Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-12-14

V08t6 2ftA
time when resHtts had been to competitive e. ex
animation as an experiment much more extern
slvely than has yet been the case in this coun
try, select committee of the house o
comm commons nh,o. m mao report to tha
pehtve method deprecated nevertheless all
tentative pet1oa It's RESULTS of the two method.
nf pass examination and competitive examina,
ton was closely watched and compared. ID
may be that before we confine ourselves upor
this important question within the stringent
bounds OF statutory enactment we may profit
ably await the result of further inquiry and
experiment. The submission of a portion Of
the nominations to q central board OF
examiners selected solely for testing the quail
hcations of applicants hlay perhaps, without re.
sort to the competitive test put al end to the
mischief which attends! the present system Of
appointment, and it pay be feasible to vest in
characteristics and attainnents of the candi.
dates IN these particulars which have already
referred to as being no less important than
the mere intellectual attainment. If congress
should deem 1t advisable at the present session
to establish competitive tests for admission to
been suggested :. shall deter mo from
giving the measure my earnest support,
and urgently recommend that should there
be failure to pass any other act on this sub.
jects an appropriation of $25,00O per year be
made for the enforcement of section ,759 of
the revised statutes: With the aid thus AFFORD.
ed me shall strive to execute the provisions
Of that law according to its letter and spirit
am unwilling in justice to the present civil ser.
wants of the government to dismiss this subject
without declaring my dissent from the severe
and almost indiscriminate censure with which
they have been recently assaulted. That they
are as class incident, inefficient and corrupt
is statement which has been often made and
widely credited: but when the extent, variety,
delcacy and Importance of their duties are con.
sidered, the great majority of the employees OF
the government are, in my Judgment, deserving
OF high commentator.
MERCHANT MARINE.
The continued decline of the merchant ma
| rine of the United States is to be greatly de-
large proportion of the freights of the COM
mercial world, and that our shipments are
steadily and radidly increasing, it is cause of
surprise that not only is our navigation interest
diminishing, but it is less than when our ex-
ports and imports were not half so large as
now, either in bulk or in value. There must
be some peculiar hinderance to the develop
ment Of this interest, Or the enterprise and
energy Of American mechanics and capitalists
would have kept this country at least
abreast of our rivals in the friendly contest for
ocean supremacy. The substitution of iron for
wood and of steam for sail have wrought great
revolutions in the carrying trade of the world,
but those changes could not have been adverse
to America If We had given to our navigation
interests portion Of the aid in protection
which have been SO widely bestowed upon our
manufactures. commend the whole
subject to the wisdom of congress,
with the suggestion that no question of greater
magnitude or farther-reaching Importance can
engage their attention. In 1875 the supreme
tutional the statues Of certain states which i'm
posed on ship-owners or consignees tax of
S1.5O for each passenger arriving from a
quired a bond to indemnity the state
and local authorities against expense
for the future relief or support of such pas
senger. Since this decision the expense at
tending the care and supervision of immigrants
has fall on the states at whose port they have
landed. AS large majority of such immi-
grants Immediately on arrival proceed to the
inland states and territories to seek permanent
homes, it is manifestly unjust to impose on the
state whose shores they first reach the burden
which it now bears. For this reason, and be-
cause of the national Importance of the SUBJ
ject, I recommend legislation regarding the
supervision.
regret to state that the people of Alaska
have reason to compliant that they are as vet IN
provided with any form of government by
which life or property can be protected. While
the extent of it's population does not Justify
the application Of the costly machinery of ter
necessity for constituting such form of gov
eminent as will promote the education of the
people and secure the administration of Justice,
CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
The senate at its last session passed a bill
providing for the construction of building for
the library of congress, but it failed to become
law. The provision of such protection for
this great collection of books and for the de-
partment connected with it, has become sub
ject of national Importance, and should receive
prompt attention.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The report of the commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia herewith transmitted will in
form you fully of the condition of the affairs
of the District The vital Importance Of legls-
lation for the reclamation and Improvement of
the marshes and for the establishment of the
harbor lines along the Potomac River front
is shown. It is represented that in their
present conditions these marshes seriously af.
feet the health of the residents of the adjacent
parts of the city and that they greatly
mar the general aspect Of the park in which
stands the Washington monument. This i'm
p1OVcucuu WOulO duu W tudt park allu the DARK
south of the executive mansion large area of
valuable land and would transform what is now
believed to be dangerous nuisance into an at
tractive landscape extending to the river-front.
They recommend the removal of the steam
railway lines from the surface Of the streets of
the city and the location of the necessary
depots in such places as may be convenient for
the public accommodation; they call attention
to the deficiency of the water supply which
seriously affects the material prosperity of the
city and the health and comfort of it's inhabi-
tants. commend these sub jects to your To-
vorable consideration.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
The importance of timely legislation with
respect to the ascertainment and declaration of
the vote for presidential electors was sharply
called to the attention of the people more than
four years ago, and it is to be hoped that some
well-defned measure may be devised before
unnecessary resort to any expedient of tenn
porary character for the determination of ques-
tons upon contested returns.
THE INABILITY QUESTION.
Questions, which concern the very existence
of the government and the liberties Of the peo-
pie, were suggested by the prolonged illness of
to perform the functions Of his Office. It is
provided by the second article of the constitu-
ton in the fifth clause of it's first section,
President from Office or of his death, assassi-
natioD,. or inability to discharge the powers
and duties of said Office, the same shall de-
volve on the vice president. What is the in
tention of the constitution in it's speculation of
Hinabilitv To DISCHARGE The MOVERS and dnt;es