The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-12-10

every civilized nation Will be represented.
The rules adopted to improve the civil SER
Tice of the government have been adhered to
as closely as has been practicable. with the
Opposition with which they meet. Their effect
has been beneficial on the whole and has
tended to the elevation of the service; but it
is impractlcabe to maintain them without the
direct and positive support OF Congress. Gen
orally, the support which this reform receives
is from those who give it their support only
to find fault when the rules are apparently
departed from. Removals from Office with
out preferring charges against parties re-
moved are frequently cited as departures
from the rules adopted, and the retention of
those against whom charges are made by ir-
responsible persons and without good grounds
is also often condemned as violation of
them. Under these circumstances therefore.
1 announce that if Congress adiourns without
positive Legislation on the subject of ''Civil
Service Reform" / will regard such action as
a dlsapproval OF the system, and will abandon
It, Except SO Tar as to require examinations
for certain appOintees to determine their fit
ness, competitive examinations will be aban-
4doned.
The gentlemen who have given their
services without compensation as members OF
the board to devise rules and regulations for
the government OF the country's civil service
have shown much zeal and earnestness in their
work, and to them, as we'll as to myself, it will
be a source of modification if it is to be
thrown away. But I repeat, that it is impos-
sible to carry this sytem to successful issue
without general approval and assistance, and
positive law to support it. @5
l have stated that the elements of
the prosperity of the nations capital
labor, skilled and unskilled, and pro-
ducts of the sol-still remain with us. To
direct the employment of these is problem
deserving the most serious attention of Con-
al an,,f lxo L.
labor offering itself, prosperity necessarily
follows.
| have expressed the opinion, and repeat it
here, that the first requisite to the accomplish
ment of this end is the substitution of sound
currency in place of one of fuctuating value.
This secured, there are many interests that
might be fostered to the great profit of both
labor aud capital How to induce capital to
employ labor is the question.
The subject of cheap transportation has
occupied the attention of Congress
New light on this question will, with
out doubt, be given to the committee
appointed by the last Congress to investigate
and report upon this subject.
revival of ship building, and particularly
of iron steamship building, is of vast i'm
portance to oCr national prosperity. The |
United States is now paying over 81, 009, 900
per annum for freights and passage on |
foreign ships, to be carried abroad and |
expended in the employment and support of |
other peoples, beyond a fair percentage Of |
what should go to foreign vessels, estimating |
on the tonnage and travelEof each respectively. |
1t is to be regretted that the disparity in the |
carrying trade exists, and to correct it would |
be willing to see great departure from the |
usual course of the government in support
ing what might usually be termed private en-
terprise. ] would not suggest as remedy |
direct subsidy to the American steamship |
hT1tT rrO11 kho \
ample compensation for carrying the mails |
between the Atlantic seaboard cities and the
continent on Amercan-oWned and American,
built steamers, and would extend this liberal |
ity to vessels carrying the mails to the South |
American States, and to Central America and |
Mexico, and would pursue the same policy |
from our Pacific seaports to foreign seaports |
on the Pacific. 1t might be demanded that |
vessels built for this service should come up
to standard fixed by legislation in tonnage, |
speed and all other qualities looking to the |
possibility of the government requiring them |
at some time for WAL purposes; the right also |
of taking possession of them in such an |
emergency should be guarded.
| refer these suggestions, believing them |
worthy of consideration, in all seriousness,
affecting all sections and all interests alike.
If anything better can be done to direct the |
country into course of general prosperity,
no one Will be more ready than to secoAd |
the plan.
Forwarded herewith will be found the
report of the commissioners appointed,
under all act of Congress approved June 20,
1874, to wind up the affairs of the District gov
eminent. It will be seen from the report |
that the total debt of the District of Co.
iumbia, less securities on hand and |
available, is: The bonded debt issued |
prior to July 1st, 1874, So, 883, 940 43
1855 bonds authorized by act of Con-
of the Board of Audit, $4,770, 55845; total,
SIS, TAP, 667.61 less special improvement as
sessments chargeable to private property, in
excess of any demand against such assess
ment, 81, Sid, 05437; less Chesapeake and
Ohio canal bonds, $4,000, and Washington
and Alexandra railroad bonds, $50, 900; in
the hands of the Commissioners of the Sink
ing Fund, 81, 748,054.37; leaving the actual
debt, less sad assets, $13, 1894, 613, "a.
In addition to this there are
claims preferred against the govern.
ment of the district amounting in
the aggregate, reported by the Board of
Audit, to So, LAT, 787.48, of which the greater
part Will probably be rejected This sum can
with no more propriety be included in the
debt of the District government than can
the thousands of claims AGAR the general
government be included as portion of the
national debt; but the aggre gate sum thus
stated includes something more than the
funded debt charged exclusively to the Dis
trct of Columbia. The act of Congress of
November %, 1874, contemplates an appor-
tionment between the United States govern
.ment and the District of Columbia in respect
to the payment of the principal and in
terest of the 1855 bonds; therefore, in
computing with precision the bonded
debt Of the District of the aggregate
sums above stated as respects the 365 bonds
now issued, the outstanding certificates of
the Board of Audit and the unadjusted |
claims pending before that board should be
reduced to the extent of the amount to be ap-
portioned to the United States government |
In the manner indicated in the act of Con-
gress Of June 20, 1874. I especially invite
your attention to the recommendation of the |
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund relative |
to the ambiguity of the act of June 20, 1874, !
the interest on the District bonds, and the
consolidation Of the indebtedness to the dis
trict. feel much indebted to the gentlemen
who consented to leave their private affairs