Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-12-09

examiners selected solely for testing the qusl6ea
lions OF applicants, may perhaps without resort
TO the competitive test, put an end to the MS
chief which attends the present system of sp-
poin;msnts and 1t may be feasible 10 vest in sueh
ooaru Wide dlSers0 n 10 ascertain the charSc-
tiers snd 2ttainments Of candidates in these par.
ueulArs which l have already referred 20 As be-
ing no less important than mere intellectual at
tsinmentS. Ii congress shall deem it advisable at
the present SESSION TO establish a competitive
test Tor admission to service saeh as has
been suggested, I shsll gIyt the measure
my earnest support, and urgently recommend
should there be failure to pass an. other act on
this subject, an appropriation of SIS. 900 per
year, be made for the enforcement o. section l15S
Of the revised statutes. With the aio thus offered
me shall strike the executive provision of
that law according TO the letter Pad spirit.
am N wiling, IN justice 10 prevent civil servants
oil the government to dismiss this subj CT without
declaring my dissent from the severe and
almost lndlScriminate censune with which
they have been recently asSailed; that
they are as a class INDECENT, inefficient aud
corrupt. Is a statement which had been often
made and widely credited bus when the extent
variety, deicaey and importance Of their duties
are considered, the great majority Of the en-
pioyees II the gyvernmen' are, in my jadgms ut,
deserv nss Of hiyh co;Ine:siatiun.
MERCHANT MARINE
In continuing: the decline Of the merchant ma
rlne Of the tultei States is to be greatly de-
psOred IN view Of the fact that we furnish 50
large proportion OF the freight of the CONNER
clal world and that shipments are steadily and
rapidly increasing. Ii Is cause eff surprise to the
not only Is our navigation interests diminishing
but II Is less than when our exports and imports
were not half 50 large as now either IN bulk
or IN value. There must be some peculiar him
drance 10 the development Of this interest on
the enterprise and energy ~ American mechanics
and capitalists. Il would have sept this eoun-
Try at least above our rivals in The friendly
contest tor ocean supremacy.
The substitution of iron for wood and OF steam
TOR sail, have Wrought great revolutions IN
the carving trade in the world.
But these changes could net have been
adverse 10 America If we h, a given TO our navi-
CATION interests portion Of the and in protection
which has been wisely bestowed upon our man
uiacturss and commerce. ! recommend the whole
subject to the wisdom OF congress with the Sug-
SeStion thar ~ question q greater magnitude Or
further reaching Importance can engage their at
tentiun. In 1873 the supreme court OF the L nited
States declared unconstitutional the statutes Of
certain states, which imposed ON ship owners as
con>i 5neeS, tax Of Loo tor each passenger ar
irving from foreign country or in lieu
thereof require boud 10 indemnify
the state and local authorities against expense for
future relief or support of such passenger. Since
this decision the expenses attending tie care and
supervision of immigrants has fallen on the state
al whose port they have landed. As 4 large ma
lorlty q suel Immigrants Immediately ON arrival
proceed 10 the inland states and the territories To
seek permanent homes. il i mauifc>tly unjust 10
impose on the state whose shores they first reach
the burden which it hears Tor this. Ii Is
because Of the national importance Of the subject
that recommend legislation regarding the Su
ports of debarkation.