The Portland daily press., 1882-12-05
PRICE 3 CENTS.
THE MORMON QUESTION.

the enforcement of the recent statute for 1he
suppression of polygamy in the Territories are
reported by the Secretary of the Interior. II
is not pr obable that any additional legislation
in this regard will be deemed desirable until
the effect of existing laws shall be more close
ly observed and studied. | congratulate you
that the commissioners under whose supervis-
ors these laws have been put In operation are
encouraged to believe that the evil a6 which
they are aimed may be suppressed without re-
sort to such radical measures as in some quar-
ters have been thought indispensable for sue
cess.
THE NcIPIESr STATES.
The close relation of the General Govern
ment to the Territories preparing to be great
States may well engage your especial attention.
1t is there that the Indian disturbances mainly
occur and that polygamy has found room for its
growth. cannot doubt that careful survey
of territorial legislation would be of the high
est utility. Life and property would become
more secure, the liability OF outbreaks be-
tween Indians and whites would be essened,
the public domain would be more successfully
guarded and better progress be made in the
instruction of the young. Alaska is still with
out any form of civil government. III means
were provided for the education of its people
and for the protection of their lives and prop
erty, the immense resources of the region
would invite permanent settlements and open
new helds for industry and enterprise.
OUR AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
The report of the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture presents an account Of the labors of that
department during the past year aud includes
information of much interest to the general
public. The condition of the forests Of the
country and the wasteful manner in which
their destruction is taking place give cause fox
serious apprehension. Their action in protect
ing the earth's surface in modifying the ex-
tremes OF climate and in regulating and sus-
taining the flow of springs and streams is now
well understood, and their Importance in rela-
tion to the growth and prosperity of the coun-
try cannot be safely dsregarded. They are fast
disappearing before destructive fires and the
legitimate requirements OF our increasing
population and the total extinction cannot be
long delayed unless better methods than now
prevail shall be adopted for their protection
and cultivation. The attention of Congress is
invited to the necessity of additional legisla-
tion to secure the preservation OF the valuable
forests still remaining on the public domain,
especially in the extreme Western States and
Territories, where the necessity for their pre-
servation is greater than in less mountainous
regions, and where the prevailing dryness of
the climate renders their restoration, IL they
are once destroyed, well nigh impossible.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The communication which made to Con-
gress at its first session in December last con-
tanned a somewhat full statement of my senti-
ment in relation to the principles and rules
which ought to govern appointments to public
service. Referring TO the various plans which
had heretofore been the spb biect of discussion
in the national legislature, plans which in the
main were modelled upon the system which OBJ
tains in Great Britain, but which lacked GER.
tain of the prominent features whereby that
system is distinguished / felt bound to inIs
mate my doubts whether they or any OF
them would afford adequate remedy for
the evils which they aimed to correct.
declared, nevertheless, that if the
proposed measures should prove acceptable to
Congress they would eceIve the unhtstating
support OF the executive. Since the sugges-
tionS were submitted for your consideration
there has been no legislation upon the subject
to which they relate, but there has meanwhile
been an increase in the public interest in that
subject, and the people of the country, appar-
emily without distinction of party, have, in
various ways and upon frequent occasions,
given expression to their earnest wish for
prompt and definite action. In my Judgment
such action should no longer be postponed.
may add that my own sense OF its pressing inn
portance has been quickened by observation Of
practical phase of the matter to which atten-
tion has more than once been called BY NV
predecessor. The civil list now comprises
about one hundred thousand persons, lar the
larger part of whom must, under the terms OF
the constitution, be selected by the President,
either directly or through his own appoint
ees. In the early years Of the administration
OF the government the personal direction OF
appointments to the civil service may not have
been an irksome task for the executive, but
now that the burden has increased fully a hun
dred fold it has become greater than he ought
to bear, and it necessarily diverts bis time and
attention from the proper discharge of other
duties no less delicate and responsible, and
which in the very nature of things cannot be
delegated to other haLds. In the Judgment Of
not a few who have given study aud r Election
TO this matter, the nation has outgrown the
provisions which the constitution has estab-
lished for filing the minor tffiees Of the civil
service; but whatever will be
thought of the wisdom or expediency Of
changing the fundamental law in tnis regard,
it is certain that much relief may be afforded
hot only to the President and to the heads of
departments, but to Senators and Representa-
tiyes in Congress by discrt ct legislation. They
would be protected in great measure by the
bill now pending before the Senate, or by any
other which should embody its important fea-
lures from the pressure of personal importun-
ity and from the labor of examining conflicting
claims and preteDsiOns of candidates. l trust
that before the close of ths present session
some decisive action may be taken for the cor
rec ion of the evils with the present methods
OF appointment, aud l assure yOu of my hearty
cooperation in any measures which are likely
TO conducs to that end. AS to the most appro-
pirate term and tenure of the Official life OF
the subordinate employees of the government,
it seems to be generally agreed that whatever
their extent or character, the one should be
definite and the other stable, and that neither
should be regulated by Zeal in the service OF
party or fidelity to the fortunes of an indi-
vidual. 1t matters little to the people at large
Wndb potoub poISOu iS AZ buo n6hQ OIL LnlH
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 administrative and
nave no legitimate connection with the triumph
OF any political principles or the success of any
political party or faction. 1t is to this latter
class of officers that the Senate bill to whiah
have already referred exclusively appeals,
while neither that billsnor any other promi-
Q00G scheme for imOrOVinT "a civ
concern the higher grade of officials who are
appointed by the President and confirmed by
the Senate. feel bound to correct a preva-
lent misapprehension to the frequency with
which the present Executive has displaced the
incumbent of office and appointed another
in his stead 1t has been repeatedly alleged
that he has in this particular sgnally departed
from the course which has been pursued under
recent administrations of the Government
The facts are as follows The whole number Of
executive appointments during the four years
Immediately preceding Mr.. Garheld's acces-
sion to the Presidency was 1886. OF this num-
Der 244, or nine per cent, involved the removal
of previous lncumbents. The ratio of remov-
ais to the whole number of appointments was
much the same during each of those four years.
In the first year, with 790 appointments, there
were "a removals, or S.3 per cent. In the End
with 917 appointments there were IS removals,
or SO per cent. In the third, with 4S0 appoint
ments, there we're As removals, or 10 per cent.
In the fourth, with 429 appointments, there
were 81 removals or SO per cent. In the four
months of President Garfed's administration
there were 800 appointments and SO removals,
or 22.7 per ,ent. Precisely the same number
of removals (S9) has taken place in the four
teen months which have since elapsed, but
they constitute only rs per cent. of the whole
number of appointments Q1Sl within that pe-
riod and less than &c of the entire list of off,
cisls, 3,459, exclusive Of the army and navy.
which is filled by Presidential appointments.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
| l declare my approval of such legislation as
may be found necessary for supplementi0g the
existing provisions of law in relation to poliu-
| cal assessments. In July last [ authorized
| public announcement that employees of the
| government should regard themselves as
| liberty to exercise their pleasure In
making or refusing 70 make DO
| litical contributions, and that their
| action in that regard would in no manner af-
! feet their official status In this announcement
L acted upon the views which had always
maintained and still maintain, that
public officer should be as absolutely free as
any other ciLizen to give or to withhold a con-
tributioD for the aid of the political party OF
his choice. 1t has. however, been urged and
| doubtless not without foundation in fact, that
| by solicitation of superiors and by other modes
such contributions have at times been OBJ
tainad from Dar9On9 ~ hoca nnlu Y,,ntiva for