ndidates
for the position of assistant statisticians, and also of candidates for
chiefs of sections in that division.

The work done by the Department of Agriculture is very superficially
dealt with in this communication, and I commend the report of the
Secretary and the very important interests with which it deals to the
careful attention of the Congress.

The advantages to the public service of an adherence to the principles
of civil-service reform are constantly more apparent, and nothing
is so encouraging to those in official life who honestly desire good
government as the increasing appreciation by our people of these
advantages. A vast majority of the voters of the land are ready to
insist that the time and attention of those they select to perform for
them important public duties should not be distracted by doling out
minor offices, and they are growing to be unanimous in regarding party
organization as something that should be used in establishing party
principles instead of dictating the distribution of public places as
rewards of partisan activity.

Numerous additional offices and places have lately been brought within
civil-service rules and regulations, and some others will probably soon
be included.

The report of the Commissioners will be submitted to the Congress, and
I invite careful attention to the recommendations it contains.

I am entirely convinced that we ought not to be longer without a
national board of health or national health officer charged with no
other duties than such as pertain to the protection of our country
from the invasion of pestilence and disease. This would involve the
establishment by such board or officer of proper quarantine precautions,
or the necessary aid and counsel to local authorities on the subject;
prompt advice and assistance to local boards of health or health
officers in the suppression of contagious disease, and in cases where
there are no such local boards or officers the immediate direction by
the national board or officer of measures of suppression; constant and
authentic information concerning the health of foreign countries and
all parts of our own country as related to contagious diseases, and
consideration of regulations to be enforced in foreign ports to prevent
the introduction of contagion into our cities and the measures which
should be adopted to secure their enforcement.

There seems to be at this time a decided inclination to discuss measures
o