Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-12-06

mendsd. The difference between the
present rate of letter carrying and that
Of forty years ago is forcibly brought
to mind by the President when he says
that Immediately prior to the act of ls4l
the postage upon lett composed OF a
single sheet was a. follows: When con-
veyed 30 miles or Les, 6 cents; between
30 and 80 miles, 10 cents; between 80
and 150 miles, l2,f cents; between 150
and 100 miles, 1sx esats; ovss zoo miles,
Is cents. By the ass Of 1S4l the post.
age upon . single letter conveyed for
any distance under 100 milss was fixed
At s esntA and for any Rrsasse distAnes
ss 10 osnts.
Education, the railroads, polyRamy.
the Territories and Alaska are rsfsrTsd
TO, without. howsvss, sspssiL rssom-
msndation.
Congress 10 invited to leRislats for the
preservation Of the splendid forests
still remaining on the public domain,
especially in the extreme Western States
and Territories.
The civil list now comprises almost
10000 persons. On this subject the
President says:
Il is said that before the close of the
present session, decisive act may be Ia
ken for the correction of tho evils which
infest the present methods of appoint
ment and l assure you OF my hearty Co
operation in any measures which are
likely TO conduce to that end. As they
must appropriate the term and tenor of
the government, it seems TO be general
ly agreed that. vhstever their extent or
character. the one should be definite
and the other stable, and that neither
should be regulated by zeal in the Of
doe for party or fidelity Ia. the fortunes
o. an individual.
President Arthur INDUCES in q per-
sonal explanation in this connection,
for which he may we'll be pardoned.
with the presentation of which We will
conclude this article:
! feel bound TO correct q prevalent
miaapprehonsion as TO the frequency
with which the present executive has
deposed tho incumbent Of an Office and
appointed another in his stead. 1t has
been repeatedly alleged that he has in
this particular signally departed from
the course which has been pursued IN
der recent administrations of the gov
eminent. The facts arc as follows:
The whole number of executive appoint
ments during the four years immediate
ly preceding Mr.. Garneld's accession was
26y6. Of this number IA or nine per
cent, involved the removal of previous
incumbents. Tho ratio of removals TO
the whole number Of appointments must
be the same during each of these fours.
In the first year, with 100 appointments,
there were "a removals or S.5 percent;
IN the third, with $50 appointments,
there we're 50 removals or 10 percent; in
the fourth, with 40 appointments, there
were ~ removals or 3 percent. In the
four months OF Gsrfield's a1ministra-
ton, there were $50 appointments and
50 removals or 20 percent; bsing precise
ly the same number Of removals, -, al
have taken place in the fourteen months
which have since elapsed, but
they constitute only eighteen percent of
the whole number Of appointments, less
than two-sixths Of the entire list of Off
cials, 3,459, exclusive Of the army and
navy, which is filed by Presidential ap-
pointment. l declare my approval Of
such Liquidation AZ may be necessary for
supplanting the existing provisions Of
law IN relation 70 political assessments,
and in July last authorized public an
nouncement that employees OF the gov
eminent should regard themselves as at
liberty to exercise their pleasure in max
ing or helping to make political contri-
bottoms, and their action in that regard
would in no manner Affect their official
status. In this announcement acted
ON the view which had always MAIN
tanned. and still maintain, that public
officers should be free TO give or withhold
q contribution for the aid of the politi-
cal party of his choice. 1t has, how
ever been urged, and doubtless not with
out foundation, that by solicitations of
superiors and by other modes, such CON
tributions have ut times been obtaine d
from persons whose only motive for
giving has been fear of what might be-
all II they refused 1t.
without saying that such contribu-
lions are not voluntary in my Judgment
their collection should be prohibited BY
law. and bill which will effectually
suppress them will receive my cordial
approval.