The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-07

CHARGES are uale ny lrTespOu-lult PERSONS
and without good ground, is aso con
demned as a violation OF them. Under
these circumstance, therefore, announce
that if Congress ad Jurns without positive
legislation on the sui ject Of civil service
reform, will regard such action as a dis
approval OF the system and will abandon
1t, except SO far as to require examinations
for certain apDolntees to determine their
fitness. Competitive examinations will
be abandoned, The gentlemen who have
gwen 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 earnes ness in their work
and to them as well as to myself, il viii
be sore mortifcatinn if it be thrown
agsy. But repeat that it IS imp ossibie
to carry this system to a successful issue
without general approval and assistance,
and positive law to support it,
INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS
| have slat3d that the elements OF pros,
rsrtY t. the nauo1, capltl', labor, skilled
and unskilled, and products of thc soil
still remain with u. TO direct the gu
poymeLt of these is problem deserving
the most serious attention of Congress.
Ii employment can be given to all labor
offering ltsel', prosperity necessarily toll
lows. have expressed the opinisn, and
repeat it., that the first requisite TO the
accomplishment OF this end is the SUI stl-
tuition of sound currency in place OF one
of huctuat,ng value, With this security
there are many interests that might be
fostared to the great profit OF 10th iab0!
and capita. How to induce capital to
employ labor is the question.
The subject of cheap transp 1rtat'on has
occupied the attention OF Con gress.
New light on this question will without
doubt De given by the committee appoint
ed by the last Congress to investigate
and report upon this subject A reviva
of ship building, and particularly of iron
steamship building, is of vast Importance
to our national prosperity. The United
States is W paying over 81 900 900 per
annum for frelghts and passage on for
eign ships to be carried abroad and ex-
pended in the employment and support
of other people beyond fair percentage
of what should 90 to foreign vessels, es-
timating on the tonnage and travel OF
each respectively. 1t is to be regretted
that this 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 supporting
what might usually be termed private
enterprise. | would not suggest as a
remedy direct subsidy to American
steamship lines, but | would suggest the
direct offer of ample compensation for
carrying the mails between the Atlanti.
seaboard cities and the Continent on
Am ,rican owned ard American built
steamers. and would extend this liberality
to vessels carrying the mails to 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 de-
manded that vessels built for this service
should come up to standard liked by
legislation, in tonnage, speed and all other
q ,alites looking to the possibility of the
government requiring them at some time
for war purposes. Tie right also of taking
possession Of them in such emergency
should be guarded. | offer these sugges.
tlons, beleying them worthy Of considera-
ton in all seriousness, affecting sections
and all int rests alike. If anything better
can be done to direct the country to a
course of general prosperity 30 one will
be more ready than - second the plan.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Forwarded herewith will be found tae
report Of the commissioners appointed
under on act of Congress approved
June 20, 1874, to wind up TIC
affair of the District government,
1t wil--Dv --ver from TITS report
7 that the total debt of the District ot Go
lumbia, less securities on hand available
is. bonded debt Issued prlor to July /
1874, 1888, $40 43; 800 bonds, act o
Congress June 20, 1874 -, LOSS. 1878
certificates of the board of audit s4,77O
55S.45-total $l5,142,661 81, less specla
Improvement assessments chargabe t.
private property IN excess OF any deman'
against SUI b assessment Sol .4O5, 437
less Chesapeake 4 OHIO canal bonds So
OOO,OO and Washington Il Alexandrl
rliroad bonds $4,000 90, in the hand
of the commissioners OF the sinking tHn'
Sl,74S, 054. 81, leaving an actual debt les
said assets Sl3,999. 6l3 "a In addito
to this there are claims preferred agalns
the government OF the District amountln
IN the aggregate reported by the board Q
, audit to be IS, ,7S7 AZ of which tn
/ greater part will probably be rejected
This sum can with no more PIT
priety be included in the. debt G
h the district government than can tn
e thousands of claims against the genera
5 government be included as a portion {
, the national debt, but the aggregate sur
= thus stated includes something more tina
Y the funded debt chargeabe exclusively
: the District of Columbia. The act {
e Congress of Nov. %, 1874, contemplate
p an opportionment between the Unite
O government and the District of COlumbl
n in respect of the payment Of the prlncip
e and interest of the 3-65 bonds; therefor
in computing with precision the bonde
debt of the district OF the aggregate SUI
above stated, as respects 500 bonds no
u issued, the out>t indlng certificates OF II
:, Board of Audit and the unadjusted claim
Al pending before that board should be r
l. duced TO the extent of the amount to
Is apportioned the United States governmel
q 10 the matter indicated in the act OF Co
D. grass of June 20, 1874; | especially invi