The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-05-23
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor .
The Dependencies and Appointments
TO Civil Offices,

ator Ross introduced bill regarding
appointments to civil offices in Alaska,
Hawaii, or any other place brought
within the jurisdiction of the United
States by the recent treaty with Spain.
Senator Ross has been giving much
attention to the government of these
dependencies, as he characterizes them,
with the purpose of preventing the
islands or territories from falling prey
to partisan official appointments and
administration.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, Mr.. Ross
called up this bill and spoke in support
of its provisions. The Senator refer
red to the circumstance that, for the
first time in its existence, the nation
has entered upon the difficult under
taking of governing dependencies,
some of them remotely located, having
fixed customs and laws, the growth of
centuries, the fundamental and under
lying principles the opposite of those
which have ruled her existence. The
Senator spoke of the islands as 'de.
pendencies," because that word most
clearly expresses their relation to this
nation. All are, and for years will be,
dependent on this nation for protection
against foreign nations, for laws and
their due administration. He enforc-
ed upon Congress the necessity of en-
tering upon the new tasks in govern
ment in the right way and spirit. The
welfare of nearly 100, 0O0,0 900 people was
involved. The measure before the
Senate, enacted into law and obeyed in
spirit, would be most helpful in the
proper discharge of these important
and difficult duties.
The Senator sketched briefly the con.
ditions, widely varying, in each indi-
vidual member or group of these de-
tendencies. Appointments of the
heads of the departments in the civil
governments Congress has or may
provide for these dependencies, must
be made by the nation and continue 30
long as this government is responsible
to other governments, to its own peo-
pie and the people Of the dependencies
for the conditions that shall exist
there. Sin every form of government
responsibility and control are closely
related factors. The one cannot we'll
exist in the absence of the other" H.
Illustrating the quality of the men who
should be selected and appointed for
the government of these dependencies
the Senator said:
1t is manifestly evident that to mould
successfully the civil government acts into
existing laws in these dependencies; to set
up and establish the executive, legislative
and judicial departments; to administer
them honestly, prudently, in the best inter-
ests OF their respective and varied inhabi-
tants, and in the interests OF the nation, de-
mand that the appointees to control and ad-
minister these dependencies be men filed
with the fundamental principles of our in
situations, men OF intelligence, OF experience
in governmental affairs, OF excellent iudg-
ment, thoroughly honest, energetic, and
heartily devoted to their work. Statutes
however carefully formulated and nicely
adapted to existing conditions are lifeless
and inert. Those who put them in opera
ton, who mould, construe and enforce
them, give them life and action effective to
beneficial results. That these results may
be most beneficial to every interest de-
mands that the appointees be men of ma
tional qualities and characteristics, devoted
to their work, earnest and practical. Un-
like appointees for home work, to whom all
the conditions and every detail are familiar,
these appointees will go to new and unfa-
miliar fields, encounter comparatively a
strange people speaking an unknown
tongue and surrounded by peculiar condi-
tons. They must be given time to become
acquainted with the people and their con
ditions. The whole nation not the party in
power, will be responsible for the results
accomplished, every citizen will be more or
less affected thereby.
A reasonable permanency" in office
should be secured by requiring that
removals be made on charges preferred
in writing, with an opportunity to be
heard in answer. Non-partisan ap.
pointments and this reasonable perma
nency assured, men of high quality and
character can be secured "who will be
exemplars, missionaries of the funda
mental principles of this government
Rather than incur the consequences Of
appointing to these remote stations
with their strange and unusual envi
ronment, linen who have a politica
pull, who are given a place to square
political accounts the nation
had better, to it's humiliation and dis
grace, haul down the flag and leave thu
islands to their own way" The sound
ness of these views was sustained b,
copious quotations from the late repor
of the Philippine commission.
The old New England origin anc
training of Senator Ross came consnic