The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-05
THE VERMONT wATCHMAN---EXTRA

ceived that they discountenance any polit-
ical or religious tests for admission to
those offices of the public service to which
the statutes relate. The act is limited in
its original application to the classified
clerkships in the several executive de-
partments at Washington Numbering
about $1,000, and to similar positions in
customs districts and post-offices where
as many as fifty persons are employed. A
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
twenty-three post-offices were thus brought
under the immediate operation of the stat
ute. The annual report of the civil SER
vice commission, which will soon be sub
mitted to congress, will doubtless afford the
means of more definite Judgment than l
am now prepared to express as to the merits
of the new system. l am persuaded that
IFS effects have thus far proved beneficial.
Its practical methods appear to be ade-
quate for the ends proposed, aud there
have been no serious difficulties in carry
ing them into effect. Since the 10th of
July last no person, SO far as l am aware,
has been appointed to the public service,
in the classified portions thereof, at any
of the departments or at any of the post
Offices and customs districts above named
except those certified by the commission
to be the most competent on the basis of
the examinations held in conformity to
the rules.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
AT the time when the present Execu-
tive entered upon his Office, his death, re.
moval, resignation or inability to dis
charge his duties would have left the
government without constitutional head
1t is possible, of course, that a similar
contingency may again arise, unless the
wisdom of congress 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 ap-
prevail of both houses of congress. The
clause of the Constitution upon which
must depend any law regulating the pres
idential succession presents also for solu-
ton other questions of paramount impor.
lance. These questions relate to the
proper Interpretation of the phrase, " Ina
bility 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 shall
devolve upon the Vice-president, who
must himself, under like circumstances,
give place to such officer as congress may
by law appoint to act as President. /
need not here set forth numerous and in
teresting inquiries which are suggested
by these words of the Constitution. They
f,,l 80 &aI -,
tion to congress, and have since been the
subject of frequent deliberations in that
body. 1t is greatly to be hoped that these
momentous questions will find speedy 80
luton, lest emergencies may arise when
longer delay will be impossible, and any
determination, albeit the wisest, may fur
nish cause for anxiety and alarm.
PARTIAL vEToEs.
For the reasons fully stated in my last
annual message repeat my recommends
ton that congress propose an amendment
to that provision of the Constitution
which prescribes the formalities for the
enactment 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, 10 lnterpose his veto as 10 such 9TH
ers as do not commend themselves to his
judgment.
FAILURE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
The fourteenth amendment of the
Constitution confers the rights of citizen
ship upon all persons born or naturalized
in the United States and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof. 1t was the special
purpose of this amendment to insure to
members of the colored race the full en-.
joyment of civil and political rights.
Certain statutory provisions intended to
secure the enforcement of those rights
have been recently declared unconsti.
tutional by the supreme court. Any
legislation whereby congress may lawfully
supplement the guarantees which the
Constitution affords for the equal enjoy
ment by all the citizens of the United
States of every right, privilege and i'm
munity of citizenship. will receive my un.
hesitating approval.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
Washington, December 3. 1888