Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-05

have no law for the collection of
ueDts, the support of education, the convey
ance OF property, the administration of es-
tates, or the enforcement of contracts none
indeed, for the punishment of criminals ex-
cept such as offend against certain customs of
the commerce and navigation act. The re-
sources OF Alaska, especially in fur, mines
ana lumber, are considerable in extent and
capable OF large development, while its geo
graphlcal situation is one of political and
commercial Importance The Tron,ntinos az
interest, as well as the consideration of honor
ana good falth, demand the immediate estab-
llshment of government in that locality.
Complaints lately have been numerous and
urgent that certain corporations controlling
in whole, or in part, the facilities for the in
er-State carriage of persons and merchan-
discover the great railroads of the country
have resorted, in their dealings with the pub
lie. to divers measures unjust and
oppressive in their character. In some in
stances the State Governments have attacked
and suppressed these evils, but in others they
nave oeen unabie 10 AFFORD adequate relief
because of the restrictional limitations which
are imposed on them by 1.-The Fed
eral Constitution. The Question as
to how far the National government
may lawfully interfere in the premises and
what, If any, supervision or control it ought
TO exercise Is one which merits your careful
consideration. While we cannot fail to re-
member the Importance of the vast railway
systems OF the country and their great bene-
ticent influence on the development of our
material wealth. we should on the other
haEd, remember that no individual and no
corporation ought to be invested with absolute
power over the interest of any other citizen
or class of citizens. The right of the railways
to far and profitable return on their in
vestment and to reasonable freedom
IN their regulations must be recognized, but
IL seems only Just that so far as its constitu-
tlOnal authority will permit, Congress should
protect the people at large in their Interstate
traffic, against which the State governments
are powerless to protect themselves.
PROTECTION FOR THE FORESTS.
In my last annual message called attention
to the necessity of protecting, by suitable
legislation, the forests situated on the public
domain. In many portions of the West, the pur-
SUIT OF general agriculture is only made prac-
teal by a resort to irrigation, while successful
irregation would itself be impossible without
the and Afforded by the forests in contributing
to the regularity and cOnstancy of the sup =
ply of water. During the past year severe
suffering and great loss of properly have been
occasioned by profuse floods followed bv
periods of unusually low water in many of
the great rivers of the country. These IT,
regularltles were IN 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 and protected. aoct;ed. The preservation Of
on the national domain as essentially con-
tribute to the equable flow of important water
courses is Of the highest consequence. I'm
portant tributaries of the Missouri, the Col
uuupld ana Ine odSkdLcneWdn rise IN the
mountain region of Montana, near the north
ern boundary of the United States. between
the Blackfeet and Flathead Indians reserva-
tions. This region is unsuitable for settle
ment, but upon the rivers, which flow from
1t, depends the future agricultural deyeiope-
ment of vast tract of country. The atten-
ton of Congress is called to the necessity of
thdrawing from public sale this part of the
public domain, and establishing there a forest
preserve.
INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITIONS.
The industrial exhibitions which have been
held in the United States Outing the present
year attracted attention in many foreign
countries, where the announcement of those
enterprises had been made public through the
foreign agencies of this government The In
dustrial Exhibition at Boston, and the South
ern Exposition at Louisville were largely
attended by the exhibitors of foreign
countries, notwithstanding the absence
of any prOfessed national character in those
undertakings. The Centennial Exposition
to be held next year at New Orleans in com
memOration of the centenary of the first ship
ment of cotton from a port of the United
states, bids fair to meet with like qualifying
success. Under the act of Congress of the
10th of February, 1888, declaring that Exposi-
tiOn to be national and international in its
character, all foreign governments with
which the United States maintains relations
have been invited to participate The pro-
moters of this important undertaking have
already received assurances of the lively in
terest which it has excited abroad.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The report Of the Commissioners of the Dis
trict Of Columbia is herewith transmitted. |
ask for it YOUR careful attention esDeciollv q
for those portions which relate to assessments,
arrears of taxes and the increase of the water
supply.
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
The Commissioners who were appointed un-
der the act of January l6, 1888, entitled. sAn
act to regulate and improve the civil service
Of the limited States -
the discharge of their duties. A series OF
rules, framed in accordance with the spirit OF
the statute, was approved and promulgated
by the President. In some particulars.
wherein they seemed defective, those
rules were subsequently amended. 1t
will be perceived that they discOuntenance
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 clerk
ships in the several executive departments at
Washington, numbering about 5000, and to
similar positions in the customs districts and
post offices, where as many as fifty persons
are employed. a classification of these DO
sltIons, analogous to that existing in the
Washington offices was duly made before the
law went into effect. Eleven customs
districts and % post Offices were thus
brought under the Immediate operation
of the statute. The annual report
of the Civil Service Commissioner, which will
soon be submitted to Congress, VIII doubtlesa
afford the means OF more definite judgment
than am now prepared to express. As to the
merits of the new system am persuaded that
its effects have thus far proved beneficial.
Its practical methods appear to be adequate
for the ends proposed, and there has been no
serious difficulty in carrying them into effect.
Since the 10th of July last no person, so far
rs am aware, has been appointed to the pub
lie 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 pOmDptQnf n the "a Of bo
nations held in conformity to the rules.
PRESIDENTIAL VACANCIES.
At the time when the present Executive en-
tered upon his office his death, removal, resig-
nation or inability to discharge his duties
would have left the government without a
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
approval of both houses of Congress. The
clause of the ConstitutiOn~upOn which must
depend any law regulating the Presidential
succession, presents also for solution other
questions of paramount Importance. These
questions relate to the proper Interpretation
of the phrase: inability to discharge the
powers and duties of said Office" Our or
ganic law providing that when the Presi-
dent shall suffer from such inability, the
Presidential office shall devolve upon the Vice
IIcSlttcuJs iO clfCunt
stance, give place to such officer as Congress
may by law appoint to act as President
need not here set forth the numerous and in
teresting inquiries which are suggested bv
these words of the Constitution. They were
fully stated in my first communication Ia
Congress, and have since been the subject of
frequent deliberations in that body. 1t is
greatly to be hoped that these monentous
questions will find speedy solution, lest emer-
gencies may arise when longer delay will be
impossible, and any determination, albeit the
wisest, may fdrnish cause for anx-
iety and alarm for the rea-
sons fully stated in my last annual message
PRESIDENT AND APPROPRIATIONS.
/ repeat my recommendation that Congress
propose an amendment to that provision OF
the Constitution which prescribes the for
malltles 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,
to interpose his veto as to such others as do
not commend themselves to his judgment
THE CIVIL RIGHTS DECISION.
The fourteenth amendment of the Constitu-
tion cOnfers the rights of citizenship on all
persons born or naturalized in the
United States and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof 1t was the esneeia al
bers of the cOlOred race full enjoyment of their
civil and political rights. Certain statutory
provisions intended to secure the enforcement
of those rights have been recently declared
unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Any
legislation whereby Congress may lawfully
supplement the guarantees which the Constf-
ton affords for the equal enjoyment by all
citizens Of the United States, Of every right.
privilege and immunity Of citizenship, will re-
celve my unhesltatlng approval.
Signed CHESTER a. ARTHUR.
Washington, December 8, 1888.
Railroad Highwaymen FoiIed.
MEMPHIS, Dec. 4.-Several spikes were drawn
and switch displaced 25 miles west of here on
the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad yester-
day, and when train No. ! came along one car
was ditched. The train stopped and four men
armed with shot guns mounted the cars and
Indl lhat Annre ahnuld ....1.....-I