Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-12-10

exhibits results of the experiments IN which that
department has been engage during the past
erence to the agricultural development OF the
country. The steady increase of our population
and the consequent addition to the number OF
giving to this department a growing dignity and
importance. The commissioners suggestion
deserves attention. as 1t more and mere COM
mends itself to the interest which 1t was created
to promote.
Of pensions, that since 1850 7s9 .06S original pen
stons claims have been died. Or these. $50 $50
roll. 7a,5ss have been rejected and Abandoned
being IL plus per cent. OF the whole number of
claims settlei: There are now pending for set
Of which were filed prior to July l, 1880. These
when allowed, will involve the payment of r
rear. from the date OF discharge In the case OF an
invalid, and from the date OF death or termina-
ton of . prior right in all other Gases.
RoM ALL THE DATA osrA1NABLE
it is estimated that Is per cent. of the number of
elalms now pending will be rejected or abandon
e. 81 90 r .ss. sa and tn. leI pro tas Rt sGmissi ts9e Of sSoS ..
lss 900 cases. all Of which involve the payment
Of arrears of pensions. This number Of claims.
1913 900. could be acted upon in = period of siI
period frem which to estimate in each case an
average amount of arrear. 1t is found that
drst payment upon it the sum Of si.sso. But
In view Of the speedy assembling Of your body l
have preferred to await such legislation as IN
your wisdom the occasion may seem to demand.
II may perhaps be- thought proper to provide
that the setting on feot within our own territory
of brigsndage and armed marauding sxpedi-
lions sRainsI friendly nations and their citizens
United States. l will add that in the evs Mt of q
request from the territorial government for pro
Ti:I.ne. P 3S,s the ssy un,5ea st ass,d af ps paw asmsst .s
render assistance. The act OF l795, chapter SO,
passed Ut . time when territorial governments
this duty of the United States only ss to state
governments. but the act Of 1907, chapter 80, APP
piled also to territories. This law seems to have
utes when provisions for the territories dropped.
am not advised whether this alteration was
intentional or accidental. but az it seems to me
ton which is accorded to the state by the consti-
tuition, l suggest legislation to that end. 1t
seems to me that whatever views may prevail as
army he's ceased TO be q part of the posse conf
tstus. an exception might wei! be made for per.
hitting the military to assist the civil territorial
authorities in enforcing the laws. of the United
states. This use of the army would not seem to
be within the alleged evil against which that
legislation is aimed. From spareness OF popula-
ton and other circumstance, it Is often quite
lmpractIcable to summon o civil posse in places
where officers of justice require assistance, and
where a military force is within easy reach.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIssIssrPPI.
j 4dVI6e an appropriation lOr oucN Internal
improvements Is the wisdom of congress
may deem TO be of public Importance. The ne.
eessity OF improving tho navigation Of the Mia.
ject. 1 suggest the due adoption Of some meas.
urs for the removal of obsiructions which now
impede the navigation Of that great channel oi
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In my letter accepting the nomination for the
vics-presldency. I stated that in ny judgment
NO man should be the of IN ONCE, the
HnffAa nH DhINh h. 10 fN~ nry ma V~At IN /.
form, who 10 lacking in ability. fidelity or ln-
teErity whish = proper administration 81 such
less meet with general acquiescsncs. but opin-
ION has been widely divided upOn the wisdom
and practicability or the various rsfOrmatory
schemes which have been suggested, and OF
certain proposed regulations governing ap.
polntments to public office. The efficacy OF such
regulations has been dlslrusted. mainly because
and abstract tesla shove general business capac-
ity and even OF special ftness for the partlc-
ular work In band. 1t seems to mo that the re-
suit that should be applied to the management
Of the public service may properly conform in
the main to such rs regulate the condition OF
successful privats business. Original appoint
The tenure OF ondce should be stable and posi-
t!sns OF responsibility should, SO far as prac'
tie.bles be Oiled by tbs promotion Of worthy
and efficient of1cers. The investIgatton OF al
complaints and the punishment OF all o1acia
conduct.
SHOULD BE PROMPT AND THOROUGH.
The views expressed in the foregoing letter ar.
those which will govern my administration 81
.he executive Office. They are doubtless shared
by all Intelligent and patriotic ~citixens. how.
srer divergent in their opinion. AZ to the best
ton. For example, the assertion that origina.
appointments should be based upon an ascer-
tanned fitness. is not open to dispute. but tn.
question how in practice such fitness can bt
most sheotually ascertained is one which hai
for years excited II Ierest and discussion. Thu
measure. which. with slight variation in it:
detail hHa lately hQnn nrUnI nm rho affopfirr
OF congress and the executive, has as its prin-
cipal feature the scheme Of competitive exam.
not here be epscldsI. this pian would permit
admission to the service only in its lowest grade
and would accordingly demand that all vacan-
motion alone. In these PARTICULARS It is IL CON.
formlty with the existing civil service system
Of Great Britain, and indeed the success which
birth is the strongest argument which has beer
not. however, he overlooked that there arr
certain features of the English system whict
this country. even among the foremost advocate!
Of civil service reform Among them are; first,
tenure; second. a Limitation Of the maximum
age at which an applicant can enter the service
whereby all men. in middle life or lnder, are
with some exceptions, rIgidly excluded; third
. retiring allowance upon going out OF once
These three elements are as important facterl
Of The problem a. any Of the others. To elm
AAes0 thAo CuStloh oyblcu1 ~OulO GuCC
. most. radical change in Its practice. TIT
avowed purpose Of that system Is to Undue,
the educated young men OF the country to de
assurance that having once entered upon
THEY NEED NEVER LEAVE IT,
and that after voluntary retirement they shall
be recipients OF m annual pension. That THU
system, as an entirety, has proved very success
coded, even by those who once opposed it's adop
zion. 10 q statute which should incorporate III
its essential features, should feel bound to CIV
my approval, but whether 1t would be for tn
best interests Of the public to nx upon An ex
psdIent tor immediate and extensive app.ica
ton which embraces certain features OF tn
OF equal Importance, may be seriously doubted
sSen those who are impressed A. 1 am myssl
with the grave importance Of correcting tn
II. for example, the English rul
which shuts out persons above the age OF 2
years from . large number of public employ
ments Ia not to be made an essential part Of GU
system, 1t Is questions BILE whether the attain
ment of the highest number of marks ut 3 com
which all applications for appointment sheult
10 put to the test; and under similar condition.
L nay also be Questioned whsther admission t.
the service should be strictly limited to its low
est ranks. There are very many charaeteristic
which 20 to make Q model civil servant. Prom
iDsnt among them are probably Industry. goot
esdss' c x9Ga 1ap tact, sesIer. In%per' m pniisn DC.
ference to superior officers and manly consider
alton Tor Interiors. The absence Of these trait
10 net supplied by = wide knowledge of books
or by promptitude In answering questions, Of
by any other quality ~likely.to be brought to ligh
BY competitive examination. To make success
In such q contest, therefore,. an indispensable,
condition Of the public employment would verJ
likely result In the practical exclusion OF tn,
older applicants. even though they might pos
sess qualifications FAR superior to their younger
and more trillisnt competitors. These sugges-
tons must not be REGARDED as evincing any spiri
Of opposition to the:eompetltive plan. which ha'
been TO some exteat successfully employed vi.
ready, and which may hereafter vindicate the
claims Of their most earnest supporters. Another
feature of the proposed system is the selection
by promotion OF all officers Of the government
above the lower grade. except such as would
fa'ily b" REGARDED as opponents Of the policy o
the executive and principles Of the dominan
party to afford Encouragement to faithful pablit
servants by exciting in their minds the hope o
promotion il they are found to merit 1t, is mucf
to bs desired. but would 1t be vice to adopt
rule so rigid rs to permit no other mode of sup
plying the walks ofthc service.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
Executive Mansion.
CHRTSTMA