The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-12-08

without the aid Afforded by forests in contrib
uting to the regularity and constancy OF the
During the past year severe suffering and
great loss of property have been occasioued
usually low water in many of tho great rivers
of the country. These Irregularities were in
great measure caused by the removal from
about the sources of the streams i'm question
of the timber by which the water supply had
been nourished and protected. The preser-
vation of such portion of the forests on
the National domain as essentially contribute
TO the equable now or Important wafer COURSES
Is OF the highest consequence; luPoftanI
tributaries of the Missouri, the Columbia and
the Saskatchewan rise in the mountains OF
Montana near the northern boundary OK
the United States, between the Black
feet and Flathead Indian reservations. ihi5
region is unsettled, but upon the rivers which
now from IL depends in the future agricultural
development of IA vast tract OF country. Inc
attention OF Congress is called to the necessity
Of withdrawing from public sale this part of
the public domain and establishing there
forest preserve.
The industrial exhibitions which have been
held 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 ne
Industrial exhibition at Boston and the South
ern exposition at Louisville We're largely at
tended by the exhibitors of foreign countries,
Notwithstanding the absence of any profess
sional character of these undertakings.
The Centennial Exhibition TO be held next
year at New Orleans in commemorauon or
the centenary of the first shipment of cotton
o
meet with gratifying success. Under the act
of Congress of the 10th of February, 1883, de-
claring the exposition to be national and in
ternational in character, all foreign govern
mcnts with which the United States maintain
relations have been invited to participate.
The promoters of this important Embarrassing
have already received assurances OF the lively
interest which it has excited abroad.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The report Of the Commissioners of tho
District of Columbia is herewith trunsmittcd.
| ask for it your careful attention, especially
ments, arrears OF taxes and water supply.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The Commissioners who were appointed un-
der the act of January 10, 1883, 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
dent
In some particulars wherein they seemed de-
fectivc these rules were subsequently amcud-
ed. 1t will be perceived that they dis
countennnce any political or religious tests
for admission to the offices of the public SER
vice to which the statute relates. Ihc act IS
limited in its original application to the
classified cerkshipS IN the several GNecu-
tive departments at washington tnumbcrlng
about $500 and to similar positions in Gus
toms districts and pOstonices where as many
as flfty persons arc employed. A clussihca-
ton OF these positions analogous to that
existing in the Washington offices was duly
made before the law went into effect. Eleven
custons districts and twenty-thrce post
offices were thus brought under the 1mmedi-
ate operation of the statute. The annual
report of the Civil Service Commission, which
win soon be submitted to Congress, will
doubtless afford the means of more definite
Judgment than Il am now prepared TO eX-
press IA 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 erect. Since the 10th OF
July last no person, so far as am aware, has
been appointed to the public service in the
classified portions thereof mt any of the de-
partments or mt any of the post-ofiiccs or Gus
toms districts above named, except those GER
petent on the basis of the examinations held
in conformation of the rule.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
At the time when the present Executive en-
or inability to discharge his duties would have
left the Government without constitutional
head. 1t s possible, OF course, that similar
contingency may again arise unless the wis
dom of Congress shall provide against
session, after full consideration, passed
an act relating to this subject which
proval of both houses of Congress-. The clause
OF the Constitution upon which must depend
any law regulating the Presidential success
sion presents also for solution other questions
of paramount Importance These questions
relate to the proper Interpretation of the
phrase "Inabilty to discharge the powers and
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 ogicer as Congress may by law appoint
TO act as President. / need not here set forth
numerous and interesting inquiries which are
suggested by these words of the constitution.
They were fully stated In my first
communication to Congress and have
since been tho subject of frequent delibera-
tions in that body. 1t 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.
CONCLUSION.
For the rea sons fully stated in my last an
nual message L repeat my recommendation
that Congress propose an samendment to
prescribed the formalities for the enactment
of laws whereby, in respect to bills for the
appropriation of public moneys, the EXecu-
tive may be enabled, while giving his
approval to particular items, to interpose his
veto as to such other as do not commend
themselves to his Judgment. The Fourteenth
amendment of the Constitution confeTs the
rights of citizenship upon all persons born or
naturalized in the United States and subject
to the jurisdiction thereof. II was the special
purpose OF this amendment to insure to mem
bers of the cOlored race the full enjoyment of
civil and political rights Certain statuatOry
provisos intended to secure the enforcement
of those rights have been recently declared
unconstitutional by the Supreme Court any
legislation whereby Congress may lawfully
supplement the guarantees which the COnsti-
tuition affords for the equal enjoyment of all
the citizens of the United States OF every
right, privilege and immunity of citizenship
win receive my unhesitating approval.