Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-12-09

a...tt''.f "hA iAlA NNlAIlN OF iron steamship
building Is Of vast importance to our national
prosperity. The United States Is now having over
SlVoVOOO per annum for frcghts and passage
on igrcign slips to hc carried abroad and expended
~ vle employment aud support Of other peo-
le-ueNohd tair percentage Of what should 20
70 foreign vessels, estimating ON tho tonnage aud
travel OF each respectively II Ia 10 be regretted
mat TINS disparity In the carving trade exists,
anu 70 correct u, would be willing to see great
departure from the usual course uf the govern
menti III supporting what might usually he termed
private enterprise ! would not suggest AS a
remedy direct subsidy to American steamship
hhesi uut would suggest direct offer uf ample
compensation Tor carrying the mails between the
Atlantic seabolId cities aud the continent ON
American owned and American built steamers
aud would extend this libemlitv TO vessels cary.
ing the mails To the South American states. and
70 Central America aud Mexico and would pnr-
sue the same policy from our seapotts on the
Pacific II might he demanded that vessels built
Tor this service should come 10 a standard fixed
by legislation In tonnage, speed aud all other
g.i',cs oohlns 20 the possibility Of the govern
lnent requiring them at the same time Tor war
purposes the right also OF taking possession Of
tl.m IA such emergency should be guarded
ouer these suggestions, believing them worthy Of
eohNueHiioni ia all seriousness, affecting all sec
lions and all quarters alike II anything better
can be done To direct the country into course OF
general prosperity. no one will be more ready
than 10 second the plan
THE CENTENNIAL.
The report Of the Commissioner Of Agriculture
submitted herewith. contains surgestons Of nucI
interest 10 the general public and refers to the al
proWnihs centennial and the pant his department
y ready tu take Ia 10 feel that the milton al
large Is interested IN having this exposition sue.
cess and commend 30 Congress snph action "a.
VIII secure o greater general interest In H. Al
ready many foreign nations have sgnhcd their In.
tentlnn " be represented 40 h. and Il may he ex,
scented
rE CIVIL SERVICE
The rules adopted tu improve the civil scryic,
Oh Tue government have been adhered 10 a.
closely as bias been practicable with the oupo.
sitoh with which they meet The effect. 1 be.
heve. has been beneficial on the whole aud ha.
tended 10 the elevation of the service but il J.
imprletih.e 10 maintain them without the direct
aud positive support of congress Generally. IN,
support which this reform receives is from thus,
VINO give 1t their support only to find fault when
the rules are apparently departed from The re-
moval from otico. without proierring charge.
against the parties removed, arc frequently cited
a. a departure from the rules adopted and the ne.
tention Of those against whom charges are mad,
py irresponsible persons and without good ground.
y also often condemned as violation Oi them
lndef these rlrcumsWnccs therefore announce
that. II Congrc adioums without positive legisln
uon on the subject OF civil service reform,
viii regnd such action RS disappfoyal of The sye
tenn, and will abandon DO except au far as b fo.
quife examination for certain nppoiutoes 10 deter
TIa
be abandoned The gentlemen who have giver
their services without commentator a. mediber.
OF the board 90 devise rules and regulations fol
the government OF the civil service OF the couutr,
have shown much zeal aud elucstnc.s in thi.
work. and to tICu as well rs o. myself DO wilt be
source of modification DO 10 is o. Dee thrown away
But repeat that DO BIS impossible to carry the sv-
TEN O. A successful Issue without the general ap
prova' and as-i-tlnce and positive law support it
rnE DISTRICT or coLrMBm
Forwarded herewith will hc found the report 20
the commissioners appointed under am act uf Con
gfess' approved juno 20 lsll 90 wind up th'
aiiaifs 90 thv district government It wil bcscor
from ihe report that the net debt M the District o
Columbia. lr-s securities on hand and available
Is bonded debt issued prior t1 July /, 1874. IS.
ny $40 %. sos bonds act OF Congress-. June 20
1874. 81 OSs los l3. certificates of the board o
audit, ei,ltO dis. %. total -1i.1f3.d57 81. lesi
special improvement assessments chargcable q,
private property. Boa excess nf ans demand agains
such assessments sl.nii Oji So less Chc-apeak,
and Ohio Canal bonds. el5OuO and Na-hingt8i
and Alexandria uluoad bonds $50 COO iu thl
hands of the commissioner 81 the sinking fund
Si,7iS0j SO ieHNIn. the actual debt less sal,
assets sldNA 90 a 100 addition 10 this theu
are claims preferred against tho government o
the district. amounting 'n the c-tmated aggre
gate reported hy the board of auditors 90 S8.4l7.
151 as of which Oh creator r1It Will probably D.,
rejected ibis sum cam with boo More proprctg D.,
Included boo tLc debit account. NO thc district gov
emmcut thau cam thc thousands OF claims aeains
The general government Doc included as portion
90 She national debt. lut Tie aggregate sum thu
stated include. something more than the funde,
debt. chargeah.c exclusively tu the District TO-
Columbia Tho apt of Congress of june rs. 1864
coutcmplates an awnruonmout between III,
United States government and the District 70
Columbia boz respect 20 the payment OF the prinei
pal and interest as 1868 bonds Therefore com
puuug With precision tie bonded debt % the DIS
W. "s, s',e 'l- ',9,e ,t.'sa a. RESPECT
6cate. sf tIc B0ad of Andft and the nu1d nste,
claims fendins before fbat B0aid .bould lie ne
duced 10 the extent Of tlc amount h. lie aptor
TONED to thc Tinted .tlfe- Government
especially invite yoir attention 10 tl
Recommendation. Of The Commis.ionef, 10 M,
the sinking fund relative 90 the ambir
uitv Of tie al of June ~ 1874 the utefes
on the District bond. and tle consolidation of IN,
indebtedness Of tLe D..triet Ifeal much ipdelie,
t1 the gentlemen who consented tn leave thef
uri,ate aair and come frltn distance 10 aftep,
tbe business Of li~ District and for tie satisfac
tory and able manner In which IL has been CON
Quoted lam suro thoir ser,frcs ,iIl he email,
annr,riated b, tile entire eonntr. II win bs seei
Health that tba .,nitary eonditiou of the Dstric
b. very satisfactory la ms ouiuiou tie n.tfir
Of Columbia should be regarded AZ the ground %
The National tapiial iu Which tbe entire ueopl
are interested do ma ailude Ia III. a. mo-