Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-09-20

| ureh' ana, WIN thflIt ana ECONOMY, lay
something by for the days OF inirmity and
old age.
| Practical civil service reform has always
had the support and encouragement Of the
Republican party. The future OF the merit
system is safe In its hands.
During the present administration as &C.
casions have arisen for modification or
amendment In the existing civil service law
and rules. they have been made. Important
amendments were promulgated by executive
order under date Of May -, 1899, having for
their principal purpose the exception from
| competitive examination OF certain places in
yolving fiduciary responsibilities or duties
| OF a strictly confidential, scientific or execu-
tive character, which 1t was thought might
better be filed by noncompetiiive examna-
ton or by other tests OF fitness in the dis
creticn OF the appointing officer.
Value of Merit system.
1t is crafty ing that the experience Of more
| than year has indicated these changes in
the marked improvement OF the public SER
| vice.
The merit system, as far as practicable,
is made the basis for appointments to Of
fee In our new territory.
The American people are profoundly CRATE
full to the soldiers, sailors and marines who
have In every time Of conflict fought their
| country's battles and defended its honor.
| The survivors and the widows and orphans
Of those who have fallen are justly entitled
to receive the generous and considerable care
! Of the nation.
Few are now left Of those who fought In
the Mexican war, and while many Of the
veterans Of the Civil War are stlll spared to
| US their numbers are rapidly diminishing
and age and ntrmity are increasing their de-
pendence. These. with the soldiers Of the
Spanish war. will not be neglected by their
grateful ceuntryment. The pension laws
have been liberal. They should be justly
| administered, and will be. Preference
should be given to the soldiers, sailors and
marines, their widows and orphans, with
respec. to employment in the public SER
vice.
| Kept Faith with Cuba.
We have been In possession of Cuba since
the first of January. 1899. We have re-
stored order and established domestic tran
quillity. We have fed the starving, clothed
| the naked, and minIstered to the sick. We
have improved the sanitary condition OF the
Island. We have stimulated industry, in
troduced public education, and taken a full
and comprehensive enumeration Of the in
| habitants.
| The qualification Of electors has been set
tied and under 1t officers have been chosen
| for all the municipalities of Cuba. These
| local governments are now in operation, ad-
mlnlstered by the people. Our military es-
| tablishment has been reduced from $4,000
| to less than 5000.
| An election has been ordered to be held on
| the 18th OF September under a fair election
law already tried In the municipal elections,
i to choose members OF a constitutional con-
| vention, and the convention, by the same
order, is to assemble on the first Monday Of
| November to frame a constitution upon
which an independent government for the
island will rest. All this is a long step in
the fulfllment Of our sacred guarantees to
the people Of Cuba.
Plans for Porto Rico.
| We hold Porto Rico by the same title as
the Philippines. The treaty Of peace which
coded us the one conveyed to us the other.
Congress has given to this island a govern
ment in which the inhabitants participate,
elect their own legislature, enact their own
local laws. provide their own system Of tax
alton, ana in these respects have the same
power and privileges enjoyed by other terri.
tories belonging to the United States and
much larger measure of self-government
than was given to the inhabitants Of Louisi-
ana under Jefferson. A district court Of the
| United States for Porto Rico has been estab-
lished and local courts have been inaugur-
ated, all OF which are In operation.
The generous treatment OF the Porto
Rlcans aCcords with the most liberal thought
Of our own country and encourages the best
aspirations OF the people Of the island.
While they do not have instant free COM
| mercial Intercourse with the United States,
Congress complied with my recommendation
| by removing, on the LIST day Of May last,
| S. per cent OF the duties and providing for
| the removal Of the remaining IL per cent
on the LIST OF March. 1902, or earlier II the
| legislature Of Porto Rico shall provide local
revenues for the expenses Of conducting the
| government.
Island Is Profited.
During this intermediate period Porto
Rican products coming into the United
States pay a tariff Of 10 per cent Of the rates
under the Dinglcy act and our goods going
thus paid and collected both in Porto Rico
and the United States are paid to the gov
| eminent OF Porto Rico and no part thereof
is taken by the national government.
| All OF the duties from Nov. l, 1898, to June
| 80. 1900, aggregating the sum Of $780,
| 52321, paid at the custom houses In the
/ United States upon Porto Rican products,
under the laws existing prior to the above
mentioned act Of Congress, have gone into
| the treasury OF Porto Rico to relieve the
destitute and for schools and other public
purposes. In addition to this. we have ex.
pended for relief. education and improve.
ment OF roads the sum OF s1,513.OsI.95.
Military Force Cut Down.
The United States military force In the
islands has been reduced from 1000 to
1900, and native Porto Rlcans constitute for
the most part the local constabulary.
| Under the new law and the Inauguration
of civil government there has been graft
flying revival OF business. The manufactures
OF Porto Rico are developing; her imports
are increasing: her tariff Is yielding in
! creased returns: her fields are being cult
waited; free schools are being established
incident to a change of national condit Ions,
she is rapidly showing the good effects OF
her new relations 10 this nation.
For the sake of full and intelligent under
| 81 hn MI .