The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-12-08
coNrnonrNa RAILWAYS.


resorted in their dealings with the public TO
divers measures unjust and oppressive in their
character. In some instances the state Gov
ernrnents have attacked and suppressed these
evils, hut I'm others they have been unable to
afford adequate relief because of the jurisdic-
tional limitations which are imposed upon
them by the Federal Constitution. The ques-
ton how far the National Government may
lawfully interfere in the premises, and what,
IL any, supervision or control it ought to exer-
else, is one which merits your careful consid-
Grafton. While we can not fail to recognize
the Importance of the vast railway systems OF
the country and sheir great and beneficial in
terial wealth, we should on the other
hand remember that no individual and no
corporation ought to be invested with absolute
power over the interest of any other citizen
class of citizens. The right of these railway
corporations to award and profitable return
upon their Investments and TO reasonable free
dom In their regulations must be recognized,
but 1t seems only just that, so far its consti-
tutional authority will permit, Congress should
protect the people at large in their Interstate,
traffic against acts of Injustice, which the
state Governments are powerleSs to prevent.
FOREST PROTECTION.
In my last annual message called attention
to the necessity of protecting by suitable
legislation, the forests situated upon the pub
lie domain. In many portions of the West the
pursuit of general agriculture Is only made
practicable by resort TO irrigation, while sue
cessful irrigation would be impossible with
out the aid afforded by forests in contributing
to the regularity and constancy of supply of
water.
During the past year severe suffering and
great loss of property have been occasioned by
profuse floods, followed by periods of uuusu-
s ay low water III many vi ,,e RIeat rivers OF
great measure caused by the removal from
about the sources of the streams in question
of the timber by which the water supply had
been nourished and protected. The preser-
walton of such portion of the forests on the
national domain as essentially contribute to
the equable flow of important water courses,
highest consequences. ImnOrfant
tributaries of the Missouri-the Columbia and
the Saskatchewan-rise in the mountains of
Montana, near the northern boundary of the
United States, between the Blackfeet and
Flathead Indian Reservations. This region is
unsuitable for settlement but upon the rivers
which flow from it depends the future agri-
cultural Jvelopment of "A vast tract of coun-
try. The attention of Congress Is called to
the necessity of withdrawing from the public
sale this part of the public domain and estab-
fishing 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
nouncement of those enterprises had been
made public through the foreign agencies of
this Government. The Industrial Exhibition
of Boston and the Southern Exhibition of
Louisville were largely attended by the exhib-
itors of foreign countries, Notwithstanding
the absence of any professional characters
tics IN those undertakings The Centennial EX-
position to be held neXtyear at New Orleans in
commemoratioD of the centenary of the first
shipment of cotton from port of the United
States bids fair to meet with like gratifying
success. Under the act of Congress of the
10th of February, 1888, declaring that eXposi-
ton to be national and INTERNATIONAL in its char
acter, all foreign governments with which the
United States maintain relations have been
invited to participate. The promoters of this
important undertaking have already received
assurances of the lively interest which it has
excited abroad.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The Commissioners who were appointed I'M
der act of January is. 1888, entitled IAN Act
to regulate and improve the Civil Service of
the United States" entered promptly upon
the discharge of these duties. A series of rules
framed in accordance with the spirit of the
statutewas approved and promulgated by the
President. In some particulars wherein
they seemed defective those rules were subse-
quently amended. 1t will be seen that they
discountenance any political or religious
tests for admission to the public service to
which the statute relates. The act is limited
in its original application to the classified
clerkships in the several executive depart
ments at Washington, numbering about 1900.
and similar positions in customs dis
tricts and post-oiices where as many
as fifty persons are employed A
classification of these positions analo-
gous to that existing in the Washington Offices
was duly made before the law went into effect.
Eleven customs districts and twenty-three
post-ofiices were thus brought under immedi-
ate operation of the statute. The annual re-
port of the Civil Service Commission, which
will soon be submitted to Congress, will All ord
the means of more definite judgment than
am now prepared to express rs to the merits
of the new system. ! am persuaded that its
effects have thus tar proved beneficial. The
practical methods appear to be adequate for
the ends proposed, and there has been no Sc
rious difficulties in carrying them into effect.
Since the 18th of July last no person, so far as
am aware, has been appointed to the public
service in the CLASSIFIED portions thereof in any
OF the departments, or ANY of the post-oiliceS
and customs districts above named, except
those certified By the Commission to be the
! most competent, on the basis of the eXamina-
| lF.lA an. ton ff.fs flsar
y THE EXECUTIVE.
At the time when the present Executive en-.
| tered upon his Office, his death, removal. res
| ignation, or inability TO discharge his duties
would have left the Government without a
constitutional head. 1t is possible of course,
that IA similar contingency may aVain arise,
unless the wisdom of Congress shall provide
against it's recurrence. The Senate, mt its last
session. after full consideration, passed an
act relating 10 this subject which Will now,
trust, commend itself TO the approval of both
houses of Congress. The clause of the Con-
sttution upon which must depend any law
re yulating the Pres dental succession, pre-
sents also for solution, other questions of
paramount Importance. These questions re-
! late to
THE PROPER INTERPRETATION OFTHE PHRASE
Inability to discharge the powers and duties
| of said Office" our organic law providing that
when the President shall suffer from such ina
biiity the Presidential office shall devOlve up
| on the Ntce-President, who must himself, nn'
der like circumstances. give place to such Off
| GERS as Congress may by law appoint TO act as
| President. / need not here set forth the nu
merous and interesting inquiries which are
| suggested by these words of the Constitution
| They were fully stated in my first communica
| ton TO Congress, and have since been the sub
| iect of frequent deliberation in that body. II
| is greatly to be hoped that these momentum,
| questions will ind speedy solution, lest
| emergencies may arise when longer delay be
| impossible, and any determination, albeit the
wsest, may furnish cause for anxiety ant
| alarm.
vETOING APPROPRIATIONS.
For the reasons fully stated in my last an
| nual message, l repeat my recommended ioI
| that Congress propose an amendment 10 thai
| provision of the Constitution which prescribet
| the formalities for the enactment of law,
| whereby In resDect to bills for the annronria