The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-12-07

| laf1 ictOIt luel III tIlc aD1tutt Vi u D
turbances on the frontier, the troops
have been actively employed in collect
ing
The report Of the chief engineer fur
nishes detailed account of operations
for the improvement of rivers and har-
bors. l commend to your attention the
suggestions contained in this report in
regard to the condition of our fortifica-
tions especially our coast defences and
recommend an increase Of the strength
of the engineer battalion by which the
efficiency of our torpedo system would
bs improved. also call your attention
Ito the remarks upon the Improvement
of the south pass of the Mississippi
river, the proposed free bridge over the
Potomac river at Georgetown.
THE ovERBURDENED COURTS.
The acting attorney general calls at
tention to the necessity of modifying
the present system Of the courts of the
United States, necessity due to the
large increase of business, especially in
the supreme court. Litigation in our
federal tribunals became greatly ex-
.panded after the close of the late war.
So long as that expansion might be at
tributable to the abnormal condition in
which the community found itself i'm
mediately after the return Of peace. pru-
dence required that no change be in the
constitution of our judicial tribunals;
but 1t has now become apparent that an
immense increase Of litigation has di-
rectly resulted from the wonderful
growth and development OF the
country. There is no good ground for
believing that the business of the
k,fo xxrfll
volume than at present; and indeed that
| it is likely to be much greater, is gen.
orally recognized by the bench and bar.
In view OF the fact that congress has
already given much consideration to
this subject, make no suggestion as to
the detail, but express hope that your
deliberations may result in such legisla-
tion as will give early relief to our over
burdened courts.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In my letter accepting nomination
for vice president, stated that in my
judgment no man should be an incum-
bent of Office, duties of which he is for
any cause. unfit to perform, who is
lacking in the ability, fidelity or integri-
ty which proper administration of
such Office demands. This sentiment
would doubtless meet with general ac-
quiescence, but the opinion has been
evidently divided upon the wisdom and
practicability Of the various reformatory
schemes which have been suggested
and of certain proposed regulations
governing appointments of public Of
fee. The efficiency of such regula-
tions lhas been distrusted mainly
be cause they have seemed to exalt
.I, l.at. ~ g.
above general business capacity and
even special fitness for the particular
work in hand. 1t seems to me that
the rules that should be applied to the
management of the public service may
properly conform in the main to such
as regulate the condition of successful
private business. The original ap-
pointments should be be based upon as
certained fitness.
The house while declaring its appro-
val of the competitive
method deprecated nevertheless precip-
itancy of its general adoption as likely
to endanger its ultimate success. During
this tentative period, the results of the
two methods OF past examination and
competitive examination were closely
watched and compared. 1t may be
that before we confne ourselves upon
this important question within the
stringent bounds Of statutory enact
ment, we may profitably await the re-
suit of further inquiry and experiment
of submission of a portion of the NOM
ination to central board of ad-
visement.
FINANCES.
The report of the secretary of the
| treasury represents in detail highly
satisfactory exhibit of the state of H.
| nances, and the condition of various
branches of the public service admins
tered by that department, the ordinary
resources from all sources for the fiscal
year ending June 10, 1881, were: From
customs, S19S, 159. .676 OF; from internal
revenue, $135. .264 1851; from public
lands, 2, ,221 1863, II; from tax on circu-
lation and deposits of national banks,
So. 116, 1872, and other items which
have heretofore appeared in the tele-
graphed reports of the various depart
ments, making total of ordinary re-
| ceipts of 1850, 7S2. .297. The total ordi-
nary expenditures were S236, ,712 ,SS7 so.
| L concur in the secretary's recommen-
dation that the provisional coinage of
fixed amount each be repealed and that
l
shall be necessary to supply the de-
mand. The secretary advice that the
issue of gold certificates should not for
the present be resumed and suggests
that the national banks may properly
be forbidden by law to retire their cur
rency, except upon reasonable notice
of their intention so to do. Such legis-
lation would seem to be justified by the
recent action of banks on the occasion
referred to in the secretary's report.
OF the fifteen millions of fractional cur
rency still outstanding, only about
eighty thousand has been redeemed the
past year. The suggestion that the
amount may properly be dropped from
future statements of the public debt
seems worthy of approval. l approve
the recommendations of the secretary
of the treasury, that provision be made
for the early retirement of silver Ger
their issue be repeated.
Unless bonds can be funded ut
a much lower rate of interest than
they now bear, agree with the secre.
tary of the treasury, that no legislation
respecting them is desirable. 1t is a
matter of congratulation that the bust.
ness of the country has been SO pros
porous during the past year as to yield
on account of the reduction of the
public debt and its burden of interest
and because of the rapid increase o
our population. At the time of tht
formation of our internal revenue sys
tenn, our population but slightly exceed
!; ed thirty millions. BY the census OF
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