The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-05

this important undertaking have already
received assurances OF the lively interest
which It has excited abroad.
The report 81 the Commissioners OF the
District OF Columbia is herewith transmit
ted. ask for IL your careful attention.
especially for those portions which relate
TO assessments, arrears OF taxes, and in
crease OF water supply. The commission
ers who were appointed under the act OF
January l6. 1883. entitled An act 10 regu-
late and improve the civil service OF the
United States" entered promptly upon
the discharge OF their duties; series OF
rules, framed in accordance with the spirit
OF the statute was approved and pro-
mulgatcd by the President in some
particulars wherein they seemed defective.
TboSerules were subsequently amended. III
will be perceived that they discounte-
nance any political or religious tests for
admission TO those offices OF the public
service 10 which the statute relates. The
act Is limited In It's original application to
the classified clerkships In the several exc
cutive departments at Washington num-
bering about $500 and to similar positions
in customs districts and post-otlices where
as many as City persons are employed. y
classification Of these positions analogous TO
that existing in the Washington offices was
duly made before the law went into effect.
Eleven customs districts and twcnty-three
possibilities were thus brought under the
Immediate operation Of the statute.
TIE CIvu-sERvICE COMMISSION.
The annual report Of the Civil-Service
Commission, which will soon be submitted
TO Congress. will doubtless afford means Of
a more definite judgment than | am now
prepared 10 express. As TO the merits Of
the new system, | am persuaded that its
effects have thus far proved beneficial. Its
practical methods appear 10 be adequate for
the ends proposed. and there has been no
serious difficulty in carrying them into ei-
feet. Since the 10th OF july last no person,
so far as ! am aware, has been appointed
TO the public service i'm the classified por-
tons thereof at any OF the Departments,
or At any Of the pOst-oiliccS or customs dis
tricts above named, except those certified
by the Commission TO be the most cOmpe-
tent on the basis OF the examinations held
i'm conformity TO the rules at the
time. When the present Executive entered
upon his Office, his death, removal, resig-
nation, or inability to discharge his duties
would have left the Government without
constitutional head. II is possible, OF
course. that n similar contingency may
again arise unless the wisdom OF Congress
shall provide against its recurrence. The
Senate at its last session, after full cOnsiG-
Grafton. passed an act relating 10 tins sub.
ject which will now. trust, commend IT.
self to the approval OF both houses OF Con-
gresS. The clause Of the Constitution upon
which must depend any law regulating the
presidential succession presents also for
solution other qucstions'of paramount inn
portance. TheSeQucStOnS relate to the pro-
per Interpretation OF the phrase "inabIlity
TO discharge the powers and duties OF said
office" our organic law providing that
when the President shall suffer from such
inability the presidential office snail de-
vOlvc upon the Vice President, who must
himself. under like circumstances, give
place to such officer as Congress may by
law appoint 10 act as President. ] need
not here set forth the numerous and in
lteresting inquiries which are suggested by
these words Of the Constitution. They were
fully stated in my first communication to
Congress, and have since been the subject
of frequent deliberations 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,
NAV furnish cause for anxiety and alarm.
For the reasons fully stated IN my last an
lnual message. | repeat my recommends
! ton that Congress propose an amendment
TO that provision OF the Constitution which
prcscribeS that the fOrmaities for The en-
actment Of laws whereby in respect to bills
for the appropriation OF public moneys the
Executive may be enabled, while giving
his approval to particular items, to inter-
pose his veto as to such others rs dOnot COM
mend themselves TO his judgment. The
fourteenth amendment of the Constltu-
| ton cOnfers the right OF citizenship upon
all persons born or naturalized in the
| United States and subject 10 the iurisdic-
| ton thereof. 1t 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 statutory provisions intended to
secure the enforcement OF those rights
have been recently declared unconstitu-
tional by the Supreme Court. Any legisla-
ton whereby Congress NAV lawfully sup
plement the guarantees which the Consti-
| tuition affords for the equal enjoyment by
/ all the citizens OF the United States OF
every right. privilege, and immunity Of
citizenship, will receive my unhesitating
| approval. CHESTER y. ARTHUR.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., December 3, 1888.