Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-12-11
HAWAII.

shall be passed as speedily as possible
erecting these islands into a judicial
district. providing for the appointment
of judge and other proper officers. and
methods of procedure i'm appellate pro-
ceedings, and that the government OF
this newly acquired territory under the
federal constitution shall be fully de-
fined and provided for.
ALASKA.
A necessity for Immediate Legislative
relief exists in the territory of Alaska
| Substantially the only law providing m
civil government for this territory is the
act of May z. 1884. This is meagre in
it's provisions, and is fitted only for the
administration of affairs i'm a country
sparsely inhabited by civilized people
and unimpOrtant in trade and produc-
ton, was Alaska at the time this act
was passed. There is no authority, ex-
! cept in congress, to pass any law, no mat
! ter how trivial. 1 see no reason
why a more complete form OF territorial
organization should not be provided. en-
bodying a system of laws providing for
the incorporation and government of
/ towns and cities having a certain popu-
Iation, giving them the power to estab-
fish and maintain a system OF educa-
ton to be locally supported, and ord
! inances providing for police, sanitary
and other purposes.
PORTO RICO.
| 1 recommend that legislation to the
| same end be had with reference to the
| government of Porto Rico. The time
is ripe for the adoption Of a temporary
form of government for this island. The
system of civil Jurisprudence now
| adopted by the people Of this island is
| nv 10
are familiar with it, as thoroughly
modern and scientific, as far as il re-
lates to matters of internal business.
trade, production and social and pri-
vate rights in general. The cities OF the
island are governed under charters,
which probably require little or no
change. So, that with relation 10 mat
ters of local concern and private right,
it is not probable that much, if any, Leg
islation is desirable; but with reference
to public administration and the Ella
lions of the island to the federal govern
ment, there are many matters which are
of pressing urgency. Since the ce ssion
Porto Rico has been denied the prin-
cipal markets she has long enjoyed, and
our tariffs have continued against
her products as when she was under
Spanish sovereignty.
should be opened up to her products.
Our plain duty is to abolish all customs
tariffs between the United states and
Porto Rico, and give her products free
access to our markets.
1t is desirable that the government
of the island under the law of beligerent
right, now maintained through the de-
partment Of executive, should be
superseded by the administration en-
tirely civil in its nature. For present
purposes l recommend that congr, SIS
pass a law for the organization OF "a
temporary government, which shall pro-
vide for the appointment by tn pres
ident, subject to confirmation by the
senate, of a governor and such other
officers as the general administration OF
the island require, and that for agis-
lative purposes, upon subjects Of a local
nature, not partaking of federal
character, a Legislative council, COM
posed partly OF Porto Ricans and part
ly of citizens of the United states shall
be nominated and appointed by the
president, subject TO continuation by
the senate, their acts to be subject to the
approval Of the congress or the pres dent
prior to going into effect. In the munic-
qualities and other local subdivisions. I
recommend that the principle OF local
government be applied at once, 50 as to
enable the intelligent citizens OF the
island TO participate in their own gov
eminent, and 10 learn by pracScal ex-
perence the duties and requirements OF
q self-contained and self governing peo-
pie. | have not thought il wise TO
commit the government OF the island
to officers selected by the people, be-
cause l doubt whether i'm habits, train
to fit them to exercise at once so large n
degree of government, but IL is my
Judgment and expectation that they
soon will arrive at an attainment of ex-
perience and wisdom and self-control
that will justify comforting upon them
a much larger participation i'm the choice
of their insular officers.
CIVIL SERVICE.
Concerning the order OF May 30. 1899,
amending the civil service laws, the
president says: The principal purpose
of the order was to except from COM
petitive examination certain places in
volving ffduciary responsibilities or
duties of a strictly confidential, scientific
or executive character, which IL was
thought might better be filled by non
competitive examinations, or i'm the dis
erection of the appointing officer than by
open competition All OF the hheha~
ments had for their main object a more
efficient and satisfactory administers
ton of the system of appointments es-
tablished by the civil service law. The
results attained show that under their
operation the public service has inn
proved. 1t is believed that the merit
system has been greatly strengthened
and it's permanence assured.
The 14th of December will be the Tooth
anniversary of the death OF Washing