Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-12-13

recommend at this time specific and fnai
form Of government for these Islands. When
peace shall be restored il viii be the duty of
Congress TO construct plan of government
which shall establish and maintain freedom
and order and peace In the Philippines I'm
I'll Congress shall have made known the
formal expression OF its will. shall use the
authority vested in me by the Constitution
and the statutes to uphold the sovereignty
of the Emitted States In those distant islands
a. in a9l other places where our nag right
ftiiy floats.
Status of Hawaii.
Some embarrassment In administration
has occurred by reason of the peculiar
status which the Hawaiian Islands at pres
ent occupy under the Joint resolution of an
nexation approved July Z, 1898. While by
that resolution the Republic of Hawaii as
an independent nation was extinguished. lis
separate sovereignty destroyed, and Its
property and possessions vested in the Unit.
ed States. vet a complete establishment for
IFS government under olr system was not
entitled 10 the benefits and privileges Of our
Constitution. IL Is hlanifestl" Important,
therefore. that On act shall g PASSED as
speedily as possible e:ecyiug these islands
into d jndlcinl district. providing for the
appoinims Mt 81 n judge and other proper
officers aud mthods OF procedure in appel
late proceedings, aud that the goyernment
Of this newly acquired territory under the
federal Constitution shall be fully defined
and provided for.
Alaska Needs Legislation.
A necessity for immediate legislative re
lief exists IN the Territory Of Alaska. Sub.
stantially the ouiy law providing civil
government for this territory Is the act OF
NAV II, 1884. This is meager in Its proyi-
sioas and Is fitted only for the admnistra-
ton of affairs in conutgy sIiarSely inhab-
tied by civilized people. ana unimportant
trade and production. az was Alaska at the
time This act was passed. There Is Practic,
ally lia organized form of go~ernh mt. and
no reason why a more complete form or
territorial organization should not be rct
ylded.
recommend that legislation to the same
end he had with reference TO the government
of Porto Rico. The time is ripe for the
adoption of temporary form OF government
arnment az the island under the law Of bel
| ligerent right. now maintained through the
Executive Heparl ment, should be superseded
/ by an administrators entirely ciNh IN IT'S ma.
ture. Fur present purposes ! recommend
that Congress paSs a law for the organiza.
tion of IL temporary government. which shall
provide for the appointment by the Presi-
of 4 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 partaking or
a federal character legislative council,
composed 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 he subject 10 the approval of the
/ eff 4. Our plain duty is To abolish all Gus
| TOM tariffs between the United States and
Porto Rico and give her products free access
| 10 our markets.
Punishment of Lynchers.
Those who. in disregard of law and the
/ public pt ace unwilling TO await the Iudg-
7 mcnt Of court AID jury constitute them
/ selves jhages and eXeeuti0ners should not
escape the seynrcS' penalties for their
| crimes The constitutional authorities must
/ he eheerfulhr snd vigorously upheld. Lynch
4 ings must not be tolerated In great and
| civilized country ike the United States.
1 Courts, not mobs, must execute the penal
I ties Of the laws.
/ Merit System Strengthened.
| The executive order of May 8. 1896,
| extending the limits of the classified
| service. brought within the operation OF
/ the civil service law aud rules nearly
! all OF the executive civil service not pre-
/ viously classified Some of the inclusions
| were found wholly Illogical aud unsuited to
/ the work of the several departments. After
| long and very careful consideration Il be-
1 came evident to the heads of the depart
/ mepts. responsible for their efficiency, that
/ in order to remove these difficulties and pro-
mote an efficient and harmonious admins
| tratton certain amendments were necessary
! These amendments were promulgated by ME
/ in executive order dated May %, 1890. All of
the amendments had for their main object
| a more efiic;ent and satisfactory adminstra-
! tion of the system of appointments as estab-
| fished by the civil service law,
Presented to this Congress are great op-
portunties. With them come great RESPONSE
| bilties. The power conided to US Increases
the weight of our obligations to the people,
/ and we must be profoundly sensitive OF
! them as we contemplate the new and grave
problems which confront us. Aiming only
/ at the public good, we cannot err. A right
/ Interpretation of the peoples will and of
I duty cannot fail to insure wise measures for
/ the welfare of the islands which have come
under the authority of the United States,
I and inure to the common interest and lasting
! hon of nn. hag no.
! tion had more abundant cause than during
/ the last year for thankfuness TO God for
! manifold blessings and mercies, for which
we make reverent acknowledgment.
/ WILLIAM M.KINT.EX