Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-06-15
GRANTS WORK.

two stools%'
GRANTS WORK.
President Grant continues brave
| " in the course of honesty and
economy which he marked out for
himself at the beginning of his ad-
ministration. Three dispatches that
were published in Mondays Gazette
afford conspicuous proof Of the
value of the work he has already
accomplished, and of the plans he
has in mind for the future.
First was the June statement of
the public debt. On the 1st of June
the total amount of the debt was
50, ,299, 134,1S5, as against $2,303,-
573,543 ON the 1st of May, being a
reduction in one month of $4,439,-
35S. The reduction since March l,
1871, has been $21, ,574, ,672, and the
total reduction since Grant became
president. 1926, 339,O75. These fig
ures are more eloquent than words.
How well has the president proved
what he said in his letter accepting
the republican nomination in 1865:
Peace, aad aafversdl prosperity,
its sequence, ariM economy Of dd-
miaistrdtion, aciU tighten the burden
Of tacotion, achile it constantly re-
duces the national debt
But this showing of the debt is
only what might have been expected
after the experience of twenty-seven
consecutive months. 1t is signif-
icant fact that the country is dis
posed to grumble if the debt is not
reduced every month. And that,
too, though taxes have been 50
much lightened.
Another dispatch is more signili
cant. The army of the United
States has been reduced to a peace
footing, in accordance with the act
of congress of July Is, 1870. Thirty
thousand men now comprise the
army of the public. In September,
1868, it numbered 1874. In Bu-
chanan's time it numbered 10000.
At this time, in spite of large ac
cession of territory, in spite of the
troubles growing out OF the late
war, the army is less than twice as
large as. during Buchanan's rule
And this reduction has been brought
about under . soldier president.
1t was what the Democratic national
convention demanded in 1868, and
behold . republican administration
has granted 1t.
Another important dispatch was
published. We dare say many over
looked it, or, reading it did not rec
ognize its Importance and drift. We
produce it as follows:
The President has appointed George W. Cur
tbs, of New York, Joseph Medill, OF Chicago,
Alexander Cattell, of New Jersey, Damson 4.
Walker, of Pennsylvania, Z. Il. Ell lott, of the
treasury department, and II, Blackfan. of the
postofiice department., to carry out the object
of that clause in the appropriation bill passed
March 3, 1871, ordering the President to pre-
| scribe such rules and regulations for the admis
sion of persons into the civil service of the
United States as will best promote the eflcien-
cy thereof, and ascertain the fitness of each
candidate in respect to age, health, and char
actef knowledge and ability for the service
which he seeks to enter. The board cOnvencS
| on the 2Sth inst. at the interior department.
Now here Is q movement toward
civil service reform that means
something and promises something.
Three men on this committee are
known the country over. George
w. Curtis is the editor of Harper's
Weekly, and no man of the thou
sands that have read that paper
needs to be told that Mr.. Curtis is
an earnest advocate of reform in
the civil service, and has decided
opinions as to the method Of insti=
tuting such reform. Joseph Medill
is one of the editors of the Chicago
Tribune. In the late constitutional
convention at Springfield he was
the leading spirit, and to him more
than to any other man Illinois is
indebted for her new constitution.
He also entertains pronounced views
on the subject of a civil service re-
form, and the cause will find in him
an able and efficient champion.
Mr.. Cattell is prominent lawyer of
New Jersey, several times highly
honofed by the citizens Of that state,
and in him Mr.. Curtis and Mr.. Me
dill will have hearty coadjqtor.
The other members of the commits
sion we do not know. But it may
be safely presumed that they will
earnestly cooperate with the three
whose names have been mentioned
in securing this great and needed
reform, The board meets on the
2sth of this month. Side by side
with the reduction in the military
service comes this move 10 give to
the civil service more efficiency. 1t
is the soldier president who has
inaugurated this, 1t is Grant, de-
nounced as an imperialist plotting
to overthrow the liberties of his
country, and as q fool who hardly
knows enough to inhale his breath
in smoking. TO whom the nation is
indebted for these steps.-c'ncin-
natl Ga-stte.