The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-12-07
ment during the past year, and includes In.
Of much interest TO the general

Of much interest 70 the general
PRESERVATION OF FORESTS.
The condition Of the forests Of the country.
aud the wasteful manner OF their destruction
taking place. give cause for serious apprehen-
surface in modifying the extremes Of climate.
and in regulating and sustaining the flow OF
springs and streams, is not well understood,
but their Importance in relation to the growth
and prosperity OF the country cannot be safe-
~ disregarded They are fast disappearing
before destructive fires. and the legitimate re-
quirements OF Oitr increasing population, and
unless better methods than now prevail shall be
adopted for their protection. The attention ct
& ngress Is invited to the necessity OF addition
al LEGISLATION 10 secure the preservation of ths
valuable forests still remaining on the public
domain, especially In the extreme Western
States and Territories, where the necessity for
their protection is create than IN ~ mountain
ons regions and where the prevailing dryness Of
the climate renders their restoration IL they are
once destroyed well nigh impossible.
=. APPOINTMENTS TO ruBIIc SERVICE
The communication which made to Congress
a. its first session In November last contained
somewhat full statement OF my sentiments In
relation to principles and rules which ought tO
govern appointments to public service. Refer.
ring to the various plans which had therefore
been the subject Of discussion in the National
Legislature, plans which in the main were
IN Great bnt Which acked
tain Of the prominent features whereby
that system IL distinguished, / felt bound
TO intimate my doubts whether they, or any Of
them, would afford adequate remedy for the
evils which they aimed to correct ! declared,
nevertheless, that II the proposed measures
sWuld prove acceptable to Congress-, they
would receive the unhesit sting support OF the
Executive. Since the suggestions were submit
ted for your consideration, there has been no
legislation upon the subject to which they re-
late, but there has meanwhile been an In
crease in the public intere { in that subject,
and the people of the unity, apparently with
out distinction OF party. have, In various ways,
and upon frequent occasions, given expression
to their earnest wish for prompt and definite ac-
tion. In my Judgment such action should no
lonser be postponed. may add that my own
sense OF its pressing Importance has 4nfckened
by observation In practical phase OF the matter
to which attention las more than once been
called by my predecessors.
THE CIVIL LIST
now comprises 100 600 persons. the larger part OF
whom must, under the terms OF the constitution,
be selected by the President, ell her directly or
through h own appointees In the early wears
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 burden has
Increased fully a hundred fold. It has
and it necessarily dtvarts his time and
attention from the proper discharge Of his
duties, no less delicate and responsible, and
Which, u, u tae ~ very nature q things Mn cannot 6e
not u few who have given study and reflection to
this matter, the nation has outgrown the pro-
visions which the constitution has established
for filling the minor offices in the public service.
But whatever may lie thought OF the wisdom or
expediencv Of changing the fundamental law In
this regard, it il certain that much relief may be
heads of the departments, but to the
Senator'S and Representatives In Congress.
] trust that before the close Of the present ses-
correction Of the evils which inhcre in the
present methods Of appointment, and I assure
You Of my hearty cooperation In any measures
which are likely to conduce to that end ~ to the
most appropriate term and tenure Of the ofiictat
life Of the subordinate employees Of the Govern
ment. 1t seems to be generally agreed that,
whatever their extent or character, the one
stable, and that neither should be regu-
lated. by zeal in the service Of party or
fidelity to the fortunes Of an individual. 1t
matter. little to the people at s large wha. com
or that bureau, IL they feel assured the removal
of one and the accession OF another will not in-
yolve the retirement Of honest and faithful SUBJ
ordinates whose duties are purely admtnistra-
tive, and have no legitimate connection with
the triumph Of any political principles or
the success OF any political party or faction.
It is to this latter class OF officers that the
Senate bill. to which we have already re-
ferrcd, exclusively applies. While neither that
bill nor any other prominent scheme for inn
proving the civil service concerns the higher
grade Of officials who are appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate, I feel
bound 70 correct prevalent Misrepresentation a.
70 the frequency with which the present Execu.
tive has displaced the incumbent Of an Office and
appointed another In his stead 1t has been re-
pcatedly alleged that he has In this particular
si-nally departed from the course which has
trations OF the Government The facts
are as follows: The whole number of
Executive appointments during the fonr
ccssion to the Presidency. was 2,G9G; ;of this num-
Der pa, or 3 per cent, involved the removal OF
previous incumbents. The rates Of removals to
the whole number Of appointments was much
the same during each OF those tour wears. In
the first year, with 79u appointments, there were
= removals, or 93 per cent. in the second, with
OF appointments, there were 10 removals, or s.
per cent: in the third, with asO appointments,
there were AIS removals, or 10 per cent: in the
fourth, with 429 appointments there were 81
removals. or Sc per cent; in the four months
Of President Garfield's administration there
were 800 appointments and 81 removals, d. pei
cent. Precisely the same number S1l have taken
place in the fourteen months which have since
elapsed. but they constitute only u per cent. ot
the whole number OF appointments, ~ within
that period and less than twO-sixths OF the en-.
tire list Of officials t3,l59, exclusive Of the army
and navy, which is filled by Presidential ap
pointment.
POLITICAL AssEssMENTs.
l declare my approval of such legislation ..
may he found necessary for supporting the cx
isting provisions of law in relation to politica
! assessment. In July last ! authorized publi.
announcement that employees of the Govcrnmep
should regard themselves as at liberty to cxcrcis4
! their pleasure in making or refusing to make pc
I litical contributions, and that their action II
/ that regard would in no manner affect thci
official stations. In this announcement actct
upon the view which had always maintained
4 and still maintain, that u public officer shonl,
be as absolutely free as any other citizen to Civ
4 or to withhold q contribution for the aid OF tn
political party Of his choice. 1t has, however
Y hcen urged, and doubtless not without founsln
tion IN fact, that, BY the solicitation OF superior
and hv other modes, such contributions have 4
Il times been obtained from persons whose onl
motive for giving has been fear Of what micl,
befall them II they refused. IL goes WithON
saying that such contributions are not vOlu,
:, tary. In my Judgment, their collection shoul,
he prohibited by law. A bill which will effect
ualiy suppress them will receive my cordial ap
prevail.
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA
Ihnpe that, however numerous and urgenH ma,
DC the demands uron Your attention. the inter
dental to its residents of the great right Of suf
fl ge in all its relations to national, State an,
municipal action imposes on Congress the dut,
ct affortiing them the best administration wltc
its wisdom can devise.
The report of the District Commissioners in
! ,licates certain measures whose adoption womb
seem to be very desirable. instance in par
tcular those which relate to arrears Of taxes, /
steam railroads, and to assessments OF real prop
erfy.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION
| Among the questions which have bccn the tort
! Of recent debate in the halls %: Congress. non
are of greater gravity than tl,csc regarding tn
ascertainment OF the vote Tor Prcsidertial Elect
ors and the tntcntmcnt OK thu constitutions i
it's provisions for devolvins tins Execntiv
functions upon the Vice-Pre..dcnS when tn
President suffers from inability 70 dischars,
the powers and duties OF lis nGicc. ! trust tina
no embarrassment may result from failure 4
determine these questions hctoiS aHc!her na
tional election.
CONCLUSION.
The losing year has been rsr'ets with bless
inss FOR which VIC owe to tho Glvcr Of all goo
our revcrent Acknowledgement Fer the Gnin
terruptcd harmony OF our fOfrign rcations: fo
! the decay OF sectional an.nositieS: for the cau
bcrancc of our harvests, and the triumphs Q
onr mining and manufacturing industries
tor the prevalence Of health, the spread OF IN
tcllgence, and the conservation OF the publ
credit: FOR the growth Of thc country in al I'll
clements ri national greatness-for thes
ana countless other blcs>inys-wc ehonl
rejoice and be glad. ] trust that unde
the inspiration 0f this great prosperit!
olr counsels may bc harmonious and that III