The Norfolk weekly news. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1888-1900, 1899-12-07

| imported from the island into the United
| States; tho establishment Of ports Of en-
| try and delivery; the regulation OF patents
and copyrights; these, with various other
| subjects, which rest entirely within the
| power Of the congress, call for careful
| consideration and immediate action.
| 1t must be borne in mind that since the
| cession Porto Rico has been denied the
markets she had long enjoyed and our
| tariffs have been continued against her
| products rs when she was under Spanish
Sovereignty. The markets Of Spain are
closed to her products, except upon terms
to which the commerce of all nations Is
| subjected. The island of Cuba, which
used to buy her cattle and tobacco without
customs duties, now imposes the same
duties upon these products as from any
other country entering her ports. She
has. therefore lost her free intercourse
with Spain and Cuba without any com
pcnsating benefits in this market. Her
coffee was little known and not in use by
our people, and therefore there was no de-
mand here for 1t, one of her chief pro-
ducts. The markets of the United States
should be opened up to her products. Our
plain duty is to abolish all customs tariffs
| between the United States and Porto
eur markets.
AS result OF the hurricane which
swept over Porto Rico on the 9Th of Au-
gust, 1899, over 100000 people were reduced
to absolute destitution, without homes
and deprived OF the necessaries Of life. To
the appeal Of the war department the peo-
pie OF the United States made prompt and
| generous response. In addition to the
private charity Of our people the war de-
partment has expended for the relief Of
the distressed $382 ,342 SO, which does not
include the cost Of transportation.
Favors Installation of Civil Government.
1t Is desirable that the government of
the islands under the law of belligerent
right, now maintained through the ex-
ecutive department., should be superseded
by an administration entirely civil in its
nature. For present purposes / recon-
mend that congress pass law for the or
gan1zation OF temporary government
which shall provide for the appointment
by the president, subject to confirmation
by the senate, of governor and such
other officers as the general administra-
ton of the island may require, and that
for Legislative purposes on subjects of
local nature not partaking of u federal
character legislative council, composed
partly Of Porto Ricans and partly of citi-
zens of the United States, shall be nomi-
mated and appointed by the president,
subject to confirmation by the senate,
their acts being subject to the approval Of
the congress or the president prior to
going into effect. In the municipalities
and other local subdivisions it is recon-
mcnded that the principle of local
government be applied at once,
SO as to enable the intelligent
citizens Of the island to participate in
their own government and to learn by
practical experience the duties and re-
quirements of a self-contained and self
governing people. have not thought it
wise to commit the entire government of
the island to officers selected by the peo-
pie, because L doubt that their habits
their training and experience are such as
to tit them to exercise at once so large
degree of self-government, but it Is my
] Judgment and expectation that they will
soon arrive at an attainment of expert
ence and wisdom and self-control that
will justify comforting upon them much
| larger participation in the choice of their
insular officers.
The fundamental principle for these
people, as for all other people, is educa.
ton. The free school house is the best
preceptor for free citizenship. In the in
PRODUCTION of modern educational meth
DDS, care, however, must be exercised
that changes bo not made too abruptly
and that the history and racial peculiar
tiles of the inhabitants shall be given due
weight. Systems Of education in these
new possessions, founded upon common
sense methods, adapted to existing condi-
tions and looking to the future movement
I'M I'm Sfrin nlx NP
pie, will commend to them in peculiarly
effective manner the blessings Of free
gov ernment.
Civil Service Amendments.
The executive order of May 8, 1895, ex-
tending the limits of the classified service,
brought within the operation Of the civil
service law and rules nearly all of the civil
service places not previously classified
Some OF the inclusions were found wholly
illogical, and unsuited to the work of the
several departments The application of
the rules to many of the places so included
was found to result in friction and embar.
rassnent. After long and very careful
consideration 1t became evident to the
heads OF the departments, responsible for
their efficiency, that in order to remove
these difficulties amendments were neces.
sary. These amendments were promul-
gated by me in order dated March 20,
1899. The principal purpose of the
order was to except from competi-
tive examination certain places in
volving tiduciary responsibilities or
duties of q 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
hu V,.ttt
comparatively few in number. The order
provides for the filling of much larger
number of places, mainly in the outside
service of the war department, by what
is known as the registration system,
under regulations to be approved by the
president, similar to those which have
produced such admirable results in the
navy yard service. All of the amend
ments had for their main object more
efficient and satisfactory administration
of the appointments established by the
Hill