The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-12-08
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.

can Afford rellef.
TIE SUPPRESSION OF POLYGAMY,
The results which have thus far at.
tended the enforcement of the recent
statute for the suppression of polygamy
in the Territories are reported by the
Secretary Of the Interior. 1t Is not pro-
bahle that any additional legislation in
this regard will be deemed desirable I'M
til the effect of existing laws shall be
more closely observed and studied. /
congratulate you that the commission
ers under whose supervision those laws
have been put in operation are encOur-
aged to believe that the evil at which
they aimed may be suppressed without
resort to such radical measures as in
some quarters have been thought indis-
penSable for success.
The close relation of the general Gov
eminent to the Territories preparing to
be great States may well engage your
special attention. 1t is there that the
indian disturbances mainly occur, and
that polygamy has found room for its
growth. ! cannot doubt that u careful
survey of Territorial legislation would
be of the highest. utility. Life and prop
erty would become more secure. The
liability of outbreaks between Indians
and whites would be lessened, The
public domain would be more securely
guarded, and better progress be made
in the instruction of the young.
ALASKA.
Alaska is stil without any form of
civil government. Ii means were pro-
vided for the education OF its people,
and for the protection of their lives and
prOperty, the immense resources of the
region would invite permanent settle
ments and open new fields for industry
and enterprise.
AGRICULTURE.
The report of the commissioners 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.
PRESERVATION OF FORESTS.
The condition of the forests of the
country and the wasteful manner in
their destruction 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 now well
| understood. and their importance in re-
lation to the growth and prosperity of
the country cannot be safely disregard
ed. They are fast disappearing before
destructive fires. and the legitimate re-
quirements of our increasing population
and their 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 legislation to Sc
cure the preServati0S of the valuable
forests still remaining on the public do
main. especially in the extreme Wes-
tern States and Territories, where the
necessity for their protection is greater
than in less mountainous regions, and
where the prevailing dryness of the eli
mate renders their restoration II they
are once destroyed we'll nigh impossible.
APPOINTMENTS TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
The communication which made to
Congress at its first session in Deem
Der last contained somewhat full state
ment of my sentiments in relation to
principles and rules which ought to
govern appointments to public service.
Referring to the various plans which
had therefore been the subject of dis
cassson 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 distinguished. felt
bound to intimate my doubts whether
adequate remedy for the evils which
they aimed to correct. declared, new
ertheless, that if the proposed measures
should prove acceptable to Congress,
they would receive the unhesitating
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 increase in the public interest in that
subject and the people of the country,
apparently without of party,
have, in various ways, and upon fire.
quent occasions, given expression to
their earnest wish for prompt and de-
finite action. In my judgment such
action should no longer be postponed.
l may add that my own sense of its
pressing Importance has guickened by
observation i'll a practical phase of the
matter to which attention has more
than once been called by my predeces-
sOrs.
TIE CIVIL LIST
now comprises 100000 persons, the
larger part of whom must. under the
terms of the constitution, be selected
by the President, either directly or
through his own appOintees. In the
early years of the administration of the
Government, the personal direction of
the appointments to the civil service
may not have been an irksome task for
the Executive, but now that the bur-
den has increased fully Il hundred fold,
it has become greater than he ought to
bear, and it necessarily diverts his time
and attention from the proper discharge
of his duties, no less delicate and re-
sponsible, and which, in the very ma
ture of things, cannot be delegated to
other hands. In the Judgment of not
a few who have given study and reflec-
ton to this matter, the nation has out
grown the provisions which the consti-
tuition has established for filling the
minor offices i'll the public service. But
whatever may be thought of the wis
dom or expediency OF changing tho
fundamental law in this regard, 1t is
certain that much relief may be afford
ed, not only to the President and to
the heads of the departments, but to
Senator's and Representatives in Con-
gress, by discreet legislation. They
would be protected in q great measure
by the bill now pending before the Sen
ate, or by any other which should en-
body its important feature, from the |
pressure of personal importantly and |
from the labor examining conflicting |
claims and pretenses of candidates. l !
trust that before the close of the pres |
ent session some decisive action NAV
be taken for the correction of the evils |
which inhere in the present methods of |
appointment, and l assure you of my |
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 subor- |
dinate employees of the Government. 1t |
seems to he generally agreed that, what
ever 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 fideli-
ty to the fortunes of an Individual. It |
matters little to the people at large
what competent person is at the head
of the department or that bureau, if
they feel assured 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 have no
legitimate connection with the triumph
of any political principles or the success
Of any political party or faction. 1t is
DO N.AA ~.