The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-12-15

Louisiana, II seems 10 me lHde ~ WooiN~
be advantageous to confer greater execp-
tive power upon the governor ana 70 estaD-
fish, as was done in the case of the terri,
tory of Louisiana, a legislative councl
having power to adopt ordinances which
shall extend to all the rightful subjects
of local legislation, such ordinances not
proved by the congress If in session, ana
If that body is not in session then by the
president. In this manner system OF laws
providing for the incorporation and gov
eminent of towns and cities having GER
tain population, giving them the power
to establish and maintain a system OF ed
ucation to be locally supported, and ordi-
nances providing for police, sanitary and
other such purposes. could be speedily
provided.
1 believe a provision of this kind would
be satisfactory to the people of the terri
tory. 1t is probable that the area is too
vast and the population too sca ab ras and
time to provide for an. elective legislative
body, but the conditions calling for local
self-government will undoubtedly very
soon exist and will be facilitated by the
measures which have recommended.
Porto Rico.
For Porto Rico he advises legislation that
will give them temporary form of gov
eminent, recounts the work done by the
military government now in control, and
makes the following recommendations:
1t must be borne in mind that since the
cession Porto. Rico has been denied the
principal markets she had long enjoyed
and our tariffs have been continued against
her products as when she was under Span
ish sovereignty. The markets of Spain are
closed to her products except upon terms
to which the commerce of all nations is
subjected The island Of Cuba. which used
toms duties, now imposes the same duties
upon these products as from any other
country entering her ports. She has there
fore lost her free intercourse with Spain
and Cuba without any compromising bene-
fits in this market. Her coffee was little
known and not in use by our people, and
hAp afn fhara 6nrr md hnr fnr
this, one of her chief products. The mar
kets of the United States should be opened
up to her, products. Our plain duty is to
United States and Porto Rico and give her
products free access to our markets.
AS a result of the hurricane which swept
over Porto Rico on the 8th of August, 1899,
over 100000 people were reduced to abSo-
lutte restitution, without homes, and de-
prived of the necessaries of life. To, the
appeal of the war department the people of
the United States made prompt and gener-
Gus response. In addition to the private
Snsrty OF our people the war % h die
tressed 1892. 342.63, which does not include
the cost of transportation.
1t is desirable that the government of the
island under the law of belligerent right,
now maintained through the executive de-
partment, should be superseded by an adj
ministration entirely civil in its nature.
For present purposes 1 recommend that
congress pass a law for the organization or
a temporary government, which shall pro-
subject to confirmation by the senate, of
governor and such other officers as the
general administration of the island may
require, and that for legislative purposes
on subjects of local nature not partakinS
of a federal character a legislative coun-
ell. composed partly OF PORTO Porto RIfans h ana
be nominated and appointed by the presi-
dent, subject to confirmation by the SEN
ate their acts to be Subject to tine al
going into effect. In the municipalities and
other local subdivisions recommend that
applied at once so as to enable the intelli-
gent citizens of the island to participate in
their own government and to learn by
r plaGen p Of a self-contained and
self-governing people. l have not
thought it wise to. commit the entire
government of the island to officers select
ed by the people, because / doubt whether
in habits, training and experience they are
such as to fit them to exercise at once SO
large degree of self-government, but it
is my judgment and expectation that they
will soon arrive at an attainment OF expert.
Justify comforting upon them a much
larger participation in the choice of their
insular officers.
Education Is Needed.
The fundamental requirement for these
people, as for all people, is education: The
citizenship. In the introduction of mod
ern educational methods care, however,
made too abruptly and tina the history and
racial peculiarities of the inhabitants shall
be given due weight Systems of educa-
ton in these new possessions founded upon
common-sense methods, adapted to ex-
listing conditions and looking to the future
movement and industrial advancement o.
the people, will commend to them in a
peculiarly effective manner the blessings Of
free government
The Civil Service.
Changes in the working of the civil service
provisions are explained, and OF the
Some of the inclusions were found wholly
Illogical and unsuited to the work of the
several departments: The application Of
was found to result in friction and en-
barrassment. After long and very care
heads of the departments responsible for
their efficiency that in order to remove
these difficulties and promote an efficient
and harmonious administration certain
ments were promulgated by me in eXecu-
tive order dated May 20, 1899.
The principal purpose of the order was to
except from competitive examination GER
tain places involving fiduciary responsible
tiles or duties of a strictly confidential.
scientific or executive character, which it
was thought might better be filled either
by non-competitive examination, or in the
discretion of the appointing officer, than
by open competition. These places were
comparatively few in number. The order
provides for the filling of a much larger
number of places, mainly in the outside
service of the war department, by what is
known as the registration system, under
regulations to be approved by the pres
ident, similar to those which have pro-
duced such admirable results in the navy
yard service
Objects of Amendments.
All of the amendments had for their
main object more efficient and satisfac-
tory administration of the system of ap-
pointments established by the civil service
law. The results attained show that under
their operation the public service has i'm
proved and that the civil service system
is relieved of many Objectionable features
which heretofore subjected it to just crit
icism and the administrative officers to the
charge of unbuSineSSlike methods in the
conduct of public affairs. 1t is believed
that the merit system has been greatly
strengthened and its permanence assured.
1t Will be my constant aim in the aGr.in-
1Stration of government in our new possess
sions to make fitness, character and merit
essential to appointment to office, and to
give to the capable and deserving inhab-
itants preference in appointments.
The 14th of December will be the one hun
dredth anniversary of the death of Wash
ington. For hundred years the republic
has had the priceless advantage of the lofty
standard of character and conduct which
he bequeathed to the American people 1t
is an inheritance which time, instead of
wasting, continually increases and en-
riches. We may justly hope that in the
years to come the benignant influence of
the father of his country may be even more