Warren sheaf., 1899-12-14

tory of Louisiana, legislative council
having power to adopt ordinances which
Of local legislation, such ordinances not
to take effect until reported to and APP
proved by the congress if in session, and
president. In this manner system of laws
providing for the Incorporation and gov
ernment of towns and cities having a GER
to establish and maintain system of ed
ucation to be locally supported and or6i-
nances providing for police. sanitary and
other such purposes, could be speedily
provided
I believe a provision Of this kind would
De satisfactory to the people of the terri
vast and the population too scattered and
transitory to make it wise at the present
time to provide for an elective legislative
body, but the conditions calling for local
sef-government will undoubtedly very
soon exist and will be facilitated by the
measures which have recommended.
Porto Rico.
For Porto Rico he advises legislation that
Will give them a temporary form of gov
eminent, recounts the work done by the
mllltary government now in control. and
makes the following recommendations:
1t must be borne in mind that since the
cesslon Porto Rico has been denied the
principal markets she had long enjoyed
and our tariffs have been continued against
her products as when she was under Span
ish sovereignty. The markets Of Spain are
to which the commerce of all nations is
subjected. The island of Cuba. which used
TO Duy her cattle and tobacco without GUS
toms duties, now imposes the same duties
upon these products as from any other
country entering her ports. She has there
ana Cuba without any compensating bene-
fits in this market. Her coffee was little
known and not in use by our people, and
therefore there was no demand here for
this, one Of her chief products: The mar
kets Of the United States should be opened
up to her products. Our plain duty is to
United States and Porto Rico and give her
products free access to our markets.
AS result Of the which SWEPT
over 100000 people were reduced to abso-=
lutte destitutfon, without homes, and de-
appeal the war people
the United States made prompt and gener-
GUS response. In addition to the private
charity char of our people, the war department.
tressed 1892, ,s42.6 .63, which does not include
the cost of transporta ton.
It Is th that the OF the
now maintained through the executive de-
partment, should be superseded by an adj
mlnistration min entirely civil in its 1atnre
congress pass law for the organization of
a temporary government, which shall pro-
subject to confirmation by the senate. Of a
governor and such other officers as the
general administration Of the island may
require, and that for legislative purposes
on subjects of a local nature not partakinS
Of federal character legislative coun--
ell, composed partly of Porto Ricans and
be nominated and appointed by the presi-
dent, subject to confirmation by the sem
ate, their acts to be subject to the approval
OF the o The he er 5
other local subdivisions recommend that
the principle Of local self-goyernment be
GENT Citizens d Of the he Island to participate in
their own government and to learn by
practical Experience the duties and
shoash II ~ss to te entes
government Of the island to officers select
IN IN hSbs e Psan snd aee
such as to fit them to exercise at once SO
large a degreeEof self-government, but it
is my Judgment and expectation tn that they
ence and wisdom and self-control that will
Justify comforting upon them much
larger participation in the choice of their
insu1ar officers.
Education Is Needed.
The fundamental requirement. for these
people, as for all people, is education. The
free schoolhouse is the best preceptor for
citizenship. In the introduction of mod
must be exercised that changes be not
made too abruptly and that the history and
racial peculiarities Of the inh habitants shall
be given due weight. Systems of educa-
tion in these new possessions founded upon
common-sense methods, adapted to ex-
listing 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 government.
The Civil Service.
Changes in the working of the civil service
provisions are explained, and Of the
n a
/ Some of the inclusions, were found wholly
illogical and unsuited to the work Of the.
several M The of
was found to result in friction and em-
barrassment: After long and very .care-
81 he a.
their efficiency that in order to remove
these difficulties and promote an efficient
amendments were necessary. These amend-
ments were promulgated by me in execu-
tive order dated May 20, 1899.
he OF shg Was to
tain places involving fduciary responsible
tiles or duties Of a strictly confidential,
scientific 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. These places were
provides for the filling of a much larger
number of places, mainly in the outside
service OF the war department, by what is
known the registration system, under
regulations to be approved by the pres
ident, similar to those which have pro-
duced such admirable results in the navy
yard service.
Objects of Amendments.
All of the amendments had for their
main object more efficient and satisfac-
tory administration of the system of ap-
pOintmentS established by the civil service
law. The results attained show that under
their operation the public service has inn
proved and that the civil service system
is relieved of many Objectionable features
which heretofore subjected it to just crit
lclsm and the administrative officers to the
charge OF unbusinesslike methods in the
conduct OF public affairs. It is believed
that the merit system has been greatly
strengthened and its permanence assured
1t will be my constant aim in the admins
s1ons to make fitness, character and merit
essential to appointment to office, and to
give to the capable and deserving fnhab-
ltants preference in appointments
The 14th of December will be the one hun.
dredth anniversary of the death of WASH
ington. For hundred years the republic
has had the priceless advantage Of the lofty
standard Of character and conduct which
ne bequeat thed to the American people It
is an inheritance which time, instead Of
wasting, continually increases and en-
riches. We may Justly hope that in the
years to come the benignant influence Of
potent for good than in the century which
is drawing to close. have been glad to
learn that in many parts Of the country
the DeODle will fittin Civ ohservo thie hietoe