The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-09-22

/ PRACTICAL civil service reform has always
i nad the support and encouragement Of the
Republican party. The future OF the merit
/ system Is safe In its hands.
/ During the present administration as oc-
caslons have arisen for modification or
i amendment In the existing civil service law
and rules, they have been made. Important
amendments were promulgated by executive
/ order under date of May 20, 1899, having for
their principal purpose the exception from
| competitive examination Of certain places in
YolVlng fduciary responsibilities or duties
| OF strictly confidential, scientific or execu-
tive character, which 1t was thought might
better be filed BY noncompetitiye examina-
ton or BY other tests Of fitness in the dis
erection Of the appointing officer.
Value of Merit System.
1t Is gratifying 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
| flee in our new territory. t.s Is
Inc American people are profonndly crate
ful to the soldiers, sailors and marines who
nave 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. s e.: +.
| 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 age and infrmity are Increasing tnetr de.
pendence. These, with the soldiers OF the
| spanish war, will not be neglected by their
grateful scou1tryment. The pension laws
have been liberal. They should be justly
administered, and will be. Preference
| should be given to the soldiers, satlors and
marines, their widows and orphans, with
respect to employment In the public SER
| vice. sa-%5 =. III. ~ +. III.
Kept Faith With Cuba. .s.--e
We have been in possession Of Cuba since:
the first of January, 1899. We have re-
stored order and established domestic tran
guilty. 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 educa tion, and taken a full
and comprehensive enumeration Of the in
habitants. I. ~ r..
The qualification of electors has been set
tied and under it officers have been chosen
for all the municipalities of Cuba These
local governments are now in operation, add
ministered by the people. Our military es-
to less than 5000. s.-.s. ri
An election has been ordered to be held ON
the 10th Of September under a fair election
law already tried In the municipal elections,
to choose members Of constitutional con-
vention, and the convention, by the same
order, il to assemble on the first Monday of
November to frame constitution upon
which an independent government for. the
island will rest All this is long step in
the fulfllment Of our sacred guarantees to.
the people Of Cuba. - = r..
l. 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 govern
ment In which the tnha bitants participate,
elect their own legislature, enact their own
local laws, provide their OWE system Of tax
alton, and in these respects have the same
power and privileges enjoyed by other terri
tories belonging to the United States and a
much larger measure Of self-government
than was given to the Inhabitants of Iouisi-
ana under Jefferson. 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 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
mercial intercourse with the United States,
Congress complied with my recommendations
by removing, on the LIST day of May last,
IS per cent Of the duties and providing for
the removal Of the remaining Is per cent
on the 1st,of March, 1902, or earlier il the
legislature Of Porto Rico shall provide local
revenues for the expenses Of conducting the
government. H.. z...:5 t.,.-> =.
Island IL Proflted.
During this intermediate period Porto
Rican products coming into the United
States pay 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
eminent Of Porto Rico and no part thereof
is taken by the national government
All Of the duties from Nov. 1, 1885,, to June
80, 1900, aggregating the sum Of $780,
1921, paid at the custom houses in the.
United States upon Porto Rican products,
under the laws existing prior to the above
mentioned act of Congfess, 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, os4.9 5.
Military Force Cut Down.
The United States military force in the
islands has been reduced from II, 900 to
1,500, 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 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 ADVERTISEMENTS
incident to a 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
standing Of the Philippine question and TO
give to the people authentic Information Of
the acts and aims Of the administration, /
present at some length the events Of impor-
lance leading up to the present situation.
The purposes Of the executive are best re-.
vealed and can best be judged BY what he
has done and is doing.
Every Move for Peace.
It will be seen that the power of the gov
eminent has been used for the liberty. the
peace and the prosperity OF the Philip: ie
peoples. md that force has been empI -ye0
only against force which stood In the WAY
| Of. the realization Of these ends.