The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-12-17

sons and without good grounds. is also oftel
| condemned IS a violation OF them Unde
these circumstances, therefore. 7 announo.
/ that II congress adjourns without posifiv,
/ legislation on the subject OF civil service re
/ form. viii regard such action as a disap
proVal OF the system and VIII abandon It ex
] sept 50 FAR as to require examinations for Ger
/ tain sppOintees to determine their fitness
/ The gentlemen who have given their services
without compensation as members OF the boar
to devise rules and regulations for the govern
ment Of the civil service of the country. hav,
shown much zeal and earnestness in theil
work, and to them. "a well as myself it will b
a source OF modification II it Is to be thrown
away. But I repeat, that il is impossible <
carry the system to a successful issue without
general approval and assistance. and positive
law to support it.
THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM.
have stated that the elements OF prosper
ity to the nations, capital and labor. skilled
ana unskiiled, and the products Of the sol
still remain with us. To direct the employ
ment Of these is s problem deserving the mosi
serious attention OF congress. II employment
can he given to ali labor offering itself pros
peritv necessarily follows. 1 have expressed
the opinion and repeat it, that the first re-
auisite tn the accomplishment OF this end, is
the substitution of a sound currency in place
OF one Of a fiuctrating value. This secured,
there are many interests that might be fos-
tered to the great profit OF both labor and
capital How to induce labor to employ capt.
tai Is the question.
CHEAP TRANsPoRTATION-sHIPBU
The subject Of cheap transportation has oc-
cupied the attention OF congress. Now light
on this question viii without doubt be given
by the committee appointed by the last con-
eress to investigate and report upon this sub
iect. A revival of shipbuilding. and particu-
larly OF iron steamship building. is OF vast i'm
portance to our national prosperity. The uni
ted States is now paving over 1000, 0O0 600
per annum for freights and passage on foreign
ships to be carried abroad, and expended in
the employment and support OF other people,
beyond a fair per centage of what should go to
foreign vessels, estimating on the tonnage and
draft Of each respectively.
It is to be regretted that this disparity in the
carving trade exists, and, to correct II, I
would be willing to see q great departure from
the usual course Of the government in sup
porting what might usually be termed private
enterprise I would not suggest as a remedy,
direct subsidies to American steamship lines,
but would suggest the direct offer Of ample
compensation for
CARRYING THE NAILS
between the Atlantic and the seaboard cities
and the continent on American owned and
American built steamers, and would extend
this liberality to vessels carrying the mails to
the South American states ana TO central
America and Mexico. and would pursue the
same policy from our Pacific seaports to for
eign seaports on the Pacific. 1t might be de-
manded that vessels built for this service
should come up to a standard liked by leg1sla-
ton 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 possession Of them
in such an emergency should be Guarded
offer these suggestions, believing them
worthy Of consideration, in all seriousness, af-
fecting all sections and all interests alike, II
ANYTHING better can be done To direct the
country into a course Of general prosperity,
none will be more ready than 1 to adopt this
plan.
Forwarded herewith is the plan and report
of the commissioners appointed under an act
Of congress approved June 20. 1874, to wind
up the affairs of the district government, II
viii be seen from the report that the total
debt of the District OF Columbia, less assets
on hand and available, is Bonded debt issued
prior to July l. 1874. IS. .ssS $40. 43 965 bonds,
act of congress June 20, 1874. g, ,O6S.l6o.4S /;
certificates OF the board OF audlt, "a ooo-4o.
Total, S15,742, ,667. 81, less special improve
rnents Assessments chargeable to private
property in excess Of any demand against such
assessment S1,6l4,O ,O54.S1, less chesapeake
and Ohio canal bonds S75, 600 and Washington
and Alexandria bonds SIS, 600 ; IN the hands OF
the commissioners OF the sinking fund, ST.
74S. .O54. 81, leaving the actual debt less said
fund, S1S, 994, ,613.24.
In addition TO this, there sre claims pre-
fssrrd ueaiuas tho board cf thn fistrios amount
ing in the aggregate, reported by the board
of audit. ss. .I47. .7s7. As, Of which the greater
part viii probably be rejected. This sum can
with no more Propriety be included si IN the
debt of the district government than the thou
sands OF claims against the general govern
ment be included portion OF the national
debt But the aggregate sum thus stated IN
cludes something more than the Iurded DEBT,
chargeable exclusively to the District or Co
lumbia. The act Of congress at It's last session
contenplates an appointment between the
United States government and the District OF
Columbia, in respect to the payment OF the
urincipal and interest OF the 36-58 bonds.
Therefore, in comprising with precision the
bonded debt Of the district, the aggregats sums
above stated, as respects the 365 bonds now
issued the outstanding certincates OF the
board of audit, and the unac 1usted claims
pending before that board should be reduced
to the extent of the amount to be apportloned
to the United States in the manner indicated
in act of congress of June 20, 1874.
I especially invite your attention 70 the re-
Recommendations Of the commissioners Of the
sinking fund relative to the ambiguity of the
act Of June2O, 1874, concerning the interest on
the district bonds, and the consolidation OF IN
debtedness to the district. L teel much IN
debfed to the gentlemen who consented to
leave their private affairs and come from
distance to attend to the business OF this dis
triot and for the able and satisfactory manner
in which IL has been conducted. am sure
their services will be equally appreciated by
the entire country. 1t will be seen from the
accompanying report Of the board OF health
that the sanitary condition of the district Is
very satisfactory.
THE CITY OF NAGSIFICENT DISTANCES
In nv opinion the District OF Columbia
should be regarded as tho ground OF the na-
tional capitaI in which the entire people are
interested I do not allude to this 10 urge
general appropriations to the district, but to
draw the attention Of congress IN framing a
law for the government OF the district, 20 the
MAGNIFICENT scale on which the city was plan
ned by the founders Of the government the
manner in which for orna mental purposes the
reservations, streets and avenues were laid
ont. and the proportion OF the property actu-
ally possessed by the general government. 1
think the proportion of the expenses OF the
government and improvements TO be borne
bv fhe general government, the cities OF
Washington and Georgetown and the country
should be carefully and equitably defined
THK MISSISSIPPI.
In accordance with section OF the act ap-
proved June q, 1874, I appointed board to
make a survey Of the mouth OF the mississippi
river. with view TO determine the best method
of obtaining and maintaining depth Of water
sufficient for the purposes Of commerce, ETC.
and in accordance with an act entitled an act
to rrovido for the appointment Of a commits
eio5, Of engineers to Investigate and report q
r,evn,anent plan for the excavation Of the alu-
vial basin OF the Mississippi river subject to
fuyfndation. appointed commission OF en-
pineors Neither board has vet completed its
iabors When their reports are read they VII
be forwarded to congress without delay.
u. S. GRANT,
Executive Mansion. Dec. z, 1874.
How Perry Met the Bear.