Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-07

more complete form of territorial or
ganization should not be provided
Porto Rico Again.
He recommends that legislation t
the same end be had with reference tt
the government of Porto Rico. The
time is ripe for the adoption of tenn
porary form of government for thf:
island. The system of civil jurispru
dence now adopted by the people o.
this island is described by competent
lawyers as thoroughly modern and sci
entific, SO far as it relates to matters Of
internal business, trade, production
and social and private right in gen.
eral. The cities of the island are gov
erned under charters which probably
require very little or no change So
that with relation to matters of local
concern and private right, it is not
probable that much, if any, legislation
is desirable; but with reference to pub
lie administration and the relations OF
the islands to the federal government,
there are many matters which are OF
pressing urgency. The same necessity
exists for legislation on the part OF
congress to establish federal courts
and federal jurisdiction in the island
as IN the case of Hawaii
The markets of the United States
should be opened up to Porto Rico's
products. Our plain duty is to abolish
all customs tariffs between the United
States and Porto Rico.
1t is desirable that the government
of the island under the law of belliger-
ent right, now maintained through the
executive department, should be super
seeded by an administration entirely
civil in its nature. For present pur-
poses | recommend that congress pass
a law for the organization of tenn
porary government, which shall pro-
vide for the appointment by the presi-
dent, subject to confirmation by the
senate, of governor and such Othe:
officers as the general administration
of the island may require, and that FOR
legislative purposes on subjects of a
local nature not partaking of a federal
character a legislative council, COM
posed partly of Porto Ricans and partly
OF citizens of the United States, shall
be nominated and appointed by the
president, subject to confirmation by
the senate, their acts to be subject to
the approval of the congress or the
president prior to going into effect. In
the municipalities and other local sub
divisions | recommend that the princi-
pie of local self-government be applied
at once.
Systems of education in these new
possessions founded upon common
sense methods, adapted to existin,
conditions and looking to the future
and industrial advancement
Of the people, will commend to them
in peculiarly effective manner the
blessings of free Cover nment.
That Celebration.
Negro lynchings in the south are
and the plan for a celebra-
ton next year Of the establishment OF
the seat of government at Washington
is endorsed.
Civil Service Reform
The executive order of May 6, 1896,
the limits of the classified
brought within the operation
Of the civil service law and rules
nearly all of the executive civil service
not previously classified. Some of the
lnclusions were found wholly illogical
and unsuited to the work OF the sew
eral departments. The application
Of the rules to many of the
places so included was found
to result in friction and embarrass-
ment. After long and very careful
it became evident to the
for their efficiency, that in order to re-
move these difficulties and promote an
efficient and harmonious administra-
ton certain amendments were neceS-
sary. These amendments were pro-
by me in executive order,
dated May 20, 1899. The principal pur-
pose of the order was to except from
examination certain places
involving fiduciary responsibilities or
duties Of a strictly confidential, scien
tific, 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. 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, similar to those which have
produced such admirable results in the
service.
All of the amendments had for their
main object a more efficient and salts
factory administration of the system
of appointments established by the
civil service law. The results at
tanned show that under their opera
ton the public service has improved
and that the civil service system is re-
1ieved Of many Objectionable features.
Death of Washington.
The 14th of December will be the one
hundredth anniversary of the death OF
Washington and the president is glad
to learn that in many parts OF the
country the people will fittingly OBJ
serve this historic anniversary.
EFFECT OF VACCINATION.