Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-12-16

condemned as violation of them. / announce,
that if Congress adjourns without posi-
tive legislation on the subject OF civil service
I reform, will regard such action as q disap-
prevail of the system, and will abandon it, ex-
cept so far as to require examination for GER
| tain appointees to determine their fitness
Competitive examinations will be abandoned
The gentlemen who have given their services
| without compensation, as members of the
board to devise rules and regulations for the
government of the civil service of the country,
| 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. Buff / repeat that it is impossi-
BILE to carry this system to successful issue
without general approval and assistance, and
| positive law to support it.
| CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
| have stated that the elements Of prosperi-
ty to the nations captal-labor, skilled and
unskilled. and the products of the sOll-still
remain with us, To direct the employment of
these is a problem deserving the most serious
attention to Congress. If employment can be
given to oil labor offering itself, prosperity ne
cessarily follows, have expressed the opin
ion. and repeat it, that the first requisite to
the accomplishment of this end is the substi-
tute OF sound currency for one of a huctuat-
ing value. This secured, there are many in
terest thai might be fostered to the great pro-
fit of both labor and capital How to induce
subject of cheap transportation has occupied
the attention of Congress. New light on this
question will. without doubt, be given by the
committee appointed by the lasi Congress to
Investigate and report upon this subject.
OCEAN TRAFFIC.
A revival OF ship building, and particularly
of iron steamship building, is of vast import
ance to our national prosperity. The United
States is now paying over ST., 000,0 900 per an
mum for freights and passage on foreign ships,
to be carried abroad and expended in the en-
ployment and support of other people, beyond
a fair per centage of what should go to foreign
vessels, estimating on the tonnage and travel
of each respectively. 1t is to be regretted that
this disparity in the carving trade exists, aud
to correct it would be willing to see a great
departure from the usual course of the govern
ment in supporting what might usually be
termed private enterprise. L would
not suggest, as q remedy, direct subsi-
! dy to American steamship lines, but [
would suggest the direct offer of ample
| compensation for Carrying the mails between
/ the Atlantic seaboard cities and the continent
/ on American owned and American built steam
ers, and would extend the iberaity to vessels
carrying mails to South America and Mexico.
and would pursue the same policy from our
| Pacific seaports to foreign seaports on the Pa
i cltia- 1t might be demanded that vessels built
for this service should come up to a standard
fixed by legislation in tonnage, speed, and all
other qualities, looking to the possibility of the
government requiring them at some time for
war purposes. The right, ALSO of taking pos
session of them in such emergencies should be
guarded I offer these suggestions, believing
them worthy of consideration in all serious
ness, 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 I to second the
! plan.
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
Forwarded herewith will be found the report
| of the commissioners appointed under an act
of Congress, approved June 20, 1874, to wind
/ up the affairs of the District government 1t
will be seen from the report that the total debt
of the District of Columbia less securities on
hand and available, is :
! Bonded debt prior to July LIST, 1874, So, 8S3, :
i $40 .43: 3.65 bonds by act of Congress June 90,
1874, 50 08S 16S. IS; certificates of the Board OF
Audit. $4.770 1914 total $15 742. 667.61: less
special improvement assessments chargeable
to private property in excess of any demand
against such assessment, 81 ,614, 054. 81: less
Chesapeake and Ohio canal bonds S75, 900.
and Washington and Alexander railroad bonds
$59, 000 in the hands of the commissioners of
the sinking funds, 81, 748, 05437, leaving the
actual debt less said assets, $13, 1894, 613. d
In addition to this there claims preferred
against the government of the District amount
Audit, to So, 147, 7S7.48, 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 against the general government be in
Guided as portion of the national debt. But
the aggregate sum thus stated includes some
thing more than the funded debt chargeable
exclusively to the District of Columbia. The
act Of Congress of Nov. %, 1874, contemplates
an apportionment between the United States
government and the District of Columbia, in
respect to the payment of the principal and
Interest of the 365 bonds Therefore. in
computing with precision the bonded debt of
the District. OF the aggregate sums above
stated, as respects 8. 65 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 which be apportloned to the United
States government in the matter indicated in
the act of Congress OF June GOTH 1874
! | especially invite your attention to the re-
commentator of the commissioners of the
sinking fund relative to the ambiguity of the
act of June GOTH 1874. the interest on, the dis
! trict bonds and the consolidation of indebted
ness to the district. I feel much indebted to
the gentlemen who consented to leave their
I private affairs and come from a distance to at
! tend to the business of this district, and for
the able and satisfactory manner in which it
! LIDS D0Ou COIluuCC0u. sure LuOI SERVICES
will be generally appreciated by the entire
country.
It will be seen from the accompanying full re-
port of the Board of Health that the sanitary
condition of the district is very satisfactory.
In my opinion the District of Columbia should
be regarded as the grounds of the national
capital in which tho entire people are interest
ed [ do not allude to this to urge generous
appropriations to the District, but to draw the
attention of Congress in framing law for the
moral of the District to the magnificent scale
of which the city was planned by thu founders
of the government. The manner in which. for
ornamental purposes. the reservations, streets
and avenues were laid out, was the proportion
of the property actually possessed by the gen
eral government. [ think the proportion of
] the expenses of the government, and improve
ments to be borne by the general government,
the cities of Washington and Georgetown and
the country, should be carefully and equitably
defined.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
! In accordance with section 3, act approved
June 23d, [ appointed board to make sur
vey of the mouth of the Mississippi river with
a view to determine the best method of OBJ.
tanning and maintaining depth of water suffi-
cient for the purpose of commerce, etc., and
i'll accordance with an act entitled & An act to
! provide for the appointment of commission