St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-15
CONTROLLING RAILWAYS.

Complaints have lately Deen numerous aiiu
urgent that certain corporations controllna.
in whole or in part, the facilities for the inter-
State carriage OF persons and merchanulse
over the great railroads OF the country nave
resorted in their dealings with the pubic TO
divers measures uni ust and oppressive IN tnelr
character. In some instances the State Gov
ernments have attacked and suppressed these
evils, hut in others they have been unable to
afford adequate relief because OF the jurisd1c-
tional limitations which are imposed upon
them by the Federal Constitution. me ques-
ton how far the National Government may
lawfully interfere in the premises, ana What,
if any, supervision or control it ought to eAer-
else, is one which merits your care1ui consiu-
Grafton. While we can not fail to recognize
the Importance of the vast railway systems or
the country and their great and beneficial IN
fluences upon the development OF our ma
hand 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 these railway
corporations to award and profitable return
upon their investments and to reasonable tree
dom in their regulations must be recognized,
tutional authority will permit Congress should
protect the people at large In their inter State
traffic against acts of injustice, which the
State Governments are powerlesS to prevent.
FOREST Protection.
In my last annual messageI called attention
to the necessity of protecting, by suitable
| legislation, the forests situated upon the pnb-
| lie domain. In many portions OF the West Ine
| practicable by resort to irrigation, while sue
| cessful irrigation would be impossible with
| out the aid afforded by forests in contributing
| to the regularity and constancy OF supply OF
water.
| During the past year severe suffering and
great loss of property have been occasIoned by
| profuse floods, followed by periods of unusu.
4 ally low water in many OF the great rivers OF
the country. These irregularities 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 protected Inc preser
walton of such portion of the forests on the
4 national domain as essentially contribute TO
! the equable flow of important water courses,
is OF the highest consequence. Important
| tributaries of the Missouri-the Columbia and
/ the acknowledgements in tie mountains OF
| Montana, near the northern boundary OF the
/ United States, between the Blackfeet and
Flathead Indian Reservations. This region is
| unsuitable for settlement, but upon the rivers
| which flow from it depends the future agfl-
| cultural c ,velopment OF q vast tract OF coun-
try. The attention OF Congress is called to
the necessity of withdrawing from the pubIe
| sale this part of the public domain and estab-
| fishing there forest preserve.
THE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITIONS
| which have been held in the United States
| during the present year attracted attention
/ in many foreign countries where the an
! nouncement of those enterprises had been
made public through the foreign agencies OF
| this Government. The Industrial Exhibition
of Boston and the Southern Exhibition of
| Louisville were largely attended by the exhib-
| itors of foreign countries, Notwithstanding
| tics in those undertakings The Centennial Ex-
position to be held nextyear at New Orleans IN
/ commemoration of the centenary OF the first
States bids fair to meet with like gratifying
| success. Under the act OF Congress OF the
4 10th of February, 1888, declaring that EXPOSE
ton to be national and III ITS char.
| acter, all foreign governments with which the
United States maintain relations nave Deen
invited to participate. The promoters of this
important Undertaking have already received
assurances of the lively interest which it has
excited abroad.
CIVIL SERVICE.
| The Commissioners who were appointed UNI
der act Of January 1G, 1888, entitled IAN Act
to regulate and improve the Civil Service OF
the United States entered promptly upon
the discharge of these duties. A series of rules
framed in accordance with the spirit of the
President. In some particulars wherein
they scanned defective those rules We're subse-
euentl. amended. 1t will be seen that they
tests f,r admission to the public service to
which the statute relates. The act is limited
in its original application to the classified
mems at Washington, numbering about $500,
and similar positions in customs dis
tries and post-ofices where as many
eis ssi eaty Of these pesto9s anao
60 is to that existing in the Washington Offices
| WAS duly made before the law wentinto effect
|
rDst-offices were thus brought under immedi
lite operation of the statute. The annual re-
, port of the Civil Service Commission, which
will soon be submitted to Congress, will afford
. | am now prepared to express as to the merits
of the new system. / am persuaded that its
effects have thus tar proved beneficial I ta
the ends proposed, and there has been no Sc
rious difficulties in carrying them into effect
Since the 18th of July last, 70 person, so far q:
1 r has h1n
service in the classified portions thereon IN any
of the departments, or at any OF the Office:
and customs districts above named, excep
: those certified by the Commission to be the
most competent, on the basis of the examina
tions held in conformity to the rules.
, 1856. THE EXECUTIVE.
AT the time when the present Executive en-
! tered upon his Office, his death, removal, res
t would have left the Government without
; constitutional head. It is possible of course
that similar contingency may again arise
} unless the wisdom of Congress shall provide
against its recurrence. The Senate, at its las
J session, after full consideration, passed al
act relating to this subject which will now,
} houses of Congress. The clause OF the Con
: stitntion upon which must depend any Law
) regulating the Presidential succession, pre-
sents also for solution, other questions O
paramount Importance. These questions re
late to
, THE PROPEn INTERPRETATION OF THE PHRASE
!, | Inability to discharge the powers and dutse
of said Office" our organic law providing tina
/ | when the President shall suffer from such ina
t biiity the Presidential office shall devolve up
t on the Fice-President, who must himself, I'm
der like circumstances, give place to such Off
) GERS as Congress may by law appoint to act a
$ President. need not here set forth the nu
!. merous and interesting inquiries which ar
i suggested by these words of the Constitution
: They were fully stated in my first communities
3 ton to Congress, and have since been the sub
: ject of frequent deliberation in that body
: is greatly to be hoped that these momentum
T questions will find speedy solution, les
{ emergencies may arise when longer Gelay b
impossible, and any determination, albeit tn
: wisest, may furnish cause for anxiety an
/ alarm. A r.