Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-12-09

sustaining the flow of springs and streams is-
not well understood, and their Importance in
to the growth and PROSPERITY OF tine
country can not be safely diSregardeu. They
are fast disappearing before destructive fires
and the legitimate requirements of our in
creasing population, and their total eSanc-
than now prevail shall be adopted
for their projections and cultivation. The at
of Congress is invitedtO the necessity
of additional legislation to secure the preser-
walton OF the valuable forests still remaining
on the public domain, especially in the rh en,
the necessity for their preservation is greater
in less mountainous regions and where
the prevailing dryness of the climate renders
their restoration, If they are once destroyed
well nigh impossible.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The communication which I made to Con-
gress at ~its-first session in December last con-
tains a somewhat full statement of my senti-
which ought to govern the appointments to
public service: Referring to the various
of discussion in the National Legislature.
plans which in the main were modelled upon
the system which obtains in Great Britain.
but which lacked certain of the prominent
features whereby that system is distin-
guished, I felt bound to intimate my doubts
adequate remedy for the evils which they
aimed to correct. 1 declared nevertheless
that if the proposed measures should prove
acctpudDit SOISIcSS thcy Woulu Civ
the nnhesitating support of the Executive.
Since the suggestions we're submitted for
your consideration there has been no legis-
iation upon the subject to which they relate.
crease in the public interest on
e9a' the S"o country. anu apparentiy witSous
distinction of party, have in various ways and
upon frequent occasions given expression to
ton. In my Judgment such action should no
longer be postponed. may. add that my
p psen ssnss ne ' by d R5ssSsnsi a% N a prsesi sai
phase of the latter, to which attention has
more than once been called by my predeces-
sors. The civil list now comprises about 100
under the terms of the Constitution. be Sc
lected by. the President, either directly or
through his own Apprentices.
In the early years of the administration OF
Government the personal direction OF ap-
been an irksome task for the Executive, but
now that the burden has increased fully a
hundred fold it has become greater than no
time and attention from the proper discharge
of other duties no less responsible, and which
gated 10 other hands. In the Judgment of
not a few who have given study and refiec-
ton to this matter the nation has outgrown
the provisions which the Constitution has es-
tablished Tor tilIing the minor offices in the
public service. But whatever be thought
of the wisdom or expectancy of changing the
fundamental law in this regard, it is certain
that much relief may be afforded, not only
the President and to the heads of the depart.
ments. but to Senators and Representatives
in Congress. bv discreet Legislation. Thew
would be projected in a great measure by the
bill now pending before the Senate, or by any
features from the labor of examining conflict
ing claims and pretensions of candidates. I
trust that before the close of the present
session some decisive action may be taken
for the correction OF the evils which are in the
present methods of appointment and 1 assure
you of my hearty cooperation in any meas,
1rnS which are IIEa1C IN rnndnrt tn that end
AS to the most appropriate term and tenure
of the official life of the subordinate EN-
to be generally agreed that whatever
their extent or character the one
and that neither should be regulated by
zeal in the service of party or fidelity to the
fortunes of an individual. 1t matters httle to
the people at large what competent person is
at the head of this department. or of that
bureau. if they feel assured that the removal
of one and the accession of another will not
involve the retirement of honest and faithful
subordinates, whose duties are purely ad-
ministrativc, and have no legitimate cOnnec-
ton ton wi with n ths triumph p p of any Political prine l..
faction. 1t is to this latter class of officers
that the Senate bill to which I have already
referred exclusively applies. While neither
that bill nor anv other prudent scheme for
improving the Civil Service concerns the
higher grade of officials who are appointed
by the President and confirmed v the Senate,
| feel bound to correct a prevailing misap-
prehension as to the frequency with which
the present executive mas u1SDlaceu me IN
cumbent OF an office and appointed another
in his stead.
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.
It has been repeatedly alleged that he has
in this particular signally departed from the
course which has been pursued under recent
facts are as follows: The whole number Of
executive appointments during the four years
Immediately preceding Mr.. Garfield's Access
sion to the Presidency was COG. OF this num-
Der 25i. or nine per cent, involved the rernovs
of previous incumbents. The rates of rernov-
ais to the whole number of appointments was
much the same during each of these four
years. In the first year. with 40 appoint
ments there were q removals, or s3 per cent:
were - removals, or SIS per cent; in the third.
with $50 appointments, there, were As remov.
appointments there were 81 removals,
of President Gar1icld's administration
or %. per cent. Precisely the same number of
removals. So, has taken place in tho fourteen
months which have since elapsed, but they
constitute only 3 per cent. of the whole num-
Der of appointments: IA within that period
and less than 90 of the entire list of ~offictais,
is filled by presidential appointments. l de-
clare my approval of such legislation as may
be found necessary for s~upplementing the eX-
listing provision OF law in relation to
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
In July last I authorized a public announce
ment that employees of the Government
should regard themselves rs at liberty to ex-
ercise their pleasure in making or refusing to
make political contributions, and that their
action in that regard would in no manner af-
feet their official status. In this announce
ment I acted upon che view which ] had al
ways maintained and still maintain that Il pub
lie officer should be as absolutely free as any
other citizen to give or to withhold a contri-
button for the aid of the political party of his
choice. 1t has, however, been urged, and.
doubtless not without foundation in fact, that
by the solicitation of superiors and by other
modes, such contributions have at times been
obtained from persons whose only motives for
giving has been faar CT what might befall
them if they refused. 1t goes without saying
that such contributions are not voluntary,
and in my jud gment their collection should
be prohibited by law. bill which will effect
ually suppress them will receive my cordial
approval.
DISTRICT OIL
hope that, however numerous and urgent
may be the demands upon your attention., tho
interests of this district will not be forgotten.
The denial to its residents of the great right
of suffrage In all its relations to national
States and municipal action imposes on Con-
9rcss the duty o: afordin@ them the best adj
ministration which its wisdom can devise.
The report of the District Commissioners in
dic:rte certain measures whose doption