Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-12-05

would be impossible without the aid
Afforded by forests in cont ributing 10
the regularity and constancy of the
supply of water. During the past year
severe suffering and great loss OF prom.
erty have been occasioned by profuse
floods, followed by periods of unusu-
ally low water in many of the great
rivers of the country. These
irregularities were i'm great
measure caused bv the removal
from the sources of the streams in
question of the timber by which the
water supply had been nourished and
protected, The preservation of such
portion of the forests ON the national
domain as essentially contribute to the
equaple flow OF important water
courses is of the highest Importance
Important 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 aud
Flathead Indian reservations. This
region is unsuitable for COM
merce, but upon the rivers
which flow from it depends the future
agricultural development of 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 esta blishing
there forest preserve.
THE INDUSTRIAL EXPosITloNs
which have been held in the United
States during the present year have at
tracted attention in many foreign
countries, where the announcement of
those enterprises had been made
known through the foreign agencies
of the government. The industrial
exhibition at Boston and the
Southern exposition at Louisville
were largely attended by exhibitors of
foreign countries, Notwithstanding the
absence of any national character in
these undertakings. The centennial
exposition to be held next year at New
Orleans, in commemoration of the
century of the first shipment of cotton
from port of the United States, bids
fair to meet with like gratifying sue
cess. Under the act of congress of the
exposition TO be national and inter
in its character, all foreign
governments with which the United
States maintains relations, have been
invited to participate. The
promoters of this important
undertaking have already received
assurance eff the lively interest which
il excited abroad. The report of the
of the
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Is herewith transmitted. | ask for
your careful attention, especially to
those parts which alIude To assess
ments, arrears of taxes and the water
supply. The commissioners who were
appointed under the act of of July 10,
1883, entitled IAN act to regulate and
improve the
CIVIL SERVICE
Of the United States" entered prompt
" upon the discharge of these duties.
< series oflrules framed in accordance
with the spirit of the statutes was APP
proved and promulgated 10y the presi-
dent.
In some particulars, wherein they
seemed defective, those rules were sub
added. 1t will be perceived
hat they discountenance any politi-
cal or religious tests for admission to
,flices in the public service TO which
,he statutes relate. The act Is palmer
n its original application 10 the CLASH
led clerkships in the federal executive
mt Washington, nuhber-
ms, about $4,000, and 10 similar posi-
ions I'm the customs districts and post
,fiice, where as many rs fiity persons
re employed. A classification OF
hese persons, analogous TO that eX-
sting in the Washington Offices,
vas duly made before the
aw went into effect. Seventy-one
customs dist lets and twenty three
cost offices were then brought under
he immediate operation of the
tatute. The annual report of the
iyil service commission, which VIII
Don be submitted TO congress, viii
doubtless afford the means of more
leflnite judgment than ] am now pre-
jared to express rs TO the merits OF the
Jew system. am persuaded that It's
fleet has thus far proved beneficial.
Is practical methods appear TO be ad.
uuute for the ends proposed, ana
here has been no serious difficulties In
arriving them into effect. Since the
9th of July last, no person, as far as
m aware, has been appointed TO the
,ublic service in the classified
,ositions thereof In any Of the de-
artments or In any of the post-oflices
nd customs districts above named,
xcept those certified by the commits
ion to be the most competent.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
AZ the time when the present execu-
I've entered upon his office, his death,
emoval, resignation or Inability TO
ischarge his duties would have LETT
he government without constitu-
iopaI head. II is possible, Of course,
hat similar contingency may again
rise. unless the wisdom OF congress
hall provide against its recurrence.
HE senate at It's last session, alter
ali consideration, passed an ACT reiatI
no to this subject, which VIII now. 4
rust, commend itself TO the approval