Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-12-07

conveying
congress an adequate conception and un-
Outstanding of the various needs 81 The
people ~ the different communities is
easily understood. see no reason why
more complete form Of territorial or
ganization should not be provided Fol-
lowing the precedent established in the
year lSuo, when a temporary government
was provided for the recently acquired
territory, then known under the name of
louisiana, It seems 10 me that it would
DC advantageous to confer greater execu-
1--WE power upon the governor and 10 eStab-
iish, as was done in the case Of the terri
Tory or Louisiana, a legislative council
having power 10 adopt ordinances which
shat extend to all the rightful subjects
OIL local legislation, such ordinances not
to take effect until reported to and ap.
proved by the congress il in session, and
II that body is not in session then by the
president. In this manner system OF laws
providing for the incorporation and gov
ernment OF towns and cities having a GER
tain population, giving them the power
10 establish and maintain a system Of ed
ucation to be locally supported, and ordi-
nances providing for police, sanitary and
other such purposes could be speedily
believe provision OF this kind would
be satisfactory to the people of the terri
tory. It is probable that the area is too
vast and the population too scattered and
tranSltory TO make 1t wise at the present
tlme TO provide for an elective legislative
body, but the conditions calling for local
self.govetrnment viii undoubtedls, very
measures which have recommended.
Porto Rico.
For Porto Rico he advises legislation that
viii give them temporary form of gov
eminent, recounts the work done by the
military government now in control, and
makes the following recommendations
It must be borne in mind that since the
cession 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
closed terms
to which the commerce of all nations is
subjected. The island of Cuba. which used
to buy 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
! fore lost her free intercourse with Spain
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 10
abolish all customs tariffs between the
United States and Porto Rico and give her
| products free access to our markets.
AS a result of the hurricane which swept
over Porto Rico on the Sth of August, 1899
over 100000 people We're reduced to abso-
lutte desttution, without homes. and de-
prived of the necessaries of life. To the
appeal of the war department the people of
the United States made prompt and gener-
Gus response. In addition to the private
| charity OF our people, the war department.
has expended for the relief of the dis
tressed 1892 SAP GO, which does not include
the cost of transportation.
1t is desirable that the government of the
island under the law of belligerent right,
now maintained through the executive 1e-
partment should be superseded by an adj
ministration entirely civil in its nature.
| For present purposes / recommend that
congress pass law for the organization OF
a temporary government, which shall pro-
vide for the appointment by the president,
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 partaking
of federal character a legislative coun-
ell composed partly of Porto Ricans and
partly of citizens of the United States, shall
he nominated and appointed by the presi-
dent, subject to confirmation by the sem
ate, 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 subdivisions recommend that
the principle of local self-government be
applied at once, as to enable the intelli-
| gent citizens of the island to participate in
| their own government and to learn by
requirements of a self-contaired and
a self-goVerning people ] have rot
government of the island TO officers select
ed by the people, because doubt WHISTLER
In habits, training and experience they are
such as TO fit them TO exercise at once SO
large a degree of government but 1t
is my Judgment and expectation that they
will soon arrive at an attainment Of expert
Justify comforting upon them much
larger participation in the choice of their
insular 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
ern educational methods care however,
! must be exercised that changes be not
made too abruptly and that the history and
! racial peculiarties Of the inhabitants shall
ha eyfx ~ W. n adt
/ tion in these new possessions founded upon
| common-sense methods, adapted to ex-
movement and Industrial advancement of
the people. will commend to them in
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
changes he says;
Some Of the ircusions were found wholly
illogical ard unsuited TO he work Of the
several DEPARTING nts The application of
the rules TO many of the places so included
was found TO result in friction and en-
harrassment After lons and very care
fui consideration II became evident to the
beads Of the departments responsible for
their efficiency that Ia order 10 remove
these difficulties and promote an efficient
and harmonious administration certain
amendments were necessary. These amend
merits We're promulgated by me in execu-
tive order dated May 90 1929
The principal purpose Of the order was to
tain places involving tiduciary responsible
tiles or duties Of a strictly confidential,
scientific or executive character, which 1t
was thought might better be filled either
by n-competitiVe examination. or in the
assertion of the appointing officer, than
bv open competition. These places were
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 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 a more efficient and satisfac-
tory administration of the system of app
nointments 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 IL to just crit
icism and the administrative officers to the
charge of unbusinesslike methods in the
conduct of public affairs. II is believed
that the merit system has been greatly
strengthened and it's permanence assured.
1t will be my constant aim in the admin
istration of government in our new possess
sions to make fitness, character and merit
essential to appointment to office. and TO
give to the capable and deserving inhab-
itants preference in appointments.
The 14th of December will be the one hum
dredth anniversary of the death of WASH