Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1882-12-07

its growth. I can not doubt that a careful
survey OF Territorial 1eg1siatlon WooIG d De 20
would become more secure; the liability
of outbreaks between Indians and WINES
would be lessened; the public domain Wouio
be more securely guarded and better progress
be made in the Instruction OF the young
THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF AeRI-
CULTURE
presents an account of the labors of that de-
partment during the past year, ana 1nc1uaeS
information of much interest to the general
public The condition of the forests OF the
country and the WaStefui manner IN WHlcn
their destruction is taking place give cause
for serious apprehension. Their action IN
protecting the earth's surface, in modifying
the extremes of climate and in regulating and
sustaining the flow of springs and streams Is
not we'll understood and their Importance in
relation to the growth and prosperity OF the
country can not be safely disregarded. They
are fast disappearing before destructive hres
and the lie Ultimate requirements OF our IN
creastnR population, and their total e1tlnc-
ton can not be long delayed unless better
for their protection and cultivation. The at.
tention of Congress is invited to the necessary
walton of the val liable forests still remaining
on the public domain, especially in the eX~
treme Western States and Territories, where
the necessity for their preservation is greaIer
than in less mountainous regions and where
the prevailing dryness of the climate renders
their restoration, if they are once destroyed
we'll nigh impossible.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The communication which made to Con
greSS at its first session in December last con-
tatns somewhat full statement of my senti-
ments in relation to the principles and rules
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
but which lacked certain of the prominent
features whereby that system is diStin-
guished, | felt bound to intimate my doubts
whether they or any. OF them would af9rd
adequate remedy for the evils which they
aimed to correct. declared nevertheless
tn 1t If the proposed measures should prove
acceptable to Congress they would receive
the unheSttating support of the Executive.
Since the suggestions were submitted for
your consideration there has been no legis-
latiOn upon the subject to which they relate
But there has meanwhile been an in
that subject, and the people
OF the country, apparently without
distinction of party, have in various ways and
upon frequent occasions given expression to
their earnest wish for prompt and definite ac-
ton. In my Judgment such action should no
longer be postponed. may add that my
own sense of its pressing importance has
been qufckened by observation, III practical
phase of the latter, to which attention has
more than once been called by my preieces-
sors. The civil list now com prises about lOO,
600 nersons, the larger part of whom must,
under the terms of the Constitution, be Sc
lected by the President either directly or
through his own appontees
In the early years of the administration of
Government the personal direction of ap-
pOintments to the civil service may not have
been an irlSsome task for the Executive, but
now that the burden has increased fully
hundred fold it has become greater than he
should bear. and it necessarily diVertS his
time and attention from the proper discharge
of other duties no less lie 'ponsible and which
in the very nature of things can not be dele
gated TO other hands: In the jud gment of
not q Few who have given study and re1ec-
ton to this matter the nation has outgrOwn
the provisions which the Constitution has
tablished for dling the minor offices in the
public service. But whatever maybe thought
OF the wisdom or expectancy of changing the
fundamental law in-this regard, it is certain
InaI nucn lelleI may De ah0rded, not only TO
the President and to the heads of the depart
mentS, but to Senators and Representatives
In Congress, by discreet legislation. They
would be projected in great measure by the
bill n NV pending before the Senate, or by any
other which should embody its important
features from the labor of exam ming 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 I assure
you Oh my nearly co operatlon IN any meas
ureS which are likely to conduct to that end
As to the mo t appropriate term and tenure
of the official life of the subordinate en-
ployees 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 individual. 1t matters little to
the people at large what competent person is
| at the head of this department or of that
! bureau II they feel assured that the removal
/ OF one ana the accession OF another viii not
| involve the retirement of honest and faithful
/ subordinates, whose duties are purely ad-
| ministrative, and have no legitimate cOnnec-
| ton with tha triumph OF any political princi-
| pies or the success of any political party or
| faction, 1t is to this latter class of officers
| that the Senate bill to which have already
referred exclusively applies. While neither
| that bill nor anv other prudent s heme for
improving the Civil Service concerns the
| higher grade of officiais who are anpOfnted
! by the President and confirmed by the Senate,
feel bound to correct a prevailing misap-
| lRl
the present executive has displaced the in
! cumbent or an ofice and appointed another
| In his stead. t~
| 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.. Garheld's acces-
sion to the Presidency was 1896. OF this mum
Dor 254, or nine per cent, involved the removal
OF previous tncumbents The rates ofremov-
ais to the whole number of appointments was
much the same during each of these fou1
years. In the first year, with 100 appoint.
| ments there were "A removals, or 9.3 per cent
in the second. with 9I7 appointments there
were s. removals, Or SO per cent; in the third
with $50 appointments, there we're As remoy.
ais, or 10 per cent; in the fourth, with 42e
appointments there were 81 removals
or S6 per cent; in the four months
of President Gaifield's administration
there were 800 appointments and 50 removals
or p. per cent. Precisely the same number oil
REMOVALS. oJS mas TAKEN place IN the fourteen
months which have since ELAPSED but they
constitute only q per cent. of the whole mum.
Der OF appointments; Ia within that period
and less than Pc of the entire list of officials
S,459 exclusive of the Army and Navy which
is filled by presidential appointments. de.
clare my approval of such legislation as MAY
be found necessary for experimenting the ex
listing provision of law in relation to
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
In July last authorized a public announce
ment that employees of the GOvernmen
should regard themselves as at liberty to ex
ercise their pleasure in making or refusing &c
make political contributions, and that thei
action in that regard would in no manner af
mPnt acted upOn che view which had al
ways maintained and ssilI maintain that pub
lie officer should be as absolutely free as am
other citizen to give or to withhold a contri
button for the aid of the political party of hi
choice. It has, however, been urged, anC
doubtless not without foundation in fact, tina
by the solicitation of SuperioPs and by Othe
modes, such contributions have at times beer
obtained from persons whose only motives fo
them If they refused. 1t goes without sayins
that such contributions are not voluntary
and In my jud gInent their collection shoulC
| be prohibited by law. bill which will effect
ually suppress them will receive my cordia
approval.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
hope that, however numerous and urgen
may be the demands upon your attention, thu
interests of this district viii not be forgotten
The denial to its residents of the great RICH
OF suffrage in all its relations to nationa
States and municipal action imposes on Con
greSs the duty of atfording them the best ad
w N1ri16 90 axrfa