Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-12-09

been enforced. aud tor cause to which refer
w Tss Ss sae y
Mormon Church, which rests upon polygatny
ne ITS corner.stone, have recently been
peopns in large IsssS Ar
ritories is well calculated to excite the
liveliest interest and apr ehonsion. II imposes
ompioyins aeainst this barbarous system ali
the power which, under the Consultation and
law, they can WELD for It's destruction. Refer
ence has been already made to tho objects
which the United States officers have cncoun-
tered in their efforts to punish violations OF
the Law. Prominent among the obstacles the
difficulty OF procuring legal evidence SUN
cient to warrant conviction, even In the case
of most notorious offenders. your attention is
called TO the occupation of the supreme Court
reversal re I in the case of Miles. who had been con.
victed of bigamy in Utah. The court refers to
the fact that the secrroy attending the celebra-
part of polygamy very difficult and the propriety
is suggested of modifying that law Of evidence
which nov w, makes wife @ incompetent to testify
sss ss providing that ,ha. in the ferritoTi.s ,s Of
ns Woman Sss 5ssa married shp to PERSON
charged with bgamy shall not disquaify
her ns n witness upon his trial for that ofiense.
further recommend legislation by which any
person solemnizng marriage in any Of the
Territories shall be required under stringent
penalties for neglect or refusal to file q con,
the Territory unless Congress may devise other
practicable measures for obviating the difficult
ties whcn have hitherto attended the efforts to
suppress, this iniquity. 1 assure you of my de
in in any any lawful I'' AZ and discreet measntes
which may be proposed to that end
Although our system of government does not
contemplate that the Nation should provide
or support system for tho education of our
people, no expense should be spared to pro-
mote that intelligence and virtue upon which
the perpetuity of our institutions so greatly
depends. 1t has ever been regarded with In
| difference by Congress or Executive. large
| portion of the public domain has been from
time to time devoted to the promotion OF
education. | would suggest that IL any fund
| be dedicated to this purpose 1t may be wisely
distributed in the different States according to
the ratio of iliteracy or, by this means, those
| locations which are most in need of such as
| sistance will reap its especial benefits.
AGRICULTURAL.
The report of the Commissioner OF AGrf cul-
| ture exhibits results of the experiments in
| which that department has been engaged
| during the past year, and makes i'm
| ricultural development of the country.
| The steady increase of our population and the
| consequent addition to the number of those
| engaging in the pursuit of husbandry are Civ.
| ing to this department a growing dignity and
Importance. The commissioners suggestions
touching its capacity for greater usefulness
mends itself to the interests which it was crea
ted to promote.
| PENSIONS.
1t appears from the report of the Commits
sioner of Pensions that since 1850 IS9.063 origin
al pension claims have been filed ,i5O, $40 of these
have been allowed and inscribed upon the pen
sion roll, 72.5S9 have been rejected and aban
doned. being thirteen per GENT. of the whole
number of claims settled. There are now pend
claims, 227 O4O of which were filed prior to Jul,
1st. 1850. These. when allowed, will involve the
payment of arrears from the date Of discharg'
In case of an invalid from date of death o.
otfneases other eases. From all the data obtainab
it is estimated that fifteen per cant of tn,
Set jecteG or abandoned. as fhis f' Would Id show
probable rejection of 3i.040 cases and the prob
able admission Of about 173,oo0 claims. 1t \
estimated that 50 per cent. Will be allowed. A
has been stated, with the present force of tn
Pension Bureau-675 clerks-it will take 81,
years to dispose of the claims now pending
inasmuch as fully one thIrd of the clerlca
force of the Office ia now wholly occupied i
giving attention to correspondence with th
% 9t a. ih whose cases haTe pee
that q sum so enormous may be expended by til
Government to meet demands for arrears o
pensions is an admonition to Congress and tn
Executive % give cautious consideration to an
similar project in the future, the great tempts
Jion to the presentation of fictitious claims a
upon each application is Sl,3t, leads to sus
gest the propriety of making some special apprt
. priatioR for the prevention of fraud.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
E advise appropriations for such interni
e Improvements as the wisdom of Congress- ma
deem to be cf public Importance. TT
tss ssssspp pfRRTsas R1as nses s seec
allusion to that subject. i suggest the adol
e tion of some measure of removal OF the ol
D structions which now impede the navigatiO
e of that great channel of commerce.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
! In my letter accepting the nomination fc
Vice-Presdent, l stated that, in my jud
office, the duties of which he is for any caus
n unfit TO perform, who is lacking in the abilit
!. fidelity or integrity & which proper p,s admin mini
3, ment would doubtless meet with general a
n quiescence, but opinion has to be widely q
+ vided upon the wisdom and practicability
o the various reformatory schemes which ha,
/ been suggested, and OF certain proposed reg
d lations governing appointments to go
y ernment Office. The efficiency, Of SUI
> regulations has been distrusted, main
e because they have seemed to exait mere ed
l, cational and abstract tests above gener
/. business capacity and even special fitness f
d the particular work in hand II seems to n
# that the result that should be applied 90 Il
u management of the public service may pro
II crly conform In the main to such as regula
!, the condition of successful private busines
y Original appointments should be based up'
u ascertained fitness.
10 tions of responsibility, should so far as prac
ie cable be filled by the promotion of worthy al
n efficient officers. The investigation of all col
r plants, the punishment of all Official miScC
er duct should be prompt and thorough. Il
1T views expressed in the foregoing letters q
those which will govern my administration
ut the Executive Office. They are doubtless shar
TO by all intelligent and patriotic citizens, howev
a. divergent in their opinions as to the best met
d DDS of putting them into practical operate
"a For example, the assertion that original d
d. pointments should be based upon the asc
r tained fitness, is not open to dispNte but
70 question, how in practice such fitness can
RS most elrectualy ascertained, is one which b
l. for years excited interest and discussion. L
N. measure which, with a slight variation in
detahs, h,s lately been urged upon t
IT, attention of Congress, and the Exec
IN tive has, as it is the principal featu
e- the scheme of competitive examnatit
90 save for certain exceptions, which ne
1T not here be specified, this plun would all
ng admission to the service on III i.s lowest grs
of and would accordingly demand that all vac;
y =, cies IN higher positions thould be filled by p
nd conformity with the existing civil service syst
W of Great Britain and indeed, the success VIII
It's ias attended that system in the country of