The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-12-16

are often SO cramped by routine procedure
as almost to disqualify him from
instituting the changes required
by the public interests The infusion OF new
blood from time to time into the middle ranks
of the service might be very benehctal In Its
results. The subject under discussion Is one
! of grave importance. The evils which are
complained of can not be eradicated at once
the work must be gradual. The present En-.
J glish system is q growth of years. and wasn0t
created by single stroke of executive or leg
islative action. Its beginnings are found In
an order in counsel promulgated in 1859, and
It was after patient and cautious scrutiny OF
its workings that fifteen years later It TOOK MS
of the order in council, and at time when
resort had been had to competitive examina-
tons as experiments, much more extensively
than has yet been the case in this country.
select committee of the House OF Commons
made a report to that House which, declaring
its approval of the competitive method, dep
| recated nevertheless any precipitation IN
its general adoption as likely to en-.
danger its ultimate success. During
this tentative period the results OF the two
methods of passing examination and compe:
titive examination were closely watched and
compared. 1t may be that before we confne
ourselves upon this important question with
ment we may prsfitably await the result OF
further inquiry and experiment. The sub
mission of a portion of the nominations to
central board of examiners selected solely for
testing the qualifications of applicants may.
| perhaps, without resort to the competitive
test, put an end to the mischief which attends
may be feasible to vest in such a board q
| wide discretion. to ascertain the characteris-
| tics and attachments of candidates in these
as being no less important than mere intel
| lectual attainment. If Congress should deem
it advisable at the present session to estab-
iish competitive tests 10 tor adm ADMISSION IS OF,
suggested shall deter me from giving the
| measure my earnest support; and urgently
recommend. should there be failure to pass
| any other act upon this subject, that an ap-
preparation of SIS 900 per year may be made
| for the Enforcement of section ,753 OF the Re
| vised Statutes With the aid thus afforded
me, shall strive to execute the provisions of
that law according to its letter and spirit l
am unwilling, in justice to the present civil
servants Of the Government, to dismiss this
subject without declaring my dissent from
| the severe and almost indiscriminate censure
| with which they have been recently assailed.
That they are as class, indOlent. inefficient
often made and widely credited, but when
the extent, variety, delicacy and importance
of their duties are considered the great ma
are, in my Judgment, deserving of high COM
mendatiOn.
OUR MERCHANT MARINE.
The continuing decline of the merchant
deplored, in view of the fact that we furnish
SO large proportion of the freights of the
commercial world, and that our shipments
cause of surprise, as not only is our naviga-
ton interest diminishing, but 1t Is less than
when our exports and imports were not half
SO large as now, either in bulk or in value.
There must be some peculiar hindrance to
the development of this interest, or the enter.
prise and energy of American mechanics and
OF
test 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 these changes could
not have been adverse to America if we had
given to our navigation interests portion of
thel aid in protection which has been so
wisely bestowed upon our manufacturers. l
recommend the whole subject to the wisdom
eff Congress, with the suggestion that no ques-
ton of greater magnitude or farther reach
In 1873 the Supreme Court of the United
States declared unconstitutional the statutes
of certain States which imposed upon ship
owners or consigneeS a tax of so for each
passenger arriving from a foreign country, or,
in lieu thereof, required a bond to indemnify
the State and local authorities against ex-
pense for the future relief or support OF such
attending the care and supervision of immi
grants has fallen on the States at whose
ports they have landed. AS large majority
of such immigrants have Immediately upon
their arrival proceeded 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 bur-
den which it now bears. For this reason, and
because of the national importance of the
subject, 1 recommend legislation regarding
the supervision or transitOry care of immi-
grants at the ports of debarkation.
MISCELLANEOUS RECOMMENDATIONS.
l 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 Or property can be protected.
While the extent of its population does not
justify the application of the costly machin.
mediate necessity for constituting such a
form of government as will promote the ed
ucation of the people and secure the admin
The Senate at its last session passed bill
providing for the construction OF a building
for the Library of Congress, but it failed to
protection for this great collection of books
and for the department connect
ed with it has become an object of national
Importance and should receive prompt at
tentiOn.
The report of the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia. herewith transmitted, will
forts Of the Commissioners. The vital i'm
portance of legislation for the reclamation
of the marshes and for the establishment
of the harbor lines along the Potomac Riv-
er front is set forth 1t Is represented that
in their present condition these marshes Sc
riously affect the health of the residents of
the au1acenC part OF the Guy, anu that tney
greatly mar the general aspect of the park in
which stands the Washington monument.
This Improvement would add to that park
and the park south of the Executive Mansion
a large area of valuable land and would
transform what is now believed to be a dan.
gerous nuisance into an attractive land
scape 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 at. |
tention to the deficiency of the water supply |
which seriously affects the material prosper |
ity of the city and the health and comfort of |
its inhabitants. commend these subjects %
your favorable consideration.
The importance of timely legislation with |
respect to the ascertainment and declaration !
of the vote for the Presidential Electors was |
sharply called to the attention of the people |
more than four years ago. 1t is to be hope( |
that some well. defined measure may be de- |
vised before another natiOaal election, which |
will render unnecessary resort to any ex. |
pedient of q temporary character for the do |
termination of questions upon contested r.
turns.
Questions which concern the very exist |
ence of the Government and the liberties of |
the people were suggested by the prolonged |
illness of the late President and his cOnse- |
<n fho ~