no doubt such ~ have been suggested viii
deter him from giving the measure his earnest sup
| port aud he urgently recommends, should there lie
failure 10 pass ans other act upon the subject that
an appropriation OF s25, 900 per year may he made
| for the enforcement OF section 1888 of Revised
| Statutes. With ALL thus afforded me shall strive
/ 10 execute the provisions OF the law according ~
| its letter and spirit. He then refuse, the severe
and almost iniiscriminatc censure with which the
| present civil service has been recently assailed
lat. fh.fth