Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-12-07

INTERSTATE COMMERCE..
Complaints have lately been numerous ana
urqcnt that certain corporations controlling
IN whole or In part tho facilities for the inter
over the great railroads of the country have
rcsortcd in their dcalinRs with the public 10
divers measures unjust and oppressive In
In some Instances the state governments
have attacked and suppressed these evils, but
cquatc rolief because of the jurisdlctional
Limitations which are imposed upon thcn by
the Federal Constitution The question nov nov
intorfero in the promises, and what, II any
supervision or control It ought 10 exercise, y
ono which merits your careful consideration
CHEERING MoNopoLY.
While VIC cannot fail TO recognize the i'm
poitancc of the vast railway systems OF the
country aud thcir great and beneficial lnilu,
cnccs upon the development of our material
wealth, we should on the other hnnd rcmom'
be invcstcd with absolute power over the In
tercst of any other citizen or class of citizens
Tho right OF these railway corporations to
award n profitable return upon their invest
monts and TO reasonable freedom In their regu-
latlons must he recognized: but II seems only
Just that SO far as its constitutional authority
VIII permit Congress should protect the people
ut largo in their Interstate tlalfc against acts
of injustice which state Governments are
PRESERVING THE roREsTs.
In my last annual message called attention
to tho Necessity OF protecting by suitable leg
islation the forests situated upon the public
domain. In many portions of tho West the
pursuit of general agriculture is only made
practicable by resort to irrigation. while sue
Ssssn ba lrrEa'i9n E %9pll hy %
uting to the regularity and constancy or the
supply of water.
During the pase year severe suffering and
great loss of property have been oocasloned
by protuse floods, followed by periods of Nm
usually low water IN many of the great rivers
OF the country. These irregularities were In
about the sources of the streams In question
of the timber by which the water supply had
walton of such portion of the forests on
tho National domain as essentially contribute
to tho cquable flow of important water courses
tributaries of tho Missouri, the Columbia and
the Saskatchewan rise in the mountains of
Montana near the northern boundary Of
feet and Flathend Indian reservations. This
region is unsettled, but upon the rivers which
flow from it dcpcuds in the future agricultural
attention OF Congress is called to the necessity
Of withdrawing from public snlc this part of
tho public domain and establishing there
forest preserve.
INDUSTRIAL EXPosITIoNs.
The industrial exhibitions which havo boon
hold in the United states during the present
year attracted attention In many foreign
countries where the announcement of those
enterprises had been made public through the
foreign agencies OF this Government, The
Industrial exhibition at Boston and the South
orn exposition mt Louisville were largely at
tended by the exhibitors of foreign countries,
notwithstanding the absence OF any protes'
The Centennial Exhibition to he held next
year mt New Orleans In commemoration of
the centenary of tho first shipment of cotton
from port OF the United States bids fair to
meet with gratifying success. Under the act
OF Congress of the 10th of February. lSssl, de-
clnrinS the exposition to be national and in
ternational In character, all foreign govern
ments with which the United States maintain
relations havo been invited TO participate.
The promoters OF this Important undertaking
have already received assurances of the lively
Interest which 1t has excited abroad.
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.
The report of the Commissioners of the
l ask for 1t your careful attention, especially
for those portions which relate to assess
ments, arrears of taxes and water supply.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The Commissioners VINO were appointed I'M
der the aot of January 16 1885, entitled IAN
act to regulate and improve the civil service
discharge of these duties, series of rules
framed In accordance with the spirit OF statute
was approved and promulgated by the Presi-
dent
In some particulars wherein they seemed de-
fective these rules were subsequently amend
ed. 1t will be perceived that they dis
oouutenance any political or religious tests
for admission TO the offices of the public SER
Vice to which the statute relates. The act is
limitod in its original application to the
classified clerkships in the several execu-
tive departments ut Washington Numbering
about 5GOg and to similar positions in GUS
toms districts and postoihces where as many
as Atty persons are employed. A classihca-
| ton of these positions analogous to that
| existing in the Washington Qtices was duly
made before the law went into eneet. t!eveh
| offices were thus brought under the immedi.
| ate operation of the statute. The annual
report of the Civil Service Commission, which
will he submitted TO Congress, Will
doubtless afford the means of u more definite
| Judgment than j am now prepared to ex-
| press rs to the merits of the new system / am
persuaded that its effects have thus far
| proved beneficial and Its practical methods
| appear to be adequate for the ends proposed,
| and there have been no serious difficulties in
| carrying them into effect. Since the 10Th or
July last no person. SO far as am aware. has
been appointed to the public service IN the
| classified portions thereof at any of the de-
| partments or at any of the post-oiiices or Gus
toms districts above named, except those GER
| tited by the commission to be the most com.
petent on the basis of the examinations held
| in conformation OF the rule.
| THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
| the time when the present Executive en-
or Inability to discharge his duties would have
| left the Government without II constitutional
| head. 1t is possible, CT course, that similar
| contingency may again arise unless the wis
dom of Congress shall provide against
| its recurrence. The Senate ut Its last
Session, after, full consideration. passed
| will now. trust. commend itself TO the ap-
proval of both houses of Congress The clause
of the Constitution upon WHICH must depend
| any law regulating tie Presidential success
| sion presents also for solution other questions
of paramount importance These questions
srse PnabtPy 70 mi % dstbarre hs powers
| duties of said Office" Our organic law provid-
ing that, when the President shall suffer from
| such inability, the Presidential Office shall
devolve upon the Vice President, who must
himself, under like circumstances, give place
to such officer rs Congress may by law appoint
TO oct rs President need not here set forth
numerous and interesting Inquiries which nrc
suggested by these words of the. constitution.
They were fully stated in my my first first
since been the subject of frequent dclibcra
tlons in that body. II is greatly to be hoped
that these momentous questions Will find
speedy solution, lest emergencies may arise
when longer delay. will be impossible and any
determination, albeit the wisest may furnish
cause for anxiety and alarm.
For the reasons fully stated in my last ar
nunl message repeat my recommendation
that Congress propose an Amendment Is Is
prescribed the formalities for the enactment
of laws whereby, In respect to bills Tor tbs
appropriation Of public, public, moneys , the Exefu sI.
approval TO particular Items, to intcrpose hi:
veto as to such other as do not commont
amendment of the Constitution contors thu
rights of citizenship upon all persons born OF
| naturnlized In the United States and subjec
to the Jurisdiction thereof. 1t was the specia
purpose of this amendment TO insure to MON
bers OF the colored race the full enjoyment o.
civil and political rights. Certain statuatorl
proyisos Intended to secure the enforcement
OF thoee rights have been recently declared
unconstitutional BY the Supreme Court, an,
legislation whereby Congress may lawful,
supplement tho guarantees which tho Constl
tuition affords for the equal enjoyment OF al
the citizens OF tho United states of over,
right, privilege and immunity of citizenship
| Will receive my unhesitating approval.
lSignedl CHESTER A. ARTHUR.