Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-08
ng an abstract Of, but refer you to the report it
PENSIONERS OF 1872.

| The Act of Congress providing the oath which
| pensioners must subscribe before drawing their
| pensions cuts off from this bounty few survi-
| vors of the war Of 1912 residing in the Southern
| States. / recommend the restoration of this
| bounty to all such. The number Of persons
whose names would be thus restored to the list
of pensioners is not large; they are all old per
| sons, who could have taken part in the rebel
| lion and the services for which they were award
| ed pensions were in defence of the whole coun-
| try.
| CENTENNIAL.
| The report Of the Commissioner of Agriculture,
herewith submitted, contains suggestions of much
interest to the general public, and refers to the
appro aching centennial and the part this depart
ment ia ready to take in it. l feel that the nation
at large is interested in having this exposition q
| success, and commend to congress such action as
| will secure greater general interest in it. AL
| ready many foreign nations have signifed their
intention to be represented at it, and it may be
expected that every civilized nation will be repre-
| sented.
| The CIVIL SERVICE.
| The rules adopted to improve the civil
| service to the government, have been adhered to
as closely as have been practicable with the OPP
| position with which the system meets. The effect
believe has been beneficial on the whole, and has
tended to the elevation of the servcie but it is
| impractible to maintain them without the direct
| and positive support of congress. Generally 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. The re-
| movals from office without preferrng charges
against the parties removed, are frequently cited
as a departure from the rules adopted, and the
| lection of those against whom charges are made
by iIres ponsibe persons and without backgrounds,
| is also often condemned as violation of them
| Under these circumstances, therefore, announce
that If congress adjOurns without positive leglsla-
| ton on the subject of "Civ Service Reform" l
will regard such action disapproval of the sys
tenn, and will abandon it except so far as require
animation for certain appontees to determine their
fitness. Competitive examinations will be aban-
doned. The gentlemen who have given their
| services without compensation as members of the
| board to devise rules and regulations for the
governmental the civil service OF the country,
| have shown much zeal desire esrnestness in this
| work, and to them to myself it will be source
of modification if it is to be thrown away but |
repeat that it is impossible to carry the system to
successful issue without approval and assistance,
| and positive law to support it.
\ REQUISITE TO PROSPERITY.
l have stated that three elements of prosperity
| to the nation-Capital, Labor, skilled and au-
skilled, and Products of the Soil still remain with
us. To direct the employment of these is a prob
| lem deserving the serious attention of Congress.
If employment can be given to all labor offering
ITSELF prosperity necessarily follows. expressed
the opinion, and repeat that the first requisite to
| the accomplishment of this end is the substitution
| of sound currency in place of one of huctuaing
| value. This secured, there are many interests
that might foster to the great prett of both Labor
| and Capital How to induce Capital to employ
| Labor, is the question. The subject of cheap
transportation has occupied the attention of Com
| gress. Much rcw light on this question will with
| out doubt be given by the commissioners appoint
ed by the last Congress to investigate and report
| upon this subject.
AMERICAN STEAMSHIPS.
A revival of ship building and particularly all
steam ship building, is of vast Importance to
national prosperity. The United States is now
| paying over Sl00,000,000 per annum for freights
| and passage foreign ships, to be carried
abroad and expended in the employment and sup
port of other peoples. Beyond fair percentage
| of what should 90 to foreign vessels, estimating
on the tonnage and travel of each respectively
itisto be regretted that the disparity in the carrying
exists and to correct 1t would be willing to see
| great departure from the usual course of the
| Government in supporting what might usually
| be termed, pirate enterprise. | would not sug
| gest as a remedy, direct subsidy to Anne rican
| steamship lines, but would suggest direct offer
of ample compensation for carrying the mails be-
tween the Atlantic seaboard cities and the CONT
nent on American owned and American built
steamers; and would extend this liberty to vessels
| carrying the mails to South American States, and
| to Central Americas; and would pursue the same
| policy from Pacific seaportS on the Pacific. 1t
| might be demanded that vessels built for this SER
vice shall come to standard fixed by legislation, in
tonnage speed and sllIother qualities looking to the
feasibility ofthe government requiring them at the
same time for war purposes; the right also Of TAX
| ing possession of them in such emergency should
| be guarded | offer 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 second the plan.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
| Forwarded herewith will be found the report
| of the Commissioners appointed under an act Of
| cd Iun Il III
| the affairs Of the District Government. twill be
seen from the report that the net debt of the Dis
| trict of Columbia, less securities on hand and
available, is Bonded Debt issued prior to July lst,
1874, S., 1888 ,940.43 365 bonds, Act of Congress
June 20th 1874, 81 0SS, 1878; Certificates Of the
Board of Auditors S4770, 55S.45; total SIS, 742,-
667.6l-less Special Improvement Assessments
chargeable to private property in excess of any
| demand against such assessments 81 GA 054.37,-
less Chesapeake 4 Ohio Canal bonds 900, and
| Washington & Alexandria Railroad bonds $780, 900
| In the hands of the Commissioner of the Sinking
Fund 81, ,054.37; leaving the actual debt, less
said assets, 1884 1924. In addition to this,
there claims preferred against the government
of the District amounting in the estimated aggre-
gate reported by the Board of Auditors to So 4l7,
lS7iS, of which the greater part Will probably be
| rejectnd. This sum can with no more propriety
| be included in the debt account OF the district
| government than can the thousands of claims
| against the General Government be included a
| portion of the National Debt; but the aggregate
| sum thus stated includes something more than the
funded debt chargeable exclusively to the District
| Of Columbia.
The act of Congress of June, 2Sth, 1864, con-
| templates an apportionment between the United
| States government and the District Of Columbia in
respect of the payment of the principal and inter-
est of 365 bonds; therefore computing with pre-
c.on tine bonded debt ofthe District, 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 apportioned to the United States
government in the matter of the act of Congress
of June Doth, 1874 especially invite your atten-
ton to the report of the Commissioner of the sink
ing fund relative to the ambiguity of the act of
June 2Oth 1874 the interest on the District bonds,
and the consolidation of the Indebtedness of the
| District. | feel much indebted to the gentlemen
who consented to leave their private affairs and
come from distance to attend the business OF
this District, and for the satisfactory and able
manner in which it has been conducted. am
sure their services will be as fully appreciated by
the entire country.
1t will be seen from the accompanying full re
port of the Board of Health that the sanitary con-
dion of the district is very satisfactory. In my