The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-07

ALASKA
is still without our form of government.
Ii means were provided for the educa-
ton OF its people and for the protection
OF their lives and properly the immense
resources of that region would invite
permanent settlement and open new
fields for industry and enterprise.
AGRICULTURE.
The report Of the commissioner of Ay-
ricultuFe presents an account of the Ia
boTs OF the department 3nnBg the past
year and includes information OF much
interest TO general public. Tie condi-
ton OF the forests Of The country and the
wastefui manner III which their dcstruc-
ton is taking place give cause Tor ser
ious approximations. Their action in
protecting the earth's surface IL nodi-
tying extremes of climate and in regu
lating and sustaining the flow of the
springs and streams, is low we'll under
stood, and their importance in the rela-
ton 10 the growth and prosperity of the
country cannot be safely disregarded
They are fast disappearing before the
destructive fires and the legitimate re-
quirements of our increasing popula-
lion, and their total extinction cannot
long be delayed unless better methods
than how provided shall be adopted for
attention of congress is invited TO the
necessity OF additional legislation 10 Sc
cure the preservation ofthe valuable for
ests still remaining on the public do
main, especially In the extreme western
states and territories, where the necessi-
ty Tor their preservation is greater than
in less mountainous regions, and where
the prevailing dangers of the climate
render their restoration, if they are
once destroyed, well nigh impn sSible.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The communication which was made
To congress at its first session in Decem-
Der lasI, contained a somewhat full state
ment of my sentiments in relation 10
the principles and rules which ought io
govern appointments to public service,
referring TO the various plans which had
heretofore been the subject of disc us
sion in the legislature. Plans which in
the main were nodded upon the system
which lacked certain OF the prominent
features whereby that system is distin-
guished. l felt bound To intimate my
thoughts, whether they or any OF them
would afford adequate remedy for the
evils which they aimed TO correct.
declared nevertheless that if the propos-
ed measures should prove acceptable tn
congress, they would receive the unhesi-
va tAGCul1NG EOlECe Tue
suggestions were submitted for your con-
sIdeTatlon there has been no legislation
on the subject to which they relate, but
there has meanwhile been an increase in
the public interest on that subject, and
the people of country apparently, with
out distinction of party, have III various
ways and upon frequent occasions
given expression to their earnest
wish for prompt and def
mite action. In my judgment such ac-
tion should no longer be postponed. l
may ada that my own sense of its pres
tige and importance has been quickeneG
by observation in the practical phase of
the latter, to which attention has more
than once been called by my predeces-
sors. The civil list now comprises about
one hundred thousand persons, the large
part of whom must, under the terms OF
the constitution, be selected by the pres
ident either directly or through his own
appointees, In the early years of the
administration of the government the
personal direction of appointments to
the civil service may not have been an
lrksome task for the executive but now
that the burden has increased fully a
hundred fold, il has become greateTtha
he ought to bear, and il necessarily de-
tracts his time and attention from the
proper discharge of ether duties no less
delicate and responsible, and which in
the very nature of things cannot be del
egated to other hands. In the iudg-
ment OF not few who have given study
and reflection to this matter, the nation
has outgrown the provisions which the
constitution has established for filling
the minor offices in the public service.
But whatever may be thought Of
the wisdom or expectancy of
changing the fundamental law in this
regard, it is certain much relief may
be afforded, not only TO the president
and to the heads of the departments, but
10 senators and representatives in con-
gress, by discreet legislation. They
would be protected, in great measure,
by the bill now pending before the SEN
ate, or by any other which should en-
body its most important features from
the pressure of personal importantly
and from the labor of examining CON
flIcting claims and pretentions of candi-
dates, l trust that before the close of
the Present session some decisive action
may be taken for the correction OF pres
ent evils which are in the present
methods of appointment, and / assure
you my hearty cooperation in any
measures which are likely to conduce 10
that end. AS to the most appropriate
term for the tenure of the official life of
the subordinate employees of the govern
ment, 1t seems TO be generally agreed
that whatever their extent or character,
the one should be definite and the other
stable, aud that neither should be regu-
lated by zeal IN the service of the party,
or fidelity to the fortunes of one indi-
vidual. 1t matters but little to the peo-
pie at large what competent person is at
the head of this department or of that
bureau, if they feel assured that the re
moval of one and the accession OF
another will not involve the retire
ment of honest and faithful
subordinates. whose duties are purely adj
ministratiye and have no legitimate
connection with the triumph of any po-
litical principles or the success Of any
political party or faction. II Is to this
latter class of officers that the senate bill
to which have already referred applies,
while neither that bill nor any other
prudent scheme for improving the civil
service concerns the higher grade of Of
ficials who are appointed by the pTesi-
dent and confirmed by the senate. /
feel bound to correct 3 prevalent mIsap-
prehension as 10 the frequency with
which the present executive has dis
placed the incumbent of an Office aud
appointed another in his stead. II has
been repeatedly alleged that he has in
this particular signally departed from
the course which has been pursued un-
der recent administrations of the govern
ment. The facts are as follows: The
whole number of executive appoint
ments during the four years Immediate
ly preceding Mr.. Garfeld's accession TO
the presidency was 1893. OF this num-
Der PA, or per cent, involved the
removal of the previous incumb-
ents. The rates of removals to the
whole number of appointments was
much the same during each of
these four years. In the first year,
with $50 appointments, there were "A
removals, or 8 $40 per cent. In the
second, with OFT appointments, there
were IS removals, or 8 $40 per cent. In
the third, with 40 appointments, there
were 4S removals, or 10 per cent. In
the fourth, with 429 appointments, there
were 81 removals, or 5-10 per cent. In
the four months of President Garfield's
administration there were 800 appoint
ments and SO removals, or % ITO per
cent Precisely the same number of re-
movais, eighty-nine, has taken place in
the fourteen months which have since
elapsed, but they constitute only seven
eighths per cent. of the whole number
of appointments, is per cent within
that period and less than two-sixths of
the entire list of officials, 1859, exciu-
sive OF the army and navy which is
filled by presidential appointments.
declared my approval of such legisla-
ton as may be found necessary for sup
plementing the existing provisions of law
in relation to political assessments.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
In July last | authorized public an
nouncement that employees of the gov
ernment should regard themselves as at
liberty 10 exercise their pleasure in max
ing OF refusing to make political contFi-
buttons, and that their action in that re-
gard would in NO manner effect their
official status. On this announcement
ACTED upon the view which l had al
ways maintained and shall maintain,