The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-12-07

ton IL Nh ihe head NJ this department or ~
That bureau, n they feel assured that he
removal VI one and the accession " another
will not Involve tbs retirement Of honest
md fltbful subordinatos, whose duties are
purely administrative aud have no legiii-
mats connection with the triumph OF any
political principles or the sucCefa Of
any political party or faction. 10 Is TO
this latter class Of officers that tbs senate
bill 10 which | have already referred ex'
applies. While neither that bill
nor any other prudent scheme for improy-
ing tho civil service concerns the higher
grade of officials who are appointed by the
president and confirmed by the senate !
icel bound to correct 3 prevalent mlsap.
prehenslOn rs 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 repeat
eddy alleged that be has in this particular
slgnally departed from the course which
had been pursued under recent administra-
tions of the government. The facts are as
follows: The whole number OF executive
appointments during the four years imme-
diately preceding Mr.. Gariield's accession
TO the presidency was 2 696 of this number
IA, or o per cent, involved the removal OF
previous incumbents. The rates of renewals
to the number of appointments, WAS much
the same during each of those four years.
In the first year, with 100 appointments
there were "a removals, or $40 per cent.
in the second, with 9l7 appointments,
there were 80 removals, or 8 $40 per cent.
in the third, with 4S0 appointments, there
were 4S removals, or 10 per cent; in the
fourth, with 400 appointments, there were
'.Jvals, or 10 per cent. In the foui
.ylths of President Garfeld's administra
ton there were 800 appointments and 80 re-
movals, or % 7-l0 per cent. Precisely. the
same number of removal SO, have
taken place in the fourteen months
Sut they constitute only per cent Of the
whole number of appointments; II within
that period and less than 90 of the entire
list OF officials, $3.50, exclusive OF the army
and navy. which are filled by presidential
appointment.
desire to express my approval of such
LEGISLATION as may be found necessary fol-
supplementing the existing provisions Of
law in relation to political assessments. In
July last | authorized a public announce.
ment that their action in that regard would
in no manner affect their official status. In
which I had always maintained and still
maintain, that a public officer should be
absolutely free as any other citizen to give
or withhold contribution for the aid OF
the political party of his choice. 1t has,
however, been urged, and doubtless not
without foundation in fact, that, by solicit
tation of superiors and by other methods,
such contributions have at times been OBJ
tanned from persons whose only motive for
giving has been fear of what might
befall them ii they =, refused
are not voluntary, and in my
Judgment their collection should be pro.
hibited by law. A bill which will effectu-
ally suppress them will receive my cordial
approval.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
hope that however numerous and urgent
may be the demands upon your attention,
the interests of this district will not be
forgotten. The denial to its residents of the
great right of suffrage in all its relation to
national, state and municipal action, i'm
poses on congress the duty ofaffording them
the best administration which it can devise.
The report of the district commissioners
indicates certain measures whose adoption
would seem to be very desirable. instance
in particular those which relate to arrears
of taxes, to steam railroads and to assess
ments of real property.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
Among the questions which have been
the topic of recent debate in the halls of
congress, HOlle bTe Vi HIculSi SldNity phtI
those relating to the ascertainment OF the
vote for presidential election and the in
tendment of the constitution in its provis-
ions for devolving executive functions upon
the vice president when the president sur
fers from inability to discharge The powers
and duties of his office.
PERoRATIoN.
| trust that no embarrassment may result
from the failure to determine these CUES
tions before an another national election
The closing year has been replete with
for which we owe the Giver OF al
Goods our reverent acknowledgment, for
uninterrupted harmony of our foreign rela-
tions, for the decay Of sectional annimosi'
ties, for the eXuoeIance OF our
haryests and the triumphs of our
making and manufacturing industries,
for the prevalence of health, the spread of
intelligence and the conseryators ofthe pub
lie credit, for the growth of the country in
all elements of national greatness-for these
and countless other blessings, we should
rejoice and be glad. trust that under the
Inspiration of this great prosperity our
may be harmonious, and the die
,ates Of prudence, patriotism, justice and
economy may be seen in the adoption OF
measures in which this congress and the
executive may heartily unite.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
Mr.. Harris, of Tennessee, presented n
memorial from the board of health OF
Memphis, approving the action OF the ma
ional board of health and asking an ade-
Iuate appropriation to sustain the same.
Referred.
Bills were introduced as follows
By Hill, of Colorado-Providing for coin
Ige at the Denver mint.
By VOORHEES,, of misunderstanding
pension of $50 per month to the widow OF
Rear Admiral Scott.
The senate then took up the calendar,
nd after disposing of one or two private
ills took recess for half an hour.
AZ The conclusion OF the reading OF the
residents message, the president pro tenn
admitted the annual reports OF the secre-
AIRY of the treasury and attorney-general,
fter which Mr.. Brown, of Georgia. an
bounced the death OF Mr.. Hill and offered
resolution of regret, which was unani-
nously agreed 10, and then as a token OF
aspect the senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
In consequence of the unrescinded order
4 last session, fixing II a. m. as the hour
4 daily assembling of tbs house, the sec
nd session of that body was to-day opened
" the speaker at that honr. The galleries
we're comfortably filled. On the floor was a
,ustling scene, the members being en-.
aged in friendly greeting and the exchange
1 iocular remarks with reference to the re-
,ent election. The appearance Of the
hamber is not changed, the same dingy
arpets covering the floor, though the re-
-arnishing of the desks tends TO make the
all look brighter. Desk No. 10, occupied
w the late Updegraff, of Ohio, was
astefully dressed in black, and
with basket Of flowers.
In the opening prayer, the chaplain al
uded to the deaths Of Lowe and Updegraff,
md gave thanks that other members had
,een preserved during the recess in health
md prosperity.
The speaker then formally declared the
ession opel, and the clerk proceeded to
all the roll. -
The call disclosed the presence Of 202
members. The following were then sworn
n as members Of the house TO I'll vacancies:
Hill, Of Illinois, to succeed Hawk; Reese, of
ieorgia, 10 succeed Stephens; Shelley, Of
lIabama, TO succeed himself
Calkins, of Indiana, preseHteo q memorial
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