Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-12-10

congress such action as will secure a greater
general interest in it. Already many foreign
nations have sgniied their intention to be rep-
resented At it, and 1t may be expected that
every CIVILIZED nation will be represented.
crrIL SERVICE REFORM.
Tue rules adopted to improve the civil service Ar
,he government, have been adhered to as closely as
US been practicable with The opposition with which
= meet. The effect, believe has been benef.
ca q on the whole and has tended to the elevation
o. uie service, but it Is impraclicabe 20 maintain
them without the direct and positive support OF
sor's .eneraily the support which the
form receives, IL from those who give IL their suu
port only to find fault when the rules are apparent
~ departed from. The removals from Office with
our preierring charges against the parties removed
are frequently cited as a departure from the rules
adopted. and the retention of those against whom
charges are made by irresponsible persons and
Without good grounds. Is also often condemned "a
= VIOLATION of them. Under these circumstapces
therefore, announce that If Congress adJourns
W.houe positive legislation on the subject of ''Cvl
service REFORM, viii reward such action as dis
approval OF the system and will abandon IT, and ex.
cept so lar as to require examinations for certain
appointees to determine their fitness, competitive
examination will be abandoned The gentlemen
VINO nave given their services without compensa
uon as members OF the Board to devise rules and
reguLtions Tor the government of the civil service
OF The country. have shown much zeal and earnest
ness IN TINS work; and to them well AS to myself
II viii be a Of mortidcation if IL Ia 10 he
thrown away, But repeat that II IA mpossihle 10
carry the system to successful issue Without gen
erai approval and assistance and positive law to
support IL.
ELEMENTS OF PROSPERITY.
have stated that three elements of prosperity to
the nation-eapital. labor skilled and unskillel
anu products of the sol-st.ll remain with US To
u,reHt ,ne employment OF these is problem deserv
ing the most serious attention of Congress- If EN-
pioynent can be given TO all labor offering itself
prosperity necessarily follows. | have expressed
the opinion, and repeat It, that the first requisite 10
the accomplishment of this end Is the substitution
OF sound currency in place of one Of fiuctualing
Naue. rms secured. there are many interests that
might ne iostered to the great profit of both labor
and capital How to induce capital to employ la
oor IS the question The subject of cheap Tanspor.
much light on this question will without doubt be
given by the committee appointed by the last Con.
sre-s to investigate and report upon this subject
REVIVAL OF sHIPBUILpING,
and particularly of iron steamship building Ia of
vast Importance to our national prosperity The
nited states are now paying over Al 100 OOOO Der
ahhhm Tor irei;hts and passage in foreign ships TO
De carried abroad and expended in the emuIoy-
ment and support of other people, beyond a mir
percentage of what should 20 to foreign vessels es-
umatihS on the tonnage and travel OF each respect
Fcy IL is 70 be regretted that this disparity in the
carrying trade exists, and to correct it would be
Wiling 70 see "a great departure from the usual
course OF the Government in supporting what
might usually be termed a private enterprise. |
would not suggest as u remedy direct subsidy TO
american steamship lines. but | would suggest a
direct oher of ample compensation for carrying the
nlti!s between the Atlantic seaport cities and the
Continent on Amcrican-owned and lAmeri.
can-built steamers. and would estend tins
HherAiIty Ia vessels carrying the mails 10
The south American states and to Central
America and Mexico, and would pursue the same
polcy from our seaports the Pacific. IL might
be demanded that vessels built for This service
should come To a standard fixed by legislation, in
tonnage, speed. and all other qualities looking 10
me possibility of the Government requiring them
al some time for war purposes. The right also of
hkihs possession OF them in such emergency
should lee guarded. | offer these suggestions be:
worthy a. All in all
robustness. affecting all sections and all interests
aAlAe u any thing better be done direct the
country into course OF general prosperity no one
VIII ne more ready than to second the plan,
rHE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
=, Forwarded herewith viii be found the report of
s.H commissioners appointed under an Act of
e"hsfess approved june 20. ls1i. to wind up the
W 1lrs "i The District Governm IL will be seen
from the report that TIA, debt Of the District OF
,"iuinoia less securities hand and available is
h1hle lcOt issued prior tn july LIST, ls-l a. ~
49, SO bonds, act of Congress June 2D l-7l
-'e-, les. 49, ccrtfcrte- Of the Board of Audit ~
,'V'',S, total! si5.5r9, esj7.6i. less special i'm.
PruNrmcnt assessments ehargable 10 private prop
crtt IA excess OF any demand ngains, such assess.
mcnts sl.Ilioi.is, less Chesapeake & Ohio canal
bonds, $4,000, and Washington & Alexandria K r.
'..,is, $3.50 IN The hands of the Commissioner
OF the sinking Fund. sl9,s 0jt 81 leaving the act
i ieDt, less said asset, s5,goiGl3.3i In addition
TO THIS there are claims preferred against the Gov
eminent OF the District amountln. in th, estinat-
81 Aggregate reported by the I,oarI or Auditors 10
81 lis Of which the greater part will prob
TINS sum can with more propriety be incIud-
gu IN thc debt account Of the District Government
uih can the thousands OF claims against the gene.
raj government be Included "a a portion OF The
national debt But the aggregate sum thus stated
ihcinles something more than the funded dsbt
cir sauIe exclusively u the District of Columbia
The Act OF Congress OF June - lisa contemplate,
an aPporuonment between the u. : l,oycrnueu.
nl uie District OF Columbia IN respect OF the pay.
neht oi the principal and interest the J 81 bonds
therefore, computing with precision the bonded
- VI He plstTlct inc aggregate sums above stat
~ rs ic-pects thc Jb1 bonds now issued. and out
sdhlhS certificates of the Boari of Audit and the
uili'Dust1~l claims pending before the BoarI
should he reluce u the Of the amount u be
To the L. ;. Government under the Act
~ June 20. lsa especially your attention
% w report oi The commissioners Of the sinking
90 lsi As 10 the interest the Dctrict bonds and
INC consolation Of the Indebtedness of the Dis
trict feel much indebted 70 the gentlemen who
consented u leave their private AFFAIRS and come
nom distance Ia attend to the business OF this
District ana for the satisfactory and able manner
IN which II has been conducted. am sure their
services Will be equally appreciated by the entire
II will be seen from the ACCOMMODATING full report
Of the Boar of Health that the sanitary condition
o. me District IS very satisfactory. In my opinion
the District OF Columbia should be regarded as the
srounl OF the National Capital. In which the entire
people are Interested. | do not aluie to this To
GrSe generous appropriations IL the District, but
dIA" pte attention OF Congress IN framing law for
tlc government Of the District in the magnificent
scale on which the cry planned by the founders
oi me government. the manner in which for orna-
hues were Lard out. and the proportion of the
property actually possessed by the general Govern.
lhchL think the proportion Of the expense of the
government and the improvements a. be- borne
oy The general Government, the cities of Washing
ION and Georgetown and the country. should be
carefully ami equitably dehneI.
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
In accordance with Section J, Act approved June
-, 1874, appointed board TO make a survey OF
the mouth oi the Missippi River. with a view 10 de
ter'nine The best method Of obtaining and main
tanning depth OF water sufficient for the purposes of
etc. And in accordance with an Act
emitted an Act - provide for the appointment of a
COMMISSION Of Engineers u investigate and report
permanent plao for the excavation Of the alluvial
basin OF the Mississippi subject inundatlon
appointed Commission of Engineers. Neither
boSIi has yet completed its labors. When their
reports are received. they will be forwarded to
Congress without delay.
(SigneD L. S. GRANT.
Executive Manson, Dec. :. 1874.
The Collector of Customs at Bangor