The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-12-13

ShN RoihnShOh1 0uV0LCCm0QIs 1lGSC Are The
identical views promulgated by Commissioners
Price recently.
In transmitting the report of the Postmaster
General, the following reference is made to
the indictments against persons formerly
connected with the postal service: al have
snjoiped upon tho officials who are charged
with the conduct Of the cases on the part of
the government, and upon the eminent coun-
sci who, before my accession to the Presi-
dency, were called to their assistance, the
dntJ Of prosecuting with the utmost rigor Of
the law all persons who may be found
chargeable with frauds upon the postal SER
vice."
The message recommends the modification
of the System of courts of the United States,
on account OF the increase of population and
consequent increase Of court business.
The situation in Utah is fully discussed,
and the necessity of wiping out the beastly
iniquity in that country urged. 1t is recon-
mendsd that the law be modified so that q
wife may be a competent witness against her
husband, and that a certificate of the solemn
izs'ion of all marriages in the Territories be
required to be filed with the Clerk of the Su-
preme Court.
The necessity of education, though not
contemplated under the system of the gener-
al government, is dwelt upon, and a recon-
mendation made that whatever fund may be
dedicated to this purpose be distributed ac-
cording to the ratio of illiteracy.
The message throws in a few lines upon the
subject of agriculture.
Tho President seems to be aware of crook
edness in the Pension office, from the fact
that $685., 100000 is the amount estimated to
be required for pensions, and says: "The
great temptation TO the presentation of ticti-
tiOus CLAIMS is afforded by the fact that the
average sum obtained upon such application
is $l3, leads me to suggest the propriety of
making some special appropriation for the
prevention of fraud"
The President devotss a large space in his
message to the discussion of civil service re-
form, on the basis enuuciated by him in his
letter of acceptance. The qualifications of a
good officer are set down as prebity, industry,
kSoo Oho SSSA hopiee, Soo~ SS"hPSis 20
tlence, toll, courtesy, tact, self-reliance, mai
ly Difference to superior officers, and manly
consideration for interiors. A wide knowl-
edge of books or pro.ApUitude in answering
questions at a competitive examination do
not bring cut these qualities. The message
recommends the adoption of the English sys-
TEN, the main feature OF which is to induce
the educated young meh Of the country to de-
vote their lives to public employment, by an
assurance that having once entered upon it
they need never leave it, and that after vol
untsry retirement they shall be the recipients
of An annual pension. The message recon-
mends u tenure of Office, which is substanti-
ally a life tenure; a limitation of the MAXI
mum age which al applicant can enter the
service, whereby all men in middle life OF
over, with some exceptions, are vigorously
excluded; a retiring allowance upon going out
of office. The views OF the President upon
this subject are decidedly aristocratic, and
will not meet with favor with the American
people until their ideas shall have become SO
revolutionizsd that they are ready to accept a
IlOnarClllal form OF government.
The message calls attention to the question
that engrossed attention during the illness of
the late President in regard to the construc-
ton to be placed upon the constitu-
tional term ':inabi lity," and at what
exigeucy the Vice President shall succeed 10
office, and suggests that the subject receive
the thoughtful consideration OF Congress.
Taken as a whole, the message is a fair in
deX # the established character of its author.
1t is full of matter for the confederation of
Congress-, but contains bat little OF suggestion
or all expression ofthe views of the President
up J II the topics suggested. The little of sug-
gestions that does appear stamps the President
as one to be relied on by the vast moneyed
and corporate interests of the country. If it
had been prepared in Wall street the message
could not have taken stronger grounds in be-
half IF these int ests. The message itself
shows a remarkable and intimate knowledge
of the sffairs of the government. 1t has much
the ring of a routine paper from a subordinate
in one of the Departments. There is nothing
in the document beyond the capacity of a
Department clerk. 1t speaks of matters re-
quiring legislation in a sort of perfunctory
manner leaving in most cases the manner in
which such legislation is to be effected a sub
ject for future consideration. So far as the
President has permitted his views to appear
he is a monometalist, a protectionlst, and an
aristscrat in his ideas of government.
The prophesied psstilence from planetary