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About Nebraska advertiser. (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1881)
"vnpnwram wmirmn i m ii n'wwmi mmn jhh luiminmii ' IWUMH I " 1 "" I'll 'W FJ"MIWW rs nnd packages registered during tho was H.arw,niii, or which onl) U',011 wore de- xcdorlost In transit. Tho operations or Winei -order system aro multiplying your- utidcr'fhc impulso of Immigration, of tho pld development of tho newer States and irrltorlr ..mid tho consentient demand for Alltlonul ili'Mrm of lntor-eoinmuiiioiitlon and ieliiugc. During tho post year, W add Jlmml lone) -order ofllces hno boon established, jinking n total of 5,409 In opornt on at tho date of this report. During the year ' tho domestic money orT dor aggregated In xalue $10,ri0i,oi0.wi. A niodllleutlonof tho s) stem Is suggested, roduo ing the foes for money eirelers not exceed iig 55 from 10 cents to 5 cents", and mak ng tho maximum limit $100. In plaoe of JstO. Lcglsln- lion for tho disposition of unelnlmcl money orders In the possession of the l'ost-olllei' Do. pnrtment Is recommended, In view of tho fact that their total x units esoeens i,umi,iui. ho uttentlon of Congress -Is again pohitcd to tho subject or establishing a system of flav ours depositories In connection with the Post olllco Department. The statistics of mall 'runspoitutlon show that during the past ear iillrcMtl routes huvo been Increased In length l,20 miles, nnd In cost ?111,:W2, while steam boat ronton huvo been decreased In length 1W miles, mid In ooM $i:u,al. Tho su llied ytur routes hnxo been decreased i length il.Ul!" miles, nnd In tst MM.HI. Nearly all of tho more pensive route1) have been superseded by 'iroud sorx lee. Tho cost of tho star sen leo ist, thercfoio, rapidly decrease In tho West states and Territories, Tho Posttnustcr ieral, however, calls uttontlou to tho eon-ntl)-lnoieuslng cost of tho Hallway Mall ylicnsu serious dllllculty In tho way of fclng tho Department soir-sustalnlng. iur postal Intercourse with rorolgn ooiui rlos ha kept pace with tho growth of tho do Jiestlo -ei lco. within tho past year several countries and colonics huvo declared their ad hesion to tho Postal Union. It now Includes ill those which huvo an organized postal ser vice, i vcept Hollvla, Costa lllou. Now Zealand uid the Hrlllsli Colonics In Australia. An has been already stated, grout reductions m o iccentl) been made In tho expense of Che Stur-;outo service. Tho Investigation of the Depuitiiient ol .Justice and tho Post-olllon Depuitiiient have resulted In tho presentation ol indictments against poisons formerly con nected with that por loo, licensing- thorn of oflen-ies against the United States. I have on lolned upon tho ollleluls, who arochaiged with ho conduct of tho eases on tho part of thetiov Tiimcnt, and upon tho eminent counsel, who, elore my accession to tho Presidency, wero ailed to their assistance, tho duty of prose ntlng with t ho utmost vigor of the law all ergons who muv bo found ohiiigeuble with rands upon the Postal Service. THK t'NITKIl KTATKS COl'ItT. The noting Attorney (leneral culls attention p tho necessity of modifying tho present sys ;ni of tho courts of tho United States, a no esslty duo to tho largo Incieuso of business, specially In tho Supremo Couit. Litigation ti our Poderiil tribunals became grcatl) ox uncled aller tho close ol tho late war. So ting as that expansion might be attrib itablo to tho abnoimal condition in vhieh tho commuutty found itself luimcdl itel) alter tho return of peace, piudonco cnuiicd that no change bo made in tho .'(institution of our Judicial tribunals. Hut It has now become apputont that an im mense increase of litigation has direct!) re sulted tiom tho wonderful growth and devel opment ot the country, Theio Is no ground lor belief that the business of the I nlted States ('onus will over be less in volume than at pr"ent. Indeed, that It Is likely to be much gi eater is geiieriill) rocngnUcd by tho bench and tuir. In lew ot the tact that Con giess has ulicady given much consideration to this .subject, I make no suggestion as to detail, but i xpn ss tho hope that )our deliberations ma) icmiIi In such legislation u will glo call) n-llel to our over-burdened courts. lltlONA. Tin Acting Attoine) (icncral also calls at tention t the disturbance of tho public trail (pilllt) dtiilugtho past year In tho Teirltory ot Arizona. A band of armed desperadoes, known a "cov-bo)s," probably numbeiiug limn 50 to KM) men, have boon engaged tor mouths lu committing acts ol lawlessness and ti lit it lit which the local authorities have been unable to repress. Tho depredations of these "cow-bo) s" hae also been extended Into Mexico, which tho imiruudcrs reach from the Ari.ona frontier. With oorj dispo Hltlon to meet the exigencies of tho oiie, 1 am 'inbarnissed by lack of uuthoilt) to deal with them eircetual I) The punishment ot ci lines committed within AriMinu xhould, ordlnaril). of course, bo left to the Torritoi lal authorities. Hut it If) worthy of consideration whether acts which noccsarii tend to embroil the United States with nelghboilng (lovornmeuts should not be declared crimes against tho United States. Some ot the Incursions alluded to ma) pel haps be within the scope ot tho law, Hon Ised Statute, Siectlon ii.!MU. forbidding " Mllltai expeditions oi cnterpiics" against filendlj States. Hut in lew of the speedy assembling of j our bod). I hao jn-ofeired to await Much leg islation as In your wisdom tli"' occasion may seem to demand. It ma), peiliaps.be thought proper to provide that thoscttlngon foot with in our own teirltory ot btigauilage and armed marauding expeditions against trlendlj Na tions and their eltlens shall bo punished as an offense against the United States. I will add that, In the o out of a request from the Ton i torlal (ioveriunent for protection b) the United States against "domestic violence," thlstlov ernment would bo powerless to render assist ance. The act ol 17115, Chapter !M, passed tit tho time when Territorial (loenunents received little attention from Congress, enforced this duty of the United States out) as to State doeriiments; tint tho net of 1H0T, Chapter iff, applied also to Ton Itorles. This law seems to hue icmulnod In lo;co until the lovisiou of tho statutes, when provision tor tho Terri tories was diopped. 1 am not mUlsed wheth er this alteration wu Intentional or accidental, but n It seems to me that tho Torritoi lea should bo offered tho protection which Is nii porded to States by tho Constitution, I suggest legislation to that end. It 8ccm to mo that, whutover lews may Sreuil as to tho polio) ol iccent legislation y which the army has ceased to be apart ol tho posse comltatus, an uxecption might well bo made tor permitting the military to asslut tho civil Territorial authorities in ontorclug the laws of the United States. This unit of the army would not seem to bo within the alleged evil against which that legislation was aimed, from spanicnens of population und other cir cumstances. It Is often qultu Impraetlcablo to summon a posse in places whero ollicors of Justice require assistance, und whore mill tary toruo Is within easy reach. THF. INTElltOll DKrAHTMKNT. Tho ropoaUif tho Scerntary or the Interior, with accompanying documents, preseutH nn elaborate account of tho business of that de- tnirtmcut. A summary of it would bo too o.x ended for this place. I nsk your careful Attention to the repoit Itself. Prominent among tho matter which challenges the utton tlou of Congress at Its present session Is tho management of our Indian ullalrs. While this question ha been u cause ot trouble and om barrausutciit trom tho lutiinoy of tho Govern ment, it Is but recently that any effort has been made for Its solution at once serious, de termined, consistent, and promising success, It has been easier to resort to convenient makc-slilfts for tiding ox or tho temporal y dif ficulties, than to grapplo with the great perma nent problem, and according! the easier eourso has almost lux urlably been pursued. It was natural at a time when tho National torritoi-) seemed almost illimitable, and contained man) millions of acres lar south of the bounds of el lliod hettlomcnt, that a nollov should liux o been initiated w hlch more than aught else has been the fiuittulHoiireoof our Indian com plications. I refer, of eourso, to the policy of dealing with the various Indian tilbcs as sepa rate nationalities; ot relegating them by treaty papulations to tho occupancy of Immense resen atlons In tho West, and of encourag ing them todlxe unillstiubctl, and, b) earnest nnd well-dlieotcd efforts, to bring thorn under tho Inllueuccs ot cMlUatlon. Tho un satisfactory icsults which hne spiting from this policy are becoming uppui out to all. As the white settlements hue crowded tho bor ders ot tho icsorvatlons, tho Indians, some times contentedly and sometimes ugiilnst their will, have been irunsfoned to other hunting grounds, from wliioh they have been again dislodged whenever their now-found homes hu been deslied by the adwmturous settlors. These romowils, anil tho frontier collisions by vhlch they haxo often been preceded, liuxo ' to liequeiit und disastrous coulliuts bo n the races. It 's piolltless to dls hete which of them hus boon responsible for the disturbances wnoo iveltal occupies so largo a space upon tho pages of our history. Wo have to ileal with tho appalling fact that, though thousands of lives haxo been sacilllced and hundreds of mlllioas of dollars expended In tho attempt to sohe the Indian problem, It hud until tho past few years seemed scarcely nearer u solution than It was half n century ago. Hut the (Iov eriunent has of Into been cautiously but stead ily reeling its way to the adoption of u policy which has already produced gratifying results, nnd which, lu my Judgment, Is likely, If Con gress and tho executive uecord In Its support, to relievo us ere long from tho dlillculMcs which have hitherto beset us. For the success of tho effoits now making to Introduce among tho Indians the customs and pursuits of clxlllzcd life, iitid gradually to ut poib them Into the mass of our citizens, shar ing their rights mid holdeu to their responsi bilities, there Is Impel ntivo need ror legislative notion. My suggestions lu that respect will bo ohlelly such as have been already culled to tho nttontlonof Congress, ami haxo iccelved, to porno extent, Its consideration. First, I recom mend tho passage of an act making tho laws of the various States and Teirltorles applica ble to tho Indian reservations within their borders, and extending the lnws of tho State of Arkansas to the imrtlou of tho Indian Territory not occupied by tho five civilized tribes. The Indian should receive tlio protection of the law. Ho should bo allowed t-maintain in couit his rights of no llCI bo d-von ami propetty. Ho has repeatedly egged lor this prlxllcge. Its oxorolso would si x cry uluublo to him lu his progi ess toward Ivlllrutlon. Second, or even greater Inipor- I c twice. Is a measure xvhleh has been frequently recommendiMlliyinvptedeccssoixluollli'o. and in fuitlieninco of wlileh several bills have boon from time to time introduced In Isith houses of Congress. The enactment ot a general law permittlng tho allotment In sovciulty, tosucti liidiuns at least as descrx'o It, or n reasonable quantity or land, scctiied to them by patent, and for their own protection made Inalien able lor twenty or twcnty-llvo yours, Is demanded lor their mesonl welfiue. und , their permanent advancement. In return tor such considerate action on tho pint of thoUox eminent, theio Is reason to bollux r Hint tho Indians lu large iiumbers would bo jiei-suaded to sever their tribal relations, and to engage at once In agilcultural pursuits, and that It Is now lor their best Interests to coutorm their manner of lift1 to tho im'W order ol things. Ily nogreutiT Indiiconient thwi tho liisurunco ot pei iiiuncnt title to the soil can they be led to engage lu tho occupation of tilling it. The woll-nttoto"d reports of their Increasing Inter est lu husbundr) Justify the hope and belief that the enactment of such n statute as I recommend would bo at once nttended with gratllylng results. A resort to tho allotment system would Itax o a direct and powerful Inllu enco lu dlssolx lug tho tribal bond winch Is u prominent fcaturo or savage lite, and xvhleh tends so strongly to perpetuate It there. I ndvlso a liberal impropriation ror the sup port or Indian schools, because or my conli dent belief that such a course Is consistent with the xvisest economy, oven among tho most uncultured Indian tribes. There Is io porfed to bo a general and urgent desire on tho pint of tho Chiefs and tho older niembeis for tho education of their children. It Is un loitunate. In x lew of this fa'-t, that during tho past year tho means which have been at tho couiuiwidnf the Interior Department, tor tho purpose or Indian Instruction. haxo proved to bo uttoily imidoqiiute. Tho suc cess of the schools which are In operation at Hampton, Carlisle ami rorost (iroi e should not onl) encourage a moro generous provis ion lor the support of these Institutions, but should prompt the establishment of otheisol a similar character. They are doubtless moie potent tor good than the da) schools upon the tcservatlon, as the pupils aie altogether sop milted from the surroundings ol savage lite and bioughf Into constant contact with civil ization. There aro nruiy other phases ot this subject xvhleh are of groat Intel est, but which cannot be Included within the becoming limits of this communication. They we discussed nblv in the loports of the Secretary ol the Interior and o! the Commissioner or Indian A 11 airs. I'OI.YdAMY. For ninny years tho Kxecutive. lu his annual messago to Congress, hus called tittuntlon to tho necessit) tor stringent legislation tor tho suppression of polygamy in tho Teirltoiles, especlull) lu Utah. Tho existing statute tor the punishment ol this odious crime, so revolting to the moral ami religious sense ol Chrlstlanlt), has been persistently and contemptuous!) v liv luted ever since Its enactment. Indeed, lu spite of commendable droit on tho pint of the aiithoiitlcs who represent the United States in that Tcrritor), tho law has, in veiy rare instances, been enlorced, and for a cause to which reference will prcsentl) be made. Is practically a "lead letter. The fact that ad herents of the Moimon Chinch, which rests upon polygani) as Its corner-stone, have re cently been peopling In large numbers Idaho, Arl.ona and other "it our Westei u Territories, Is well calculated to excite I ho liveliest Inter est and tiniirehenslon. It imposes upon Con gress and the Kxecutive tliedut) of opposing to this Imiburous system nil the xiwer which under the Constitution und law tho) can w icld tor Its dost! notion. Heferonce has been al lead)' made to the obstiuctlous which the United States otllecis have cncounteied lu their onoits to punish tho violations ol the law. Prominent among the obstacles Is the dlllleiiltv or procuring legal ox id-mco sufficient to wat l ant a, conviction, even In the caseof the most notorious offenders. Tour attention Is ea lied to the opinion of tho Supreme Couit of the I nlted States explain ing Its Judgment ot reversal In the ctso of Miles, who had been convicted or blgum.v lu Utah. The court refers to tho lact that tho seciocv attending tin celobiutlon of mairlage in thnl Territory makes tho stippicssinu of that pint of H)lygauiy very dlllloult, ami the propriety Is suggested of inollf)lng that law of evldenco which now makes a wife Incompo tcnt to tcHtlf) ngalnst hor husband. This sug gestion is approved. I recommend also tho pussugo or nn act tirovldlng that InthoToi ritorles or these United States the fhet that n woman hus boon married to a person ohurged with bigamy shall not disqualify her as u witness upon his trial for that offense. I further recommend legislation b) which unv person solemnllng amaiiiago in mi) of tho Torritoi les hhiill bo loquiicd, under stringent penalties for neglect or lefusul. to tile a cer tlllcafo ol such marilago lu the Supreme Court of the Territory, until Congress shnll mnke or ilex Iso other liinctlcablo measures for obviating tho dllileultles which havehlth oi to attended tho oiTorts to suppress this In iquity 1 assuro you of my determined pur pose to eiHiporutc with you In uny lawful nnd discreet mcutfiircs which may bo ptopoucd to that end KIH'CXTION. Although our syMom of government does not contemplate that the Nation should pro vide or mi pport us) stem ror the education of our people, no measures calculated to prov Ide that geueiul intelligence nnd vliltio upon which tho pcrpctiill) "it our institutions so greatly depend hnx o ev or been logurdod with Indtffoionoe by Congress or tho Kxcoutlve. A large portion of tho public domain has been, trom time to time, devoted to tho promotion ol the cuiio of education. Theio Is now a spe cial reason why, b) setting upmt tho proceeds of the sales ol public lands, or by some oth er course, the Government should aid the work or education. Many who now oxorolso the right ot suffrage aro unable to read the ballot which they east. Upon inwiv vvlin hmi Jiisr emorgeo irom a conifltlon of shiver) weie suddenly devolved the responsibilities of cltlenship In Hint por tion ol the countr) most Impoverished li) xvai lhuiebou pleased to learn from tho report of tho immlsxoueror Kduoution that theio has been lately a coininoudablo Increase ol interest and oftoit tor theli Instruction, but all that can bo done by local legislation and pi Iv ate gencioslty should bo supplemented b) such aid us can be cuiistltutlomuf) afforded by tho National (iov eminent. I would huggest that, H un) fund be dedicated to this purpose, It may bo wisely distributed in tho ditreieut Status according to tho uitlo of lllltoruo), us by this menus those locations which aro most lu need of such assistance will roup tho espo clal benefit xonicui.TtiUK. Tho report of tho Commissioner of Agi icult uro exhibits icsults of tho experiments in which that Hopaitment bus been engaged dur ing tho past your, and makes Impoitunt sug gestions in reference lo tho ngrloultuiul de velopment of tho countr). The steady In crease or our populntlon, nnd tho consequent uddliicm to tho number of tnuso engaged in tho pursuit of husbandry, nio giving to this Depuitiiient u growing dignity und Impor tance. Tho Commissioner's suggestions touching Its capacity for greater inerulnesi dosorx os attention, as It more and moro com mends Itscir to tho Interest which It wus created to promote. I'K.NSIO.NS. It appears Trom the report of tho Commis sioner or Pensions that since lM0 7mi,0tUoilg I na I Pension claims hnvo been filed. 4A0,IUUnf these haxo been nllowed nnd luscribed on tho pension roll, TJ.MU have boon rejected and ubandoned, being thirteen per cent, of tho xvholo number of claims settled. Theie aro now pending for settlement V1,5T5 oilglmil I' nensfon claims. 12.704 or xvhleh xvero filed prior tojuiv 1. ihni. Tlieso. xvneu nuoweu, win in- volxo tho payment or nrrears rroui the ilnto or tho uisciiargo in tun enso oi nu iimuiu, nuu from the date of death or termination of n i prior right in all other cases. From all tho until obtainable It Is estimated nun iiiieeu per cent, or tho number or claims now pending will bo rejected or abiiii cloned. This would idiow tho proli ablo defection of Itl.OtO "'uses nnd the pnibublo admission or nlniut lKUKK) claims, all of which Involve tho payment of arrears of pensions. With the present force einplo) ed, tho number or adjudications remaining tho mime, nnd no new business Intervening, this number or claims (llU,(O0) could bo acted upon In a period or six years, and, taking January 1, 1KH4. its a nenr period from which to estlniuto In each case an average wtioiiiitof arreais, It is found that ox cry ensoaiioweu wouiu rcmuru ror the llrst payment upon It tho sum or $1,!W). Mulllphlng this amount by tho whole number or probable admissions glx es f i"i0,0i)0,tx) as tho mini requited tor llrst moments. This repro- sents tho sum which must bo paid upon claims which were filed lieloio Jiuy i, uwu, nun wo now ponding and entitled to thchoucllts or tho Anearsact. From this amount (fiVl,()00,0lK)) imiy tin deducted from ten to llttoon millions lor eases when, tho claimant d.vluK. them Is no person who under tho law would bo entitled to succeed to tho pension, leaving M15,(io0,o00 as tho probable amount to bo paid. In theso ostlmaws no account has been taken or tho i!.s,5(ji) cases tiled since .luno !W, ISM. and now pending, which must rccelvo attention, as cur rent business, but which do not Involve pay ment of an) at roars beyond tho tliito or filing the claim. Or this number It Is now estimated that elght)-slx per cent, will 1m nllowed, us has boon stated. With the piescnt force or the Pension llurouu, 075 clerks, It Is estimated that It will fake six years to dispose or tho claims now ponding. It Is stilted b) the Com missioner ol Pensions that with an addition or "() clerks (Increasing tho adjudicating lorco lather than tho mechanical), double tho amount of work could bo accomplished, so that theso enses could bo acted upon within three venrs. Aside from the considerations of JtNtloo which nia.v bo urged for a speedy settlement or tho claims now on tho tiles ol tho Pension Olllee, It Is no less Im portant on tho score of economy. Inasmuch, us fully one-third or timolol leal rorcoor tho olllco Is now wholly occupied In giving attention to correspondence with thousands or claimants whose cases have been on the tiles ror the past eighteen years. Tho frict that n sum so enor mous may bo expended by tho (lovcinnicnt to meet tho demands lor ariears or pensions is nil admonition to Congress und thoKxeeutlvo to give cautious consideration to any similar project In the future. Tin grout temptation to tho presentation of fictitious clulms utrorded by the tact that tho average sum obtained upon each application is $I.;HK) lends me to suggest tho piopilefy of making some special appro priation for the pi event Ion ot fraud. I.NTKIINAI. lMI'IIOVKMK.NTS. 1 ndvlso ntmrnnrlatlous ror such Internal Improvements ns the wisdom of Congiess may "loom to be of public luipoitanec. The neces sit) ot Improving tho navigation of tho Missis sippi Itivcr Justtllcs a hpcclal allusion to that subject. I suggest the adoption ot some mensuto tor lemoval of obstiuctlous which now Impede tho navigation ol that gieat chan nel ol commerce. 1IIK0IV1I. HlfltVICK. In ui) letter accepting tlm nomination tor the VIco-Prcsldonoy 1 stiiteillthnt in my Judg ment "no man should bo nu Incumbent of an olllee. tho duties ol' which ho Is lor any cause unlit to pei 1 oi in, or who Is lucking In tho abil ity, fidelity or Integrity which a puttier admin istration of such olllco demands. This senti ment would doubtless meet with gcueial ac quiescence, but opinion has becnwldelv ill v ided upon tho wisdom and Impracticability ot the various reformatory Hellenics xvhleh have boon suggested, and "if certain proposed regu lations gov oinlng appointments lo public ol llee. The elllclenoy of such icgulatlons hus been dlsti listed mainly because they huvo seemed to exalt mem educational and alist met tests above geneial business capacity, und even special fitness for the woikln hand. It seems to mo that tho result that should bo applied to tho management of tho public serv ice mil) piopeil) conform, In theinaln, tosucti us regulate the condition ot successful pri vate business. Original appointments should bo based upon useeituliied fitness. The tenure of olllco should be stable; positions ol lcsiiuu slhlllt) should, so fur us piactlcablo, bo tilled by the promotion of worthv and clllelent olll cers. The luv estlgatlou ol all complaints and the punishment ot all misconduct should bu prompt und thorough." The views expressed In tho foregoing letler tin those which will govern mv adminlstia Hon ot tho Kxeeutlx o olllee. Thoy aro doubt less shared by nil Intelligent ami patriotic citi zens, howoverdlveigoiit lu their opinion us to tin; best methods of putting them Into practi cal npcintlon. For oxample, tho assertion that original utv polutmcuts should be based upon ascot tallied fitness "Is not open lo dispute," but tho question how. In practice, such lltuess can bo most elfcctiiall) ascot tallied Is one which has tor years excited Interest and discussion. The measure which, with slight variations in Its details, has Intel) been uiged upon the utten tlon of Congress and tho Kxecutive, has Its principal feature in the scheme tor competi tive examination. Suvu for certain examina tions, which need not hem be speelllt rt, this plan would admit to the serv Ice only ltt lowest grade, and would nccnrdlngl) demand Hint all vacancies In tho higher iiosltlnus should be filled by promotion nloue, In these par ticulars it is in continuity with the existing elvll-servlco system or (licut llrltaln, und Indeed the success xrhlc h hus attended that system In the country or Its birth Is tho strong est argument which hns lieou urged ror Its adoption here. The tnct should not, however, be overlooked that there uro certain lcutiitrs or tho Kugllsh system which huvo not general ly been received with lav or in this countrv, even among tho foremost advocates of Civil sorx Ice rororiu. Among them am: First, n tenure or olllco which is substantially a Ufa tenure. Second, n limitation of tho maximum ugo ut which an applicant can onterthoservlco, whoichyal! men In middle life or under are, with some exceptions, rigidly excluded. Third, n retiring allowance upon going out or olllee. Thco throo elements nro as Important inc torsor tho problem as nnr of the others. To eliminate therefrom the Kngllsh system would effect a most radical change in its theory and iirneuco. 'i no uv oweci purixiso or mm system Is to Induce the educated )ouug men of the country to devoto theli lives to public em pl"i)uiont, by an assurnuco that, having once enteied upon It, they need never leuvo It, und that, titter v oluntur) retirement, thoy shall be icclplcnts of an annual pension. That this system, us an entirety, has proved voi) suc cessful, lu (iient Ililtuin seems to bo gen erally cone oded, oxen by those who once oii posed its udnptioii. To a statute, which should incorporate all Us essential features, I should leel bound toglvoui) approval, but whether It would be for tho best interests of tho public to 11.x upon un expedient, for immediate and extensive application, wlili h embraces ceituln teaturosor tho Kugllsh s.v stem, but excludes or Ignores otheis ot equal impmtaiicc, mil) be seriousl) doubted oven b) those who nro Im pressed, ns I am m v self, with the grave Im jioiluneo of cm reeling the evils which Inhere in tho present methods of appointment. It, lor example, tho Kngllsh rule, which shuts out persons aliove tho ago of 5 .venrs trom u largo number of public emplo)ment, Is not tolio made an essential purt of our system, it Is questionable whether the attainment ol tho highest number ot murks at n eompctltiv o ex amination should bo tho criterion by which all applications for appointment should ho put to test; and under similar conditions It may also bo questioned whethorudmlsslontiithoM'rvloo should bo strictly limited to its lowest ranks. Them uro very many characteristics which go to mnke up u model civil servant; prominent among them aro probity, Industry, good sense, good habits, good temper, patience, ardor, courtesy, tnct, solf-rellnnco, manly deference to superior otiieers, ami maniy considerations tor interims. Tho absence of these trults Is not supplied by n wide, know ledge or books, or by promptitude In answering questions, or by my other quality likely to lx brought to llut by competitive exntnlnntlon. To iniike suc cess In such a contest, therefore, nn Indispen sable condition of public employment would very likely result In tho practical exclusion of tho older aptdlcnnts, oxen though they might possess qualifications fnr superior to their younger and moro billllnut competitors. These sugjr'stlons mint not bo regmded m evincing uuy spirit of opposition to tho com petitive plan, which hns been, to some ex tent, successfully omploycd nlrcndy, nnd XThlch may hereafter xlndlcnto tho elnlms of Its most earnest supporters, but It ought to bo seriously oonsldoied whether tho application or tho same educational standard to persons or mature yenrs, us to young men rresh rroni school and college, would not bo likely to ex nit mere Intellectual piollcleucy abovo other qualities or equal or greater Imporlauco. Another fcaturo or tho proposed system Is thn selection by promotion or all olllcers of tho Government above tho lowest guide, except Biieh us would fultly be regarded ns exponents or tun poney or tne i.xeoutivo ami tno piiuci' pies of thodoinlniuit jiiuty.tonlTordeneouinge meitt to faithful public servants by exciting lu their minds tho hope of ptomotlou, If they nro found to merit it, Is much to be desired; but would It mil bo farcical to adopt a rule so rigid ns to permit no other imido or supplying tho Interinedlate wants or the service? There uro many persons who 1111 subordinate posi tions with grout credit, but luck those quali ties which me icuuMto for tho higher posts of duty, und, besides the modes of thought and uctlon ol olio whoso service In a (lov cm mental human has been long-continued, mo otten so crumped by routine procedure as al most todlsqualiryhlmrromlustitiitlngchauges required by tho public interests, nml Infusion of new blood from time to time Into the mid dle runks of tho service might bo very beiiell clal In Its results. The subject under discus sion Is one of grave Iniportnnoo. Tho evils which are complained of cannot bn erudleuted ut once. Tho work must bo grnd mil. The present Kngllsh system Is a growth of ycius, ami was uolciealed b) a single stroke of Kxecutlvo or l.eglslutlve uctlon. Its begin nings are round III un older lu council promul gated In IKY, and It wus after patient and cau tious scrutiny or Its workings that, llfteen )cars later, it took Its piescnt shnpo. Five yews after tho issuance of tho order lu coun cil, und at a time when resort had been had to competitive examination its wi experiment, mueli moteoxteuslv'ol) than has yet lieen tho ease In this country, u select committee of tho House of Commons ninde a report to that House, which, declaring Its approval ot tho competitive method, deprecnted, iioveithelcss, mi) picclpltutio) in lis general adoption, us likely to endanger its ultimate success. During this tentative period tho icsults of tho two methods of class examination and competitive examination woio closely xviitehed nnd compared. It inn) bo that befoio wo coiitluo otiiselvcs upon this Important question within the stringent bounds of statu tory enactment, wo muy prolltnbly await tho result ot fui flier Inquiry nml experiment, Tho submission of a pot Hon of tho nominations lo ti central Hoard of Krainlnors selected solely ror testing tho uunlitlcutiniis or applicants, mil), pei haps, without rosott to tho competi tive tost, put an end to tho iiilsuhler which in tends tho present system ol' appointment, und It mil) tie feasible to vest In such u Hoard u wide disci ct ion, to iiscettnln tho chin aeterlstlcs ami attainments ol candidates in those piutleil lars which 1 have ahead) lufcrmd to as being no less impoitunt tlnin moro Intellectual at tainments. irCongiesi should deem it advisable ut tho present session in establish competitive tests lor admission lo the serv ice, no doubts such us have been suggested shall deter mo lioni giv ing tin mciisum ui) earnest suppott, ami 1 ur gcntl) i ecoinuieud, should them bo n lalluio to pass mi) other other act upon this subject. mat an appropriation oi i.oou per yew may bo made loi theeulorcemetit olcctlou 1,751 of the Itevlsed Statutes With tho old thus all old ed mo. I shall strive to execute' the prov Islous of that law iiccoidliur to Its letter and spirit I nm unwilling. In Justice lo tho piescnt civil set vice ol the Government, lo dismiss this Milijt et without declaring my dissent from tho severe ami almost Indiscriminate consul o with which the) have been recentl) assaulted; ihui the) aie, as u ctuss, Indolent, insutliclent, cm nipt, Is a statement which hus been often made and widely cii ciliated, but when tho extent, v at let), dollciio) and Impoituiicc of their duties are oouMdeied, the great majority ol Iho employes of tho Goveiumout me, In in)' Judgment, deserving of high com mendation '1IIK Mmtl'IIA.NT SKtlVICK. The continuing decline of the meieliant ma rine nl the United Stutes Is to bo greatly do plot ed. lu view of tho fact thai we furnish so large a propoi lion of the freights of the com meichil woild, slid that our shipments uro stcadll) and rapidly Increasing, It is it cause of surprise that not only Is our navigation Intel est illmlulslilug.hut It Is less than when our ox ports und Impoits woio not half so Inigous now, either In bulk oi value. There must bo some peculiar hindrance to tho dovclom inoiit ol this interest, mi- the enterprise and oueig) or American mechanics mid capital ists would have kept this countiv at least abreast ot our rivals lu the trlcuulx contest lor ocean suproiniicy. Tho substitution or lion lor wood and or steam for mill huvo wrought gieat lovolutloiis In tho carry In 'Ing iild lianeot inewoim, mil loose changes cot not have heen adverse to Amotion II wo hud given to our na v Igat Ion lutci est a poitlouof the aid lu protection which huvo been so wlsel) bestowed upon our iiiiliuiluetuics. I commend tho whole subject to tho wisdom or Congiess, with thi suggestion thnl no question ol gi enter magnitude or liirtlior-rcuthlng Im pel twice can engage their attention. DIVIIIIIIAI IDS. Ill 1875 tho Slipieini) Couit or tho United Htnlos declined uiicoustliuilomil thn statutes ol coi lain States which Imposed upon shlt owuois oi consignees n tux of $1.50 for cacli pnssctigci ni riving Irom n fnicigu count i)', or, in llou thoienr, leqiiiied . bond lo Indemnity thn Statu and loenl nuthorltlos against expense forthc future relief or stiiipott of such pas senger. Since this decision tho expense in tending iho enro nnd supervision of Immi grants lias fallen on the States at whose potts they huvo landed. As n large majority ot such Immigrants. Immediately upon their aiilval, proceci ioiuo inuiuii taies una tno Terri tories to seek permanent homes, It Is mani festly unjust to Imposn upon the Htato whoso shores the) llrst icnoh the burden which It now beats. For this icasou, und because of tho Nntlounl Importance of tho subject, I rec ommend legislation icgurdliig the supervision und transitory cwo or Immigrants at the ports of dcbnrkutlon. ALASKA. I regret to state Hint tho poeipleof Alaska have reason to comptnln that thoy aro us yet unpro vided with uny (in in or government by which life or property cun bo protected. Willie the extent of Its population does not Justify tho application of tho costly iiiuehlncry of Terri torial administration, theie Is Immediate ne cessity tor constituting such u lorm of gov ernment iv. will promote tho education or tho people and secure Iho administration or Jus tice. The Senate at Its Insl session passed n bill prov Idlug for tho construction of a build ing lor the library of Congiess, but it fulled to become u law. Tho provision feir such ample protection lor this gieat i nllccllou or books, and lor the copyright department connected with It, has become a subject of National lui poitanec ami should i ci clve prompt utten tlon. Illhl llll T Ol' COI. ITMIIIA. Tne leport of the CoiiiiiiIhsIiiiicis of Hie District of Columbia, herewith transmitted, will Inloim jiiii full) ol tho condition ol the allalisol the District. Tho vital Importance ot legislation tor tho leclwmulem and Im provement ol the marshes, ami fen the estalf llshmcnt or the hwbor Hues along the Poto mac Itivcr trout Is manliest. Ills mpreseiited that in theli present condition these marshes serlousl) alfcet tin- health of tin icsldonts of the adjacent pails ol the oil), und that the) gientl) mar the general as pect of tho park In which stands the Washing ton Monument. This Improvement would add to that park und the park south ol the Kx ecutive Mansion a huge area ol valuable land, nml would trunslorm what Is now believed to bo n dangerous nuisance Into nu attractive lwidscapo extending to the river limit. Thoy recommend the removal of tho steam railway lines irom mo suriaco or iho streets ot tno cit), und the locution of the necessury depots lu such places as may bo convenient tor tho public accommodation. Thoy call attention to the di'llclenc) of tho water supply, whit h seri ously alleets tho material prosperity "if tho city and tho health und comfort of Its Inhabit ants. I commend theso subjects to ) our euro fill consideration, I'HKSIIIKNTIAI. Kf.KCTOIIH. The Importance of timely legislation with respect to tho usccituliimcul and duclitrutlou m i i imiMinniiiniiiiimimiuiim las of tho vote ror I'resldenllal Klrotors won sharply called to tho uttentlon or the (tropin more than foil r) ears ago. It Is to bo hoped that some well-dellued mrnsuin may bo de vised before another National election, which will render unnecessary a resort to uny oxpo dlcnt of u tempoiaty character for tho do termination of questions niton contested ro turns. INAIItl.llV Or 1IIK I'ltrSIDKNT. Questions which concern the very oxlstouoo or the (lovcinnicnt and tho liberties of tho people wero suggested by tho prolonged Ill ness or the Into ('resident, and his consequent Incapacity to perform tho functions or his nflloo. It Is provided by tho second nrtlclo or tho Constitution, In the lirth clause of Us first section, that lu case of tho removal of tho President from olllee, or or his death, resigna tion, Inability to discharge the powers ami duties or said olllee, tho same shall devolve on the Vice-President. What Is the Intention of tho Constitution In Its specification of "Inability to discharge Iho powers and duties of snld office," as one of tho contin gencies which calls tho Vlce-Picsldriit to the oxorolso of Presidential functions? Is the luahlllt y designated In Its nature to long continued Intellectual Incapacity, or has It broader Imimrty What must bo Its extent nml duiatlon? How must Its cxlstcnco bo establMied? Has the President, whoso Inabil ity Is the subject or Inquiry, any voloo In do tei mining whether or not It exists? Or In tho decision or that momentous and delicate nuos tlou conlldrd to the Vice President, or is It contemplated by the Constitution that Congiess should provide by law pro clseiy what should constitute Inabil ity, nnd how and by what tribunal or authority It should bo ascci tallied? If tho Inability proves to bo tciiiHirury In Us nature, nnd din lug Its continuance tho Vice-President luwftiliy rxeiclscs the fiiucllous or tho Kxecu tive, by what tenure does ho hold his olllco? Does ho continue ns President for tho reniuln dor of Iho rour-yenrs term, or would the elected Piesldcnt, ir his Inability should ceiwo In tho Interval, bn ompnwcicd to resume hit olllco, und ir, having such luvvfril authority, ho should exercise It, would the Vice-President bo thereupon empowered lo resume his powers and duties as such? I cannot doubt that theso Impoitaut questions will receive your early und thoughtlill consideration. CONO.l'HION. Deeply Impressed with the gravity or tho ro stioustbllllles which have so uno xtiectedlv dovolv ed upon mo, It will be my constant pur' noso to cei-oneriito with you In such measures as will promote Iho glory of tho country and the prosperity of lis people, Cur.HTKii A. AiiTiiint, WAHIltXOTOV I) C December II. I8HI. A K'iss on tlio Sly. Thoro is to bo found niuuli rofroah mont In n woll-projiortionod kiss. This much ovorybody noknowludgos, though only a frank few havo tho courago to noknowlodgo it. ononly. And it is curious fact, as yot unexplained by tho philosopher, that tho slyer tho kiss la tlio moro thoro is in it of refreshment. A kiss thnl is paid as a forfeit boforq a xvholo room full of people is prosaic, not to hiiv embarrassing. Iho girl laughs, xvhicli spoils tlio romance, and tho fellow, ten to one, blushoa nei ther of them thinking much of it and thoy both aro tipt pretty soon to forgot nil about it. But lot tlio same follow kiss tlio sumo girl xvhon nobody is looking ami tlio situation is as dillorent as possible. 'J'luit sort of a kiss, lired oil' in ii hurry behind a door or in a eonsorvtitory, is liko an electric shock, and is as sweet cream. Tlio tun to of it sort of holds on, and constantly suggests tho pro priety, or impropriety, as the cuso may lie, of trying it again. And tho laugh ing and blushing are exactly reversed. Tho follow laughs, without spoiling tlio romance ji bit, ami tlio girl blushes liko a pink (tarnation. It is (pieor that tho very Hiime thing should, under such slightly altered cir cumstances, bo so entirely dillorent, nor is it any tlio loss queer because tho dif ference lias existed from tlio earliest ages of tlio world. Philadelphia Times. A Sanitary Life. Our Knglisli friends are just at pres ent discussing tlio question as to wheth er a .sanitary life is worth living: whether it is moro agreeable to iuduliro in unlimited lobster, pine-apple and dry chnini'Ugnc, and live a short life anil a merry one, or to dole outan over lasting existence on oatmeal and milk and a specified ounce of rare roast mut ton, is the question. Is it, then, better to live long, and stretch out days in .senility when there are no amusements in one's life, save whist? Or is it moro pioasant to dash through some thirty eight , ours, and, having accomplished something, to pass out of sight? An English physician of merit says this: 1 think men wore happier ami bettor, and lived nobler lives, before tlio pur suit of health and tlio yearning for lon gevity became a crazo almost amount ing to madness. What to oat, drink and avoid, what to xvear and how to live, by what means to avoid infection, to keep oil' disease, and to escape (loath, for a few weary and xvoariod years, aro questions which engross tho thoughts, it thoy do not embitter tho lives, of tho multitude." This ratiior cynieal doc tor certainly hits tlio truth. Death m tho nightmare of many particularly those of tho wealthier classes, who dread tho time when their lino posses sions will lie of no further use to them. The wise man takes care of himself, but looks forward to the inevitable end of all tilings xvitli complacency. -Specimens of a new method of counterfeiting silver coins wero received at tho Treasury Department recently. Tho coin is cut in three pieces and por tions of it filed oil'. The pieces aro thai put together again by tho use of solder. Coins manipulated in this xvay are not so much smaller than tho origi nal that thoy can be distinguished by other than actual comparison In ad dition to this cutting oi), holes aro drilled into tlio coin from tho edges and silver taken therefrom, roplaced by a base metal, and the edges polished so as to make detection almost impossible A consignment of pedigree cattle, valued at tfl.'iO.OOO, loft Liverpool a few days ago for Canada. Tho stock includo(l Heroford bulls, Abordconshiro polled cattlo, picked Jersey cows, and shorthorns from tho herds of Lords Latliom and 1'olworth. Tho same ves sel convoyed a cargo of Shropshire and Oxford down sheep, and a number of prizo poultry. Tho wliolo has boon so looted for various woll-known farmori in tho Dominion.