The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-12-07


toms, commerce and navigation acts.
The resources of Alaska especially in fur, mines
and lumber, are considerable in extent and capable
of large development, while its geographical situa-
ton is one OF political and commercial Importance
The prompting Of interest, therefore, as well as
considerations Of honor and good faith, demand
the immediate establishment of civil government
in that Territory.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE
Complaints have lately been numerous and
gent that certain corporations, controlling in whole
or in part the facilities for the Interstate carriage
OF persons and merchandise the great railroads
OF the country, have resorted In their dealings with
the public to divers measures unjust and oppress-
i've IN their character. In some instances the State
governments have attacked and suppressed these
evils but in others they have been unable to afford
adequate relief because OF the jursdctiona limita-
tions which are imposed upon them by the Federal
Constitution.
The question how far the National Government
may lawfully interfere in the premises and what,h
any supervision control it ought to exercise, Is
one which merits your careful consideration.
While we cannot fail to recognize the import
ance of the vast railway systems OF the country
and their great and benefcent influences upon the
development of our material 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 citizens class
OF citizens. The right OF these railway corporations
| to fair and profitable return upon their invest
ments and to reasonable freedom in their regula-
tons must be recognized; but it seems only just
that so far as its constitutional authority will per-
nit Congress should protect the people at large in
their Interstate traffic against acts of injustice
which the State governments are poweress to pre-
vent.
PROTECTING THE FORESTS.
In my last annual message | called attention to
the necessity of protecting by suitable legislation
the forests situated upon the public domain. In
many portions of the West the pursuit of general
agriculture is only made practicable by resort to
irrigation while successful irrigation would itself
be impossible without the aid afforded by forests
in contributing to the regularity and constancy OF
| the supply OF water.
THE FLOODS.
During the past year severe suffering and great
loss Of property have been occasioned by profuse
floods, followed by periods Of unusually low water
| in many of the great rivers of the country.
These irregularities in a great
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 preservation Of such portions Of the forests
on the national domain as essentially contribute to
the eqnable flow OF important water courses is OF
the highest consequence
Important tributaries of the Missouri, the Co.
lumbia and the Saskatchewan rise in the mountain
region of Montana the northern boundary of
the United states, between the BacSfeet and Flat
neaa reservations. ms region Is unsultaole 1or
depends the future agricultural development of a
vast tract of country The attention Of Congress
! is called to the necessity of withdrawing from
public sale this part of the public domain and es-
tablishing there forest preserve.
INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITIONS.
The industrial exhibitions which have been held
in the United States during the present year at
tracted attention in many foreign countries, where
the announcement OF those enterprises mad been
government The Industrial exhibition at Boston
and the southern exposition at Louisville were
largely attended by the exhibitors of foreign coun-
tries Notwithstanding the absence of any protested
national character in those undertakings.
NEXT YEARS EXHIBITION
The centennial exposition to be held next year
at New Orleans in commemoration of the CEN
tenary 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 1ss3, declaring
that exposition to be national and inter-
ernments 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 excited abroad.
THE DISTRICT COLUMBIA.
The report of the commissioners of the District OF
Columbia is herewith transmitted. ] ask forit your
careful attention, especially for those portions
which relate to assessments, arrear of taxes, and
increase OF water supply
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The commissioners who were appointed under
the act of January 16 1883, entitled" An Act to
Regulate and Improve the Civil Service of the
United States" entered promptly upon the dis
charge of their duties. series Of rules framed in
proved and promulgated by the President in
some particulars wherein they seemed defective
those rules were subsequently amended. It will be
perceived that they dsconntenance any political or
religious tests for admission to those Offices OF the
public service to which the statute relates.
The act is limited in its original application to
the classified cerkshpa in the several executive de-
partmcnts at Washington numbering about 5000,
and to similar positions in customs districts and
postofhccs, where as many rs fifty persons are en-
ployed.
A classification of these positions analogous to
that existing in the Washington ofic was duly
made before the law went into effect. Eleven GUS
toms districts and twenty-three postoiiices were
thus brought under the immediate operation of the
statute
The annual T, port of the Civil Service Conf
mission which viii soon be submitted to Con-
definite judgment than am prepared to
press as 10 the merits of the new system. am
persuaded tnat its effects have thus far
a ~ nafh nod
pear to be adequate for the ends proposed,
and there has been no serious difficulty in car
ryng them into effect. Since the 10Th day IF July
last no person, so far ms am aware, has been APP
ronted to the public service in the classified por-
tions thereof at any OF the departments or at any
of the postofices and customs districts above
named, except those certified by the commission 10
be the most competent on the basis Of the exami-
nations held in conformity 10 the rules.
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
At the time when the present executive entered
upon the duties of his office, his death, removal
resignation or inability to Discharge his duties
would have left the government without consti-
tut onal head.
1t is possible, of course that similar contln-
gency may again arise, unless the wisdom of Con-
grcss shall provide against its recurrence The
Senate at its last session, after full consideration,
passed an act relating to this subject which will
now. trust commend itself to the approval of
both houses OF con gress.
The clause of the Constitution upon which must
depend any law regulating the presidential sue
cession presents also for solution other questions Of
paramount importance.
ton of the phrase " inability 10 discharge the
powers and duties Of said office" our organic law
proving that when the President shall suffer from
such inability, the presidential office shall deyolve
upon the Nice-President, who must himself under
like circumstance, give place to such officer
ongress may by law appoint to act as President.
need not here set forth the numerous and inter-
esting 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
bjdy.
lts greatly TO be hoped that these momentous
questions Will hnd speedy solution, lest emergen-
ces may a'se when longer delay will be imposs-
bic, ana any determination, albeit the wisest, may
furnish cause for anxiety and alarm.
For the reasons fully stated in my last annual
message, repeat my recommendation that Con-
gress propose an amendment 10 that provision of
the constitution which prescribes the formates
for the enactment Of laws, wi ereby, in respect to
bills for the appropriation of public moneys, the
Executive may be enabled while giving his approval
to particular items to nterpOse his veto to such
. Others as do hot commend themselves his judg-
ment.
RIGHTS OF COLoRED MEN.
The fourteenth amendment TO the Constitution
coniers the rights of citizenship upon all persons
born naturalized in the United States and subject