National Republican., 1883-12-05

to that existing in tn o Washington offices
was duly made before the law went into
effect.
Eleven customs districts ana twenty three
postoflces wero thus Brought under the i'm
mediate operation Of thl9 statute.
! The annual report Of The civil service com
/ mission which will soon be admitted to COM
gress, will doubtless afford tho means Of q
more definite Judgment than | am now pre-
pared 10 express as to the merits of tho new
| system. i afn persuaded that its effects havo
thus for proved beneficial Its practical
methods appear to be adequate for the ends
! proposed, aud there has tieen no serious diff
Guilty in carrying them into effect. Since
the sixteenth OF July last no person, so far as
L am aware, has been app pointed 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, ex-
cept those certified by the commission to be
the most competent on the basis of the exam
nations held in c0nformbty TO the rules.
At the time whom tht present executive
entered upon his office luis death, removal,
resignation, or inability to discharge his
duties would bAveleft tho government with
out q constitutional head.
1t Is possibit Of course that q similar con.
tineency may again arise unless the wisdom
of congress shall provide against its recur-
rence. y i.
The senate at It's lest session. after full con-
sideIation, passed On act relating to this sub
jectNyhich viii now, trust, commend itself
TO tho approval OF both houses of congress
The clause Of tho constitution upon which
must depend any jaw regulating tho presi-
dental succession pitesents also for solution
other questions Of pa famount Importance.
These questions rel hto to the proper inter
probation of the phrase inability to dis
charge the powers;a hd duties of said office"
our organic law prtIviding that. whom tho
president shall suffer from such inability the
presidential office shfhl devolvc upon the vice
president, who must himself under like cir
cumstances give pla 10 to such officer as con-
gress may by law mp point to act as president.
| need not hero setI forth the numerous and
interesting inquiries which are suggested by
these words of the constitution. They were
fully stated in 1hy first communication to
congress, and have since been the subject of
frequent deliberations in that body.
1t is greatly to be Hoped that these momen-
tous questions will lind speedy solution, lest
emergencies may q rise when longer delay
will be impossible, and any determination,
albeit the wisest, may furnish cause for
anxiety aud alarm.
For the reasons fully stated in my last an
nual message, | repeat my recommendation
that congress propose an amendment to that
provision of the constitution which prescribes
tho formalities for the enactment of laws
whereby, in respect to bills for the appropra-
tion of public moneys, the executive may be
enabled, while giving his approval to particu-
lar items, to interpose mis- veto as to such
Others as do not commend themselves to his
judgment
The fourteenth amendment of the consti-
tuition confers the rights of citizenship upon
all persons borDior naturalized in the United
States and subiellt to the jurisdiction thereof.
IL was the special PURPOSE of this amendment
to insure to members, of the colored race the
full enjoyment OF civil and political rights.
secure the enforcement of those rights have
been recently declared unconstitutional by
the supreme court.
Any legislation whereby congress may law
fully supplement THE guarantees which the
constitution affords for the equal enjoyment
by all the citizens tif the United States of
every right, privile 20, and immunity of citi-
zenship will receive my unhesitating ap-
prova. CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
WAsuINGroN Dec 4, 1888.