The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-12-13

construct plan of government which
shall establish and maintain frsedom
and order and peace in the Philippines.
The insurrection is still existing and
when it terminates further information
will be required as to the actual con6i-
ton of Affairs before inaugurating .
permanent scheme of civil government
Until congress shall have made known
the formal expression Of its will, shall
use the authority vested in mo by the
constitution and tho statutes to uphold
the sovereignty of the United States in
those distant islands, as in all other
places where our flag rightfully floats.
Our hag has never waived over any
community bat in blessing. believe
the Filipinos will soon recognize the
fact that it has not lost its gift OF bsae.
diction in this worldwide journey to
their shores. 2,
| Porto Rican Affairs.
| recommend that legislation bo had
with reference to the government ct
Porto Rico. The time il ripe for the
adoption Of temporary form OF gov.
srnmsnt for this island.
It IL desirable that the government Of
the island, under tho law Of belHssrsnt
right, now maintained through the sx.
scutive department, should bs super.
ssasd by an administration entirely
civil in its nature. For ths yrsssRs pur.
pose I recommend that cens5sss pass .
law for the organization Of Temporary
government which shall provide for the
appoiatmsnt by the president, subject
to confirmation by the senate, ct sev.
srnor and such other officers % the gen.
sral administration Of the island may
require and fer legislative purposes. on
subjects Of . local nature net partaking
Of federal character.
A Legislative council. composed partly
of Porto Rioans and partly Of cisizsns
Of the United States, shall b nominated
and appointed BY the prssidsne
Lynch Law Condsmnsd.
The levs Of law and the sense Of obs-
disnos and submission to ths lawfully
constituted judicial sribuasls, ars ssa.
beddsd in the hsarss Of our Hsopls, And
any vieistion of these sentiments and
! disrsgard Of their obligations, justly
srouses public coRdemnstien. The
6uaran tees of life, liberty, and Of oSdtl
rights, should bs faithfully upheld, ths
right Of trial BY jury respected and do.
Tended.
Those who, in disregard Of law snd
the public peace, unwilling to- sNait
the Judgment Of court and jury, ccnsti.
tute themselves judges and exeoutioners
should not escape the ssvsrest penalttes
for their crimes. ,,..ti
| What I said In nay inaugural address
Of March 4. 1897, ] now repeat:
"The constitutional authoritiss should
bs chssrfully upheld. Lynchings should
not bs tolerated in great and civilized
country like the United States; courts,
not mobs, must execute the penalties Of
the laws The preservation Of public
order, the right Of discussion, the integ.
rity Of courts, and the orderly sdminis-
tration of justice, must continue forever
the rock Of safety upon which our gov.
srnment securely rests.
National Celebration.
In accordance with the act Of COZ.
grsss providing for an appropriate ns.
tional celebration in the year 1900 Of
the esta ablishment Of the seat Of govern
msnt in the District of Columbia, !
have appointed oommittse consisting
of the governors Of all the states and
territories Of tho United States, who
have been invited to assemble in the
city Of Washington on Dec. 81, 1899,
which, with the committee of congress
and she District of Columbis, are
charged with the proper conduct Of ths
celebration.
Congress, at its last session. appropri.
ated $5 600 Ito enable tho chief engineer
of the army 70 continue the examina-
ton Of the subject and to make or 50.
cure designs, calculations and estimates
for q memorial bridge from the most
convenient point Of the naval observs-
tory grounds or adjacent thereto, across
the Potomac river to the most oonve.
uisnt point Of the Arlington estate
property" ~ slr
In accordance with tho provisions Of
this aot the chief of engineers has %.
lectsd four eminent bridge engineers TO
submit competitive designs for bridge
com bininR the elements of strength and
durability and such architectural en-.
bsllishment and ornamentation as will
fifty apply to tho dedication, IS mono.
rial Of American patriotism. The de-
signs are now being prepared and rs
soon as completed will bs submitted to
the congress BY the secretary Of war.
Civil Service Changes.
The executive order of May 9. 1896,
extending the limits Of the classified ser.
vice, brought within the operation OF
tho civil service law and rules nearly all
Of the executive civil service not prsvi-
ously classified. .
Some of the inclusions werN found
wholly illogical and unsuited to the
work Of the several departments. The
application of the rules to many Of tho
pisces 20 included were found to result
in friction and embarrassment. After
long and careful consideration 1t became
evident to the heads Of the departments
responsible for their efficiency that In
order to remove those difficulties and
promote an efficient and harmonious ad.
minissration certain amendments were
/ necessary. These amendments were
promulgated BY me in executive order
dated May 30, 1899.
The principal purpose OF the order
was to except frsm competitive OK.
i IL. L.