The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-12-05

ALAShA
l is still without any form of civil govern
ment II means were provided for the ed
ucation OF its people and for the protection
of their lives and property, the immense
resources of the region would make per-
maneut settlements and new fields for in
dustry ana enterprise.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRI-
CULTURE
presents an account OF the labor of that de-
parlment during the past year, and in
cludes information of much interest 10 the
general public,
The condition OF the forests ofthe couu-
try and the destruction that is taking pllce
gives cause for serious apprehension. Their
action in protecting the earth's surface, in
modifying the extremes of climate and reg
ulating and sustaining the flow OF springs
aud streams is not well understood, and
their importance in relation to the growth
and prosperity Of the country cannot be
safely disregarded. They are fast dsap-
pearlng etOre destructive nres, and the e.
gitimate requirements of our increasing
population, and their total extinction can
not be long delayed unless bet
ter methods than now prevail
snail be adopted for their
protection and cultivation. The attention
of congress is invited to the necessity OF ad-
ditional legislation to secure the preserva-
ton OF the valuable forests still remaining
on the public domain, especially in the eX.
IRENE western states and territories, where
the necessity for their preservation is great
er than 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.
The communication which made to con.
gress ut its first session in December last
contained u somewhat 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 therefore been
the subject of discussion in the national
legislature, plans which in the man were
modelled upon the system which obtains in
Great Britain, but which lacked certain of
the prominent features whereby that sys-
TEN is distinguished, felt bound to intimate
my thoughts, whether they or any OF them
would afford an adequate remedy for the
evils which they aimed to correct. de
Clared, nevertheless, that il the proposed
measures should prove acceptable to con
gress, they would receive the unheSitating
/ support of the executive. Since the sug-
gestlOns We're submitted for your cousidera-
| ton there has been no legislation upon the
subject to which they relate, hut there has,
meantime, been an increase in the pub IL
| interest on that subject and the
people Of the country, apparently with
ont distinction of party, have ia various
ways, and upon frequent occasions given
| eXpressi on 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
| Importance has been quickencd by observa-
| ton in the practical phases of the service.
to which attention has more than once been
called by predecessors. The civil list now
comprises about 100000 persons, the large
part of whom, must, under the terms OF
the constitution, be selected by the
president, either directly or through
his own appointed agents. 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 cxecu-
! tive, but now that the burden has increased
fully hundred.fold, 1T has become greater
than he ought to bear, and it necessarily
detracts his.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 hands, In the judgment of not n
] ltN WIN lluNt ElNtl olllNlN ulu TEllttllOll 10
! this matter, the nation has outgroWn
the provisions which the constitution
has established for filling the minor Offices
/ III the public service, but whatever may be
thought of the wisdom or CNpediency OF
changing the fundamental law in this re.
| gard, it is certain much relief may be al.
Alorded not only to president aud to the
/ heads OF the departments, but to senators
and representatives IN congress by discreet
| legislation. They would be protected i'm n
great measure by the bill now pending be.
fore the senate or by any other which
should ombody its important feat.
ares from the pressure OF personal
importantly and from the labor of exam.
Ing conflicting claims and pretentions OF
candidates. | trust before the close OF the
present session some decisive action may
be taken for the correction OF the evils
which are i'll the present methods of ap
pointmont, and | assure you of my hearty
corporation in any measures which are
! likely to ConduCe to that end. AS to thos,
most appropriate terms and tenure of the
Official HE vi the subordinate emplOye o
the government, 1t seems to be generally
agreed that whatever their extent or char
acter the one should be definite
and the other stable, and thai
neither should be regulated by
zeal in the service of party or fidelity to the
fortunes of an individual, 1t matters littl,
to the people at large what competent per
son is at the head OF this department or o.
that bureau, il 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 have no legiti
mate connection with the triumph OF any
nrlnnlnlnQ hA ~
any political party or faction. 1t is Ia
this latter class of officers that the senat,
bill to which | have already referred eX
clusiyely applies. While neither that bil
nor any other prudent scheme for improy
ing the civil service concerns the higher
grade of officials who are appointed by the
president, and confirmed by the senate.
feel bound to correct u prevalent misap
prehenSlon as to the frequency with which
the present executive has displaced the
the incumbent of an office and appointed
another IN his stead. 1t has been repcnt
edy alleged that he has in this partiCula,
siSnally departed from the course which
had been pursued under recent adminstra
ions OF the government. The facts are as
follows The whole number of executive
appointments during the four wears imme
dlatcly preceding Mr.. Garticld's accession
to the presidency was 2,GO6; of this numbe,
IA, orr per cent, involved the removal OF
previous incumbcnts, The rates of renewal,
, 10 the number appointments, was much
me same during each of those four years
IN the first year, with 100 appointments
there were a removals, or 03.i0 per cent =,
IN tho second with Oh appointments,
there were 50 removals, or 8 $40 per cent
/ IN the third, with $50 appointments, there
Fa 4 eAt IL "A