The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-12-11

1912, residing In the Southern States
recommend the restoration of this bounty
10 all such. The number of persons
whose names would bc restored to the
list Of pensions is not large. They are
all old pensioners, who couid have taken
no part in the rebellion, and the services
for which they were awarded pensions
were in defense of the whole country.
The report Of the Commissioner Of
Agriculture, herewith, contains sugges-
tions Of much interest to the general
public. and refers 10 the approaching
Centennial, aud the part his department
Is ready 10 take in Il. ! feel that che
nation at large l. interested In having
this exposition q success, and commend
to Congress such action a. will secure
greater general interest in H. Already
many foreign nations have signihcd
their intention to he represented at IL.
II may be expected that every civilized
nation will he represented.
The rules adopted to improve the civil
service Of the Government have been adj
hered to as closely n has been practicable
with the opposition with which they
meet. The effect, believe, has been
beneficial On the whole, and has tended
to the elevation Of the service, but IL Is
inpracticable to maintain them without
the direct and positive support Of Con
gress. Generally the support which this
reform receives Is from those who give IL
their support only to find fault when the
rules are apparently departed from. Re-
movals from office without prcferring
charges against the parties removed are
frequently cited as departures from the
rules adopted, and the retention of those
against whom charges are made by ire
sponsible persons and without good
grounds il also often condemned ~ vio-
lation Of them. Upon these circum-
stances, therefore, | announce that IL
Congress adjsurns without positive legis-
lation on the subject Of civil service re-
form, will regard such action rs dis
approval Of the system, and will abandon
It, Except 80 far as to require examine
tion for certain appointees, TO detcrIaine
their fitness, competitive examinations
will be abandoned. The gentlemen who
have given their services without COM
pcnsation, as membersof 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 well as to myself, it will be a source
Of modification IL IL is to be thrown
away. But repeat that it is impossi-
BILE to carry this system to Successful
issue without general approval and as
sistance, and a positive law to support
il.
have stated that the elements OF
prosperity to the Nations capital and
labor, skilled and unframed, and pro-
ducts Of the soil, still remain with us.
To direct the employment of this il a
problem deserving the most serious at
tention of Congress. If employment
can be given to all labor offering itself,
prosperity necessarily follows have
expressed the opinion, and repeat it,
that the first requisite to the accom-
plishment of this end is..the substitution
Of sound currency in place Of one of
a fluctuating value. This secured, there
are many interests that might be fos-
tered, to the great profit of both labor
and capital. How to induce capital to
employ labor. The subject Of cheap
of Congress. New light on this question
will, without doubt, I've given the COM
mittee appointed by the last Congress to
investigate and report upon this subject.
A revival Of ship building and par
ticularly of iron ship building is Of vast
importance to our National prosperity.
The United States is now paying over
81, 900, ,O00, 900 per annum for freights
aud passage on foreign xhips, to
be carried abroad and expended in
the employment and support of
other people, beyond a fair percentage Of
what should go to foreign vessels, esti-
mating on the tunnage and travel Of
each respectively. II is TO be regretted
that this disparity in the carrying trade
exists, and TO correct il would be will
ling to see great departure from the
usual course Of the Government in sup
porting what might be usually termed
private enterprise. l would not suggest
as remedy direct subsidy to American
steamship lines, but 1 would suggest the
direct offer OF ample compensation
for carrying the mails between At
lantic and sea-board cities and the Con-
tinent on American owned and American
built steamers, and would extend this
liberality TO vessels carrying the mails
to the South American States,an to Cen
tral America and Mexico, and would
pursue the same policy from our Pacific
seaports to foreign seaports on the Pa
cific. 1t might be demanded that YES
sells built for this service should come up
to standard fixed by legislation, tun-
mage and speed, and all other qualities
looking to the possibility Of the Govern
ment requiring them at some time for
war purposes. The right also Of taking
possession of them in such emergency
Gould be guarded. offer these sug-
gcstions, believing them worthy Of con-
sideration, in all seriousness, affecting
all sections and all interests alike. II
better can be done to direct
the country into course Of general
course of prosperity no one will be more
ready than to adopt this plan.
Forwarded herewith Is the plan and
report of the Commissioners appointed
under the Act of Congress, approved
June 20, 1874, TO wind up the affairs Of
the District Government. II will he
seen from the report that the total debt
Of the District Of Columbia, less assets
M hand and available, as bonded debt
issued prio 90 July lst, 1874, sS,SS3, $40
.43, 1865 bonds, Act OF Congress, June
20, 1871, $2,0SS, 1878, Certificates OF
the Board Of Audit s4,770, ,55s.45, total
sl5, ,742, ,667 81; less special improvement
chargcablc to private prop
erty in excess Of any demand against as
sessment $i6i ,054 "a, less Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal Bonds s75, 900, and Washing
ton and Alexandria Bonds s57 900, in the
hands of the Commissioners of the Sink
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