The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-12-09

already referred, exclusively applies. While

already referred, exclusively applies. While
neither that bill nor any other prominent
scheme for improving the civil service concerns
the higher grade of officials who are appoint
ed by the president and confirmed by tho
senate feel bound to correct prevalent mis-
apprehension as to the frequency with which
the present executive has displaced the incum-
bent of an Office and appointed another in his
stead 1t has been repeatedly alleged that he
has in this particular siSnallv departed
from the course which has been pursued un-
der recent administrations Of the government
The facts are az follows: The whole number
of executive appointments during The four
years Immediately preceding Mr.. Gatheld's
accession to the presidency, was 2,6i; of this
number .5i. or . per cent, involved the re.
moval of previous incumbents. The ratio OF
removals to the whole number of sp-
pontments was much the same during
each OF those four years. In tho first
year, with 100 appointments, their were
"A removals, or a3 per cont: in the
second with Oh appointments, there were
50 removals, or So per cent; in the third,
with 400 appointments, there were as re-
movals, or 10 per cent III the fourth, with
42O appointments, there were 81 removals, or
or Sc per cent i'll the four months Of Presi-
dent Garfield's administration there were $50
appointments and 81 removals, or -, per
cent Precisely the same number of removals
(S0 has taken place in the fourteen months
which have since elapsed, but they constitute
only a per cent of the whole number OF ap-
pointments, a within that period, and less than
two-sixths of the entire list of officials a ,450)
exclusive of the army and navy, which ID
filled by presidential appointment
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
declare my approval of such legislation as
may be found necessary for supplanting the
existing prove ions of law in relation to politi-
zeal assessment In July last | authorized a
public announcement that employees of the
government should regard themselves AZ at
liberty TO exercise their pleasure in making or
refusing to make political contributions, and
that their action in that regard would III no
manner affect their official stations. In
this announcement l acted upon the
view which | had always maintained and
still nlaintaM--that public officer should
be ~ absolutely free a. any other citizen to
givs OF 70 withhold II contribution for the aid
of the political party of his choice. II has,
however, been urged, and doubtless not with
ont foundation in fact, that by the solicitation
of superioIs and by other modes such con-
tributions have at all times been obtained
from persons whose only motive for giving
has been n fear of what might befall them II
they refused. 1t goes without saying that
such contributions are not voluntary In my
judgment, their collection should be prohibited
by law 4 bill which will etlectually sup
press them will receive my cordial approval
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
hope that, however numerous and urgent
may be the demand upon your attention, the
interest of this district will not be forgotten.
The denial to its residents of the great right OF
suffrage in all its relations to national, state
and municipal action imposes on congress
the duty of affording them the best admins
tratiOn which its wisdom can devise
The report of the district commissioners
Indicate certain measures whose adoption
would seem to be very desirable. | instance
in particular those which relate to arrears OF
taxes, to steam railroads, and to assessments
Of real property.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
Among the questions which have been the
topic of recent debate in the halls of congress,
none are of greater gravity than those relating
to the entertainment of the vote for presiden-
tal electors and the intentment of the constr
tuition ia it, provisions for dovolving the exec
utvc functions upon the vice president when
the president suffers from inability to dis
charge the powers and duties of his office
trust that no embarrassment may result from
failure to determine these questions before
another national election.
CONCLUSION.
The closing year has been replete with
blessings for which we owe to the Giver of all
Good our reverent acknowledgement For
the uninterrupted harmony of our foreign re-
lations; for the decay of sectional anmOsities
for the exuberance of our harvests, and the
trumphs of our mining and manufacturing
Industries; for the prevalence of health, the
spread of intelligence, and the conservation of
the public credit; for the growth of the coun.
try in all the elements of national greatness
for these and countless other blossngs-wo
should rejoice and be glad. l trust that under
the inspiration of this great prosperity, our
counsels may be harmonious and that the die
tates of prudence, patriotism, justice and
Jireat IA alpnfion pf
ures in which the congress and the executive
may heartily unite,
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
Washington, Dec 4, 1882.