Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-09-25

| something by for the days of infirmity 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 oc-
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
| Volving fduciary responsibilities or duties
of strictly confidential, scientific or execu-
tive character, which it was thought might
better be filled by noncompetitive examina
| tion or by other tests of fitness In the dis
cretion of the appointing officer.
Value of Merit System.
1t is crafty ing that the experience of more
than year has vindicated 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
flee 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 considerate 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 still spared to
| US their numbers are rapidly diminishing
| and arc fpo thoir O.
pendence. These, with the soldiers of the
Spanish war, will not be neglected by their
| grateful countryment. 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
| respect 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
| trodueed 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-
mnistered by the people. Our military es-
tabllshment has been reduced from 43 900
| to less than 5000.
An election has been ordered to be held ON
| the 18th of September under fair election
| law already tried in the municipal elections,
| 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.
Plan. for Porto Rico.
We hold Porto Rico by the same title as
the Philippines. The treaty Of peace which
ceded US the one conveyed to US the other
Congress has given to this island govern
n,ent in which the Inhabitants participate,
elect their own legislature. enact their own
local laws, provide their own system Of tax
alton, AMI in these respects have the same
power and privileges enjoyed by other terri
tories belonging to the United States and
much larger measure of se!f-government
than was given to the inhabitants of LOusfe!
ana under Jefferson. district court of the
United States for Porto Rico has been estab-
lished and local courts have been inaugnr
ated, all of which are In operation.
The generous treatment OF the Porto
Ricans aecords 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
T-,,gk~ cHak1
Congress complied with my recommendation
by removing. on the 1st day OF May last,
s5 per cent of the duties and providing for
the removal of the remaining Is per cent
on the 1st 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 Is per cent of the rates
under the Dingley act and our goods going
to Porto Rico pay like rate. The duties
thus paid and collected both in Porto Rico
and the United States are paid to the gov
ernment 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 $2,250,-
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 81, ,513, ,0S4 .95.
Military Force Cut Down.
The United States military force In the
islands has been reduced from 1000 to
/, 500, and native Porto Ricans constitute for
the most part the local constabulary.
Under the new law and the inauguration
of civil government there has been n 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.
Notwithstanding the many embarrassments
| incident to change of national conditions.
she is rapidly showing the good effects of
her new relations to this nation.
For the sake Of full and intelligent under