Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-09

! " ii'i INV bld tnllS ulOIutO nc sinai
strive to execute the provisions of that
law according to its letter and spirit.
am unwilling, in Justice to the pres
| sent civil servants Of the government,
to dismiss this subject without declaring
! my dissent from the severe and almost
lndlscriminate censuro with which they
have been recently assaulted. That they
are, as n class, indolcnt, inefficient, cor.
rupt, is u statement which has been
often made and widely credited. But
when the extent, variety, dclicacy and
importance Of their duties are con.id.
cred, the great majority of the cmployes
| OF the government are, in my Judgment
deserving Of high commentator.
THE MERCHANT MARINE.
The continuing decline Of the mer
| chant marine of the United State, is 10
! be greatly dcplorcd. In view Of the
fact that we furnish so large a propr
! ton of the ircights of the commercial
world, and that our shipments ore
steadily and rapidly increasing. it isa
cause Of surprise that not only il CT
navigation interest diminishing. but 4
Is less than when our exports and in.
ports were not half so large as nov.
| either in bulk or value. There must r
some peculiar hindrauce to the deyelo-
| mcnt OF this interest, or the cnterpris
and energy Of American mechanics atl
| capitalists would have kept this cou.
try at least abreast of our rivals
the friendly contest for ocean supr,
macy. The substitution of iron fc
wood and Of steam for sail has wroilrh
great revolutions in tho carving trad
of the world but these changes coul
not have been adverse to America Il vs.
had given to our navigation interests
portion of aid and protection, whic.
have been so wisely bestowed upnr on
manufactures. ] commend the whol
subject to the wisdom Of Congress. wit
the suggestionthat no question ofgreate
magnitude or farther reaching inDort
ance can engage their attention.
In 1873 the supreme court of tht
United States declared unconstitutiona
the statutes Of certain States which i'm
posed upon shipowncrs or consiruees ?
tax Of a dollar and n half for each pas
seugcr arriving from n foreign country
and in lieu thereof required a bond t.
indemnify the State and local autbori
ties against expense for the future re-
lief or support Of such passengers.
attending the care and supervision
of emigrants has fallen on the
States at whose ports they have
landed. As large majority of such
immigrants, Immediately upon their ar.
rival, proceed to the inland States and
the Territories to seek permanent
homes, it is manifestly unjust to impose
upon the state whose shores they first
reach the burden which it now bears.
For this reason, and because of the ma.
tional Importance of the subject, l re-
commend legislation regarding the su.
pcryision and transitory care of immi.
grants at the ports of debarkation.
TIE CONDITION OF ALASKA.
| regret to state that the people of
Alaska have reason to complain that
they are as yet unprovided with any
form of government by which life OF
property can be protected.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The report of the commissioners of
the District of Columbia. herewith
transmitted, will inform you fully of the
condition Of the affairs of the District.
They urge the vital importance of lecis-
lation for the reclamation and improve
ment Of the marshes, and for the estab-
lishmcnt of the harbor lines along the
Potomac river front.
CONTESTED ELECTIONS.
The importance of timely legislation
with respect to the asccrtainment and
declaration Of the vote for Presidential
Electors was sharply called to the at
tcntion Of the people more than four
years ago.
1t is to be hoped that some well de-
fined measure may be devised before
another national election, which will
render unnecessary a resort to any ex-
pcdient Of a temporary character for the
determination Of questions upon con-
tested returns.
PRESIDENTIAL DISABILITY.
Questions which concern the very ex-
istence of the government and the lib
critics of the people were suggested by
the prolonged illness of the late Presi-
dent and his subsequent incapacity TO
perform the functions of his office. It
is provided by the second article Of the
Constitution in the fifth clause of its FIRST
section, in case of the removal of the
President from office or Of his death,
resignation or disability to discharge
the powers and duties of said office, the
same shall devolve upon the Vice-Presi-
dent. What is the amendment of the
Constitution in the specification of ina
bility 10 discharge the powers and du-
ties of said Office rs one of the contin-
gencies which calls the Nice-President
to the exercise of presidential functions?
Is the inability limited in it's nature to
long-continued intellectual incapacity,
or has it a broader import? How must
its existence be established? Has the
President whose inability is the sub
lect of inquiry any voice in determin-
ing whether or not il exists, or is
the decision of that mOmentols and
delicate question confidcd to the Vice
President, or is it contemplated by the
Constitution thai Congress should pro-
vide by law precisely what should con
stitute inability, and how and by what
tribunal or authority it should be asoer-
tainedY If the inability proves to be
in its nature. and during its
continuance the VicC-PreSident lawfully
exercises functions of the Executive, by
what tenure does he old his office?
Does he continus as President for the
of the four Years term:
or would the elected President. if
his Inability should cease in the in
terval, be empowered to resume his
office? and if, having such lawful au-