Iron County register., 1881-12-15
[coasinued from Third Paoe.l

~SsS.s.. sHa. ID per cent OF the number of
SH1a SS1sms now pending viii be rejected or aban-
Scctsr. Sscu. FMS ~ would secure the probable re-
eis iidn .n o. Il a;oao cases. and the probable ad-
-volvs the x,,a claims al OF which in
kehe ese s eforee employed the humber 81 adj Id.
ess i.'farrandg the same and no new
'uSD could be acted upon in a period
~. ~ years and taking. January I,lss4,
eoeh case an average amount of arrears IL is
eO4n0 tnat every case allowed would reuUir re-
S4r G1e nrst payment upon it the sum of 81 $50.
Aunply1ng this amount by the whole num-
Der of probable admissions gives $3.50 600 100
. the sum required for the first payments.
1ns represent, the sum which must be paid
upon claims which were filed before july /.
1SdO, and are now pending and entitled to the
ts250 600 ooo) may be dcduc ted from SO GOO on0
% 100000 for cases where, the claimant
0ying there is no person who under the law
leaving szs0,0OO,o0O as the probable amount
eobe paid In these estimates no account has
since june sc 1880 amd now pendins dhses whieS ieS
must receive attention in current business,
out which do not involve the payment of any
-1rrears beyond the date of filing the claim.
OF this number it is estimated that s6 per
cent will be allowed AS has been stated
Is at spe tbat 4 viii feRe
ing It is stated by the Commissioner Of Pen
ei0ns that by an addition of $50 clerks (n-
creasing the adjudicating force rather than
the mechanically double the amount of work
could be acted upon within three years.
Aside from the considerations OF justice which
may be urged for speedy settlement of the
Chains now on the files of the Pension Office,
1t Is no less important on the score of econo-
my, inasmuch as fully, one third of the
clerical force of the Office is now wholly
occupied in giving attention to CORE
spondence with the thousands of claim
es the sesn hs
that a sum so enormous IL to be expended by
Government to meet demands for arrears of
q q n iDt, tn rCrar and
the Executive to give continuous considera-
tion to any similar project in the future. The
dous claims afforded by the fact that the av-
'~erage sum obtained upon each application is
some special appropriation Tor the preven.
ton of fraud.
IMPROVING THE MISSISSIPPI
advise appropriations for such internal
may deem to be OF public importance. The
necessity of improving the navigation of the
subject. I suggest the early adoption of some
measure for the removal OF the distractions
which now impede the navigation of that
great channel Of commerce.
THE CIVIL SERVICE
In my letter of acceptance of the nomina-
hOn for the Vice Presidency,I stated that in
a1ent of an office the duties of which he is for
any cause unit to perform. who is lacking in
enc OF OF smeH oee wh1sh
This sentiment would doubtless meet with
general acqu1eScence, but opinion has been
widely divided upon the wisdom and practi-
scability the various reformatory schemes
which have been suggested, and of certain
proposed regulations governing the appoint
yments to public office. The efficiency OF such
regulations has been distrusted. mainly be-
cause they have seemed to exalt the mere
educational and abstract tests above general
business capacity, andeven special fitness for
the rnle that should be- ' applied s to the m mani m
ageuent of the public service may properly
conform in the main to such as regulate
ness. Original appointments should
be based upon ascertaiHed fitness.
tions Of responsibility, so far As practicable,
should be filed by the promotion of worthy
and efficient officers. the investigation Of
ficial misconduct should beprompt and thor
nugh. The views expressed in the foregoing
,istration of the executive office. They are
doubtless shared by all Intelligent and patri-
otic citizens however hversent in their
them into practical opeatlon For example:
The assertion that oignal appointment
eAesne to dispute, but the Que stion how in
practice such fitness an be most effectua!ly
ed interest and DISCUSSION. The measure
which with slight variations in its detail
Gonsress ] and 9TH the Esecusie has s as % its princi
pal feature the sclitnle os competitive exam
nation save TOR certain exceptions. which
provide for admission to the service only in
It's lowest grade. and would accordingly de-
mand that all vacancies in higher positions
should be filled by promotion alone. In these
particulars, it is in conformity with the ex-
listing civil service system If Great Britain
and indeed the success which has attended,
that system in the country OF its birth is tho
I strongest argument which hai been urgedif
its adoption here. The fact siould not, Ii | !
ever, be overlooked that thre are ce1
features of the English system which n
not generally been received with favor in Ie
country, even among the foremost advocI - |
gof civil service reform. Among them are b
!. Tenure of office, which is sbstantial
:. Limitation of the maximumage at
m e IN can ehter e .ne nnden @
a;;,d 8 4 retiring allowance upon bing,n+ Of
se1s Of the s problem as any III shpGrsat ns%sat fac
would effect a radical cha English E h sstem
The ayowed . puIpose OF system I'M Ri,ittGe. Is ia
60 devote tbeir lives to n men of the cou try /
an assurance that hay once tpternd e1em by
soanssry e ss nese retipemsn Pexsr
citiants Of an annual ney shall ha. be the the
tenn, as an entirety, Ks proved very snccessss- %
conceded even by seems TO be general-ais
aSans snsoGeorase feel s poun essential features,
s.tsrssts n.s whether it the ouid for sbe best
a.eles.s ~, an ssnedient al for) puflie to fix up
of the English systeA tr,t xci,1 Il az ar iTnores
Others of equal iInpoA Abnce may he seriously
doubted even by thod Who are 'imnrcssed as
I am myself, with til rroya ;n,nprtancr Of
correcting the evils VI icn inhere in the pres-
lent methods of appo7rments IF for exam
pie, the English rulei which shuts ont per-
sons above the a<e gtwenfv- five wears from
d large number or pilc ernployme nts is not
TO be made an esse.i MARI Of orr system it
is questionable wather the attainnent OF
the highest numbebf marks at a competi-
ave examination sbuld be the criterion by
which all applicati5 & tor anpointment should
he put to test, and, ,nder Similar conditions it
may also be queSoned whether admission to
the service S6uld be strictly limited to its
lowest raM. There are very many charac-
ScQsuXWhich go to make a model civil SER
XMe eeProminent among them are probity,
,<ssdustry good habits. good temper, patience,
Al order courtesy. tact, self reliance, manly
deference to SUPERIOR officers GERS and manly con,
Nits is not supplied by wide knowledge of
Nks, or py promptitude in answering ques-
u, or by any other quality likely to be
sei&ht to light by competitive cxamina
sEheFo make success in such contest,
Ei<eAe an indispensable condition of pub
thepfAyment, would very likely result in