Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-12

ton 10 those who may be called as witness
es in the courts Of the United States. The
investigation of criminal offenses are often
rendered futile, and the punishment OF
crime impossible, by the intimidation OF
witnesses.
The necessity of providing some moro
speedy method Of disposing of the cases
which now come for final adjudication 10
the supreme court becomes every year
more apparent aud urgent. The plan or
providing some intermediate courts, hav-
ing final appellate jurisdiction OF certain
classes OF questions and cases has, think,
received more general approval from the
bench and bar OF the country than any
other. i recommend that provision be
made for the establishment Of such courts.
SALARIES.
The salaries of the judges of the district
courts in many of the districts are, in my
Judgment, inadequate. ] recommend that
all such salaries now below s., 600 per an
mum be increased to that amount
THE TRUSTS.
Earnest attention should be given by
congress to "a consideration Of the question
how far the restraint OF those combina-
tions of capital commonly called trusts
is matter of federal jurisdiction. They are
dangerous conspiracies against the public
good, and should be made the subject OF
prohlbitory and even penal Legislation.
INTERNATIoNAL COPYRIGHT.
The subject of an international copyright
has been frequently commended TO attention
OF congress by my predecessors. The en-
actment OF such law would be eminently
wise and Just.
NATURALIZATIoN.
Our naturalization laws should be so
! revised as TO make the inquiry into the
moral character and good disposition to-
wards our government Of the persons APP
| plying for citizenship more thorough. This
can only be done by taking fuller control OF
the examination, by fixing the times for
hearing such applications, and by requiring
| the presence OF some one who shall repre-
sent the government in the inquiry Those
who are avoWed enemies OF social order, or
| who come TO our shores TO swell the In url-
Gus influence and 10 extend the evil prac-
| tees OF any association that dehes our
laws, should not only be denied citizenship,
but domicile.
BANKRUPTCY.
The enactment of a national bankrupt
law, of character 10 be permanent part
OF our general legislation, is desirable. II
should be simple in its method and mex
| pensive in its administration.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The reform of the civil service will make
| no safe or satisfactory advance until the
present law and its equal administration
are well established in the confidence Of
| lLC pcOplS. IL Will NC my plcdSuTc, db IL 10
! my duty, TO see that the law is executed
| with trmness and impartiality. AS a re.
suit Of the revision OF the rules, of the new
| classification and of the inclusion OF the
railway mail service the work of the COM
mission has been greatly increased and the
present clerical force is found Inadequate
| recommend that the additional clerks
asked by the commission be appropriated
| for
The duty OF appointment is devolved by
| the constitution or by the law, and the APP
! pointing officers are properly held TO a high
| responsibility in its exercise. The growth
OF the country and the consequent increase
| OF the civil list have magnited this func-
! ton OF the executive disproportionately. 1t
cannot be denied, however, that the labor
| connected with this necessary work is in
! creased often TO the point Of distress, by
| the sudden aud excessive demands that are
made upon an incoming administration for
removals and appointments. But, on the
| other hand, IL is not true that incum bency
is conclusive argument for continuance
in office. lmpartiaity, moderation, fidelity
10 public duty, and good attainment in
| the discharge OF II must be added before
the argument Is complete. When those
| holding administrative offices so conduct
themselves as TO convince Just political op
| ponents that no party consideration or bias
effects in any way the discharge of their
public duties, we can more easily stay the
! demand for removals.
l have suggested to the heads OF the ex-
| ecutive departments that they consider
| whether a record might not be kept in each
bureau of ali these elements that are COW
cred by the terms "faithfulness" and "etfi-
ciency," and rating made showing the
relative merits OF the erks OF each class,
this rating TO be regarded as test of merit
in making promotions
/ have also suggested TO the postmaster
general that he adopt some plan by which
he can, upon the basis of the reports to the
department and of frequent inspections.
indicate the relative merit of postmasters
of each class. They will be appropriately
indicated in the official register and in the
| report of the department. That q great
stimulous would thus be given to the
| whole service, l do not doubt, and such a
record would be the best defense against
inconsiderate removals from office,
EDUCATIONAL.
National aid to education has heretofore
taken the form of land grants and in that
form the constitutional power of congress
! to promote the education of the people is
not seriously questioned l do not think it
can be successfully questioned when the
form is changed to that OF direct grant OF
money from the public treasury.
| LAS the suggestion Of a national grant la
aid Of education grows chiefly out of the
| condition and needs OF the emancipated
slave and his descendants, the relief
should, as far as possible, while necess-
arily proceeding upon some general lines,
be applied TO the need that suggested IL.
= recommend that any appropriation
made for this purpose be so limited in an
nusl amount and as TO the time over
which 1t is TO extend as will, on the one
hand give the local school authorities op.
portunity TO make the best use OF the first
years allowance, and on the other deliver
them from the temptation TO duly postpone
the assumption Of the wnole burden them
selves.
THE NEGRO QUESTION.
In many parts of ourscountry where the
colored population is large the people of
that race are, by various devices, deprived
of any effective exercise of their political
rights The wrong does not expepd
itself upon those whose votes are suppress.
ed. Every constituency in the union is
wronged. III il is said that these com
munities must work out this problem for
themselves, we have a right to ask whether
they are at work upon it. The power 10
take the whole direction and control of the
election of members of the house OF repre-.
sentatives is clearly given TO the general
government Apartial and qualified super
vIs,Gu of these elections is now provided
for BY the law, and in my opinion this law