The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-12-13
l cannot doubt that a careful survey
of Territorial legislation would be of

the highest utility. Life and prop
erty would become more secure the
liability of outbreaks between In
dams and whites would be lessened;
the public domain would be more
securely guarded, and better pro-
gress be made in the instruction of
the young.
Alaska is still without any form
of civil government. If means were
provided for the education of its
people and for the protection of their
lives and property, the immense re-
sources of the region would invite
permanent settlements and open
new fields for industry and enter
prise.
The report Of the Commissioner
of Agriculture presents an account
of the labors of that department
during the past year, and includes
information of much interest to the
general public. The condition of
the forests of the country and the
wasteful manner in which their de
-tructinn is taking place, give
for serious apprehension. Their
action la protecting the earths -ur
face, in mudif, ing The extremts of
climate and in regulating and sus
tanning the flow of springs and
ste; ms, is now well understood,
and their importance in relation to
the growth and prosperity of the
country cannot be safely disregard
ed. They are fast disappearing be-
fore destructive fires and legitimate
requirements of our increasing pop
ulation, and their total extinction
connot be long delayed unless better
methods than now prevail shall be
adopted for their protection and
cultivation. The attention of Con.
gress is invited to the necessity OF
additional legislation to secure the
preservation Of the valuable forests
remaining Oh the public domain rs
pecially in the extreme western
States and Territories, where the
necessity for their preservation is
greater than in less mountainous
regions. and where the prevailing
dryness of the climate renders their
restoration, if they are once destroy
ed, well nigh impossible.
The communication which | made
to Congress at its first session in
December last contained = some.
what full statement of my sentiments
in relation to the principles and
rules which ought to govern appoint
ments to public service. Referring
to the various plans which had
heretofore been the subject of dis
cussion in the National Legisla-
ture, plans which, in the main, were
modelled upon the system which
obtains in Great Britain, but which
lacked certain of the prominent feat
ures whereby that system is distin-
guished, | felt bound to intimate my
doubts whether they or any of them
would afford adequate remedy for
the evils which they aimed to cor
rect. | declare nevertheless, that if
the proposed measures should prove
acceptable to Congress, they would
receive the unhesitating support of
the Executive. Since these suggest
ions we're submitted for your con-
sideration there has been no legisla-
ton 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, apparently without distinc-
tioh of party, have in various ways
and upon frequent occasions given
expression tn their earnest wish for
prompt and definite action. In my
opinion such action should no lon
ger be delayed. may add that my
own of its pressing importance
has been quickened by observation
of ii practical phase of the matter, to
which attention has more than once
been called by my predecessors.
The civil list now comprises about
one hundred thousand persons, the
larger part of whom must.under the
terms ofthe Constitution, be select
ed by the President, either directly
or through his own appointments.
In the early years of the admins
tration of the Government, the per-
sonal direction of appointments to
civil service may not have been an
irksome task for the Executive, but
now that the burden has increased
fully a hundred fold it has become
greater than he ought to bear. and it
necessarily diverts his time and at
tention from the proper discharge of
other duties no less delicate and re-
~spoDsible, and which in the very
nature of things cannot be delegated
to Others hands. la the judgment
of not a few who have given study
and reflection to this matter, the
nation has Outgrown the provision
which the Constitution has establish.
ed for filling the minor offices in the
public service. But whatever may
be thought of the wisdom or expedi-
ency of changing the fundamental
law in this regard, it is certain that
much relief may be afforded not on
ly to the President and to the heads
of the departments but to Senators
and Representatives in Congress, by
discreet legislation. They would be
protected in a great measure by the
bill now pending before the Senate,
or by any other which should en-
body its important features, from
the pressure of personal importantly
and from the labor of examining
conflicting claims and pretensions
of candidates. | trust that before
the close of the present session some
decisive action may be taken for
the correction of the evils which in
here in the present method of APP
pointment, and ! assure you OF nay
hearty cooperation IN any measures
which are likely to conduce to that
end. AS to the most appropriate
term and tenure of the official life Of
the subordinate employees of the
Government, il seems to be generally
agreed that Whatever their extent or
character, the one shoGia be definite
and the other stable. and that Meth
er should be regulated by zeal ia the
service of party or fidelity to the