The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-09
THE PATENT OFFICE.


Under this head the President reviews the OPP
CREATIONS Of the Office for the year, and calls atten-
tiop 70 a Number OF suggestions and recommended
tions Contained in the report OF the commissioner
of Patents which he says are well entitled to the
consideration of Congress.
THE MoRMoNs.
Tho President reviews the operation of the Ed"
MINDS law. and says but few polygamous mar
riapes have taken place within the past year. He
COWS that there should be no relaxation in the en-
forcement of the law, and he would gladly ap-
proye such legislation as Will rid the country OF
fhis blot upon its fair fame. He recommends the
nassooe nj a law to prevent the Importation of
MormOns into this country.
AGRICULTURE.
The fundamentally established in aid of the
farmers of the land should not only be we'll
confined for the accomplishment of its purpose,
Int those for whose benefit it has been adopted
should be encouraged to avail themselves fully OF
its advantages. The prohibition of the importa-
ton into several countries of certain of our ami
mails and their products based upon the suspicion
that health is endangered in their use ana con-
SUMPTION suggests the Importance OF such pre-
cautions for the protection 81 our STOCK 81 on VI
danger and cause the removal OF such an injurious
prohibition. If the laws now in operation are In
Sufficient to accomplish TINS protection, recon-
mend their amendment to meet the necessities of
wy THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The report of the civil service commission,
which will be submitted, contains an account OF
the manner in which the civil service law has
been executed during the last year, and much
valuable information on this important subject.
l am inclined to think that there Is no sentiment
more general in the minds of the people OF our
country than conviction of the correctness OF
the principle upon which the law enforcing civil
service reform is based. In its present condition
the law regulates only part of the subordinate
public positions throughout the country; 1t ap-
ra1iQ fla fQef m
places by means Of competitive examination,
and gives large discretion to the commissioners as
to the character of the examination and many
other matters connected with its execution. Thus
the rules and regulations adopted by the commls,
sion have much to do with the practical useiul-
ness Of the statute and with the results OF It's ap
plication. The people may well trust tne comnls,
sion to execute the law with perfect fairness ana
course no relaxation of the principle which under
lies it, and no weakening OF the safeguards when
surround it, can be expected. Experience IN It's
administration will probably suggest amendment
of the methods of its execution, but venture to
hope that shall never again be RENTED 10 the
system which distributes public position purely as
rewards for partisan service. Doubts may well
be entertained whether our government could sur
viye the strain of a continuance OF this system,
which upon every s ensng srmy Of
for office to lay siege to the patronage OF govern
ment, engr0ssing the time Of public officers with
| their opportunities, spreading abroad the con-
tagion OF their disappointment, and filling the air
with the tumult of their discomfort. The allure
| mentS OF an immense nunDer Oh OHlCeS anu
places exhibited to the voters of the land and the
promise of their bestowal in recognition Oh par
| tisan activity, debauch the suffrage and rob
political action of its thoughtful and deDeratlVe
character. The evil would increase with the null
tiplication of Offices consequent upon our extern
| sion, and the mania for office holding growing
| from its indulgence would peryade our population
so generally that patriotic purpose, the support OF
| principle, the desire for the public good and
sOcitude for the nations welfare would be near
| ly banished from the activity of our party con-
| tests and cause them to degenerate into ignobe,
selfish and disgracefu struggles for the possession
| enforced by law came none too soon to check the
progress of decentralization. One OF It's enectS,
| not enough regarded, is the freedom It brings %
| the political action of those conservative and
| sober men, who in fear of the confusion and FISK
| attending an arbitrary and sudden change in al
the public offices with change OF party rule, cast
| their ballots against such chance. Parties seen
/ to be necessary, and will long continue to exist
nor can 1t now be denied that there are legitimate
| advantages not disconnected with. ofdce-holding
| which follow party supremacy. While partisan
| ship continues bitter and pronounced, and sup
| plies so much of motive to sentiment and action
It is not fair to hold public officials in charge of i'm
portant trusts responsible for the best results IN
the performance of their duties, and yet insist thai
| places, upon the work of those not only opposed
| to them in political affation but so stepped II
| partisan prejudice and rancOr that they have nc
LOYALTY to their chiefs and no desire for their sue
| cess. Civil service reform does not demand TINS
nor does it require that those in subordinate posi-
tons should fall in yielding their best services OF
| who are incompetent should be retained, simply
| because they are in place. The whining of clerl
| discharged for Incidence or incompetency, who
| though he gained his place by the worst possible
operation Of the spoils system, suddenly discover
| that he is entitled to protection under the sane
tion of civil service reform, represents an idea nc
less absurd than the clamor of the applicant Wit
claims the vacant position as his compensation TO
| most questionable party work. The civil service
| law does not prevent the discharge of the indo
lent or incompetent clerk, but it does prevent SUP
| plying his place with the unfit party worker. Thu
in both these phases, is seen benefit to the publ
| service and the people who desire good govern
| ment having secured this statute will not reliI
| quish its benefits without protest. Nor are the
unmindful of the fact that its full advantages ca
only be gained through the complete good faith @
those having its execution in charge and this the
| will insist upon recommend that the salarie
of the civil service commissioners be increased t.
| a sum more nearly commensurate to their import
| ant duties.
IThe remainder of the message is devoted
the National Library, some adequate proyisio
for which he thinks should Immediately be made
the law relating to railroad facilities in Washing
ton, matter of no general interest; and tn
Presidential succession, which he urges should b.
adequately provided for by law as soon as poss
| ble.1