Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-12-07

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.
II is desirable that the government
of the island under the law of belHger-
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 pres-
| dent 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 partakng Of a federal
| character 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 existing
conditions and looking to the future
movement and industrial advancement
of the people, will commend TO them
in a peculiarly effective manner the
blessings of free govern ment
That Celebration
Negro lynchings in the south are
| condemned, 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 q, 1896,
extending the limits OF the classified
service, brought within the operation
of the civil service law and rules
nearly all of the executive civil service
not previously classified Some of the
inclusions 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
| consideration it became evident to the
heads of the departments. responsible
| for their efficiency, that In order to re-
move these difficulties and promote an
efficient and harmonious administra-
tion certain amendments were neces-
sary These amendments were pro-
mulgated by me in executive order.
dated May 20, 1899. The principal pur-
pose of the order was to except from
competitive examination certain places
| involving fiduclary responsibilities or
duties of a strictly confidential scien-
| tluA, VI 'A''hAiN' NhiNh ~
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
maynard service
All Of the amendments had for their
main object 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
tion the public service has improved
and that the civi service system Is re-
lieyed Of many Objectionable features.
Death Of Washington.
i'he 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 fttingly OBJ
serve this historic anniversary.