Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-12-09

from the report of the commissioner of education
that there has been lately conmendable in
crease of interest and effort for their instruction
but all that be done by local legislation and
private generosity sfould be suppl m nted
by such aid as can be consCt1tionally
afforded by the national government
would suggest that if any fund be dedicated to
this purpose, 1t may be wisely distributed in the
different states, according to the ratio Of Hitter
acy, as BY this means those locations which are
most in need Of such assistance viii reap its es-
peeial benefit.
AGRICULTURE.
The report of the commissioner of agriculture
exhibits the results of the experiments in which
that department has been engaged during the
past year. and makes important suggestions in
reference to the agricultural development OF the
country.
Thesteady increase of our population and the
consequent addition 10 the number o. those en-
gazing in the pursuit Of husbandry are giving 10
this department growing dignity AMI i'm
portance. The commissioners suggestions touea-
ing its capacity for greater usefulness, deserve
attention. as It more and more cemmends itself
70 the interest which 1t was created TO promote.
PENSIONS
II appears from the report of the commissioner
OF pensions, that since 1850 7Sq 06S original pen
sion claims have been filed: 45O GAG OF these have
been allowed ana inscribed in the pension roll;
q $50 have been rejected and abandoned, being
of claims settled. There are now pending
tor settlement 265.575 original psnsion claims,
22I OiO of which were fled prior TO July LIST 1885,
These when allowed will involve the payment Of
arrears from the date of discharg4 in cass Of an
invalid and from dste of death or termination Of
prior right IN all other cases. From all the data
obtanahle. it is estimated that Is per of the
number OF claims now pending will be rejected or
abandoned. This would show the probable re-
lection OF 81 O4O cases AMI the probable adms ion
Of about 49,, 900 claims all of which involve the
payment OF arrears of pension. With she present
force employed, the mber Of adjudicatious r.
naming the same and no new business interven-
ing, this number of clams-l9S G01-could be
acted upon in period of six years and taking
January first, 1884, as near period from which
arrears, It is found that every case allowed
would require for the first payment up
on it the sum of 81 $50 Multiplying
this amount by the whole number Of probable adj
missions gives $3.50 ,000 900 as the sum required
tor first payments. This represents the sum
which must be paid upon claims which we re
filed before July LIST. 1880 and are now pending
and entitled to the benefit Of arrears. From this
amount, $3.50 coo 600 may be deducted from ten
to fifteen millions for eases where the claim
ant is dying. There is no person who under the
law is entitled to succeed to the pension leaving
S2S5 900 600 as the probable amount to be pain
on these estimates. No account has
been taken Of the IS 500 eases filed
since June so 1880 and now pending which must
receive attention current business. but which
do not involve the payment of any arrears be-
yond the date of filing the claim of this number.
1t is estimated that So per cent will be allowed as
has been stated With thu present force Of the
pension bureau, 615 clerks it is estimated that i
viii take six years to dispose of the claims now
pending. 1t is stated by the commissioner of PEN
sions that by addition of 250 clerks, increasing
the adjudicatng force rather than the mechanical,
double the amount of work could be accom-
plished, so that these cases could be acted upon
within three years, from a consideration of JUS
tice which may be urged for a speedy settlement
Of the claims on file in the pension office. Il
is no less important on the score Of economy, in
asmuch as fully one-third Of the clerical force If
the Office is wholly occupied in giving atten-
ton to correspondence with the thousands OF
claimants whose cases have been the files for
the past eighteen years
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
In my letter accepting the nomination of Vice
President | stated that in my judgment no man
shOIld be incumbent of an office whose duties
he Is Tor any cause unfit to perform, who Is lack
ing IN the ability, fidelity int sgrity which
A proper administration of that office de-
mandS This sentiment would doubtless meet
with general acquieSenee, but opinion has been
widely divided upon the wisdom and prSctIcabihty
of the various relormatory schemes which have
been suggested and If certain proposed regula-
lions governing appointments 10 pubtlc ONCE
The Efficiency of such regulations has been dis
trusted, mainly because they nave seemed To
exalt mere educational AMI abstract tests above
general business capacity and even special fitness
for the particular work in hand. Ii seems to me
that the result that should be applied To the man
agement of the public service may properly con-
form in the main to ich as regulate the coud-
ton of successful priv tie business. General APP
pointments should be based upon aseertained tit
ness.
The tenure of Office should be stable and posi-
tion- OF responsibility should so far as practicable
be filled by the promotion of worthy ami efficient
officers. The investigation of all complaints and
the punishment of all official misconduct should
be prompt and thorough. The views expressed
in the foregoing words are those which will gov
ern my administration OF the executive office
They are doubtless shared by all intell cent
and patriotic citizens, however divergent in
their opinion to the best methods Of
putting them into practical operation for
example, the assumption that the original APP
pointment should be based on aSeertained fitness
is not open to dispute but the question how in
practice such fitness can he most efecIually OBJ
tanned, is one which has for year. excited interest
and discussion. The measure which, with slight
variations in its details has lately been urged
the attention of congress and the executive, has
its principal feature the scheme of competitive
examination. Save for certain exceptions, which
need not here be specified this plan would
4
and wOnld accordingly demand that all vacancies
| in higher positions should be filled by promotion
alone; IN these particulars it is in conformity
! with the existing civil service of Great Britain,
and indeed tine success which has attended that
system IN the country OF its birth IS the strongest
argument which has been urged Tor Its adoption
here. The fact should no. however he over
| looked that there are certain features of the
English system which have not generally heenre-
ceived with favor in this country, even am ne
| the foremost advocates Of civil service refoOn.
| Among them are: FirSt-A tenure OF office
which is substantially life tenure Second-A
| limitation Of the maximum age at which an APP
| plcant can enter the service whereby all men in
middle life under, are with some exceptions ex-
! Guided Thlrd-A retiring allowance upon going
out of Office. Th Sc three elements inn
portant factors of the problem any of the 9TH
ers. To eliminate therefrom the English system
would effect most radical change in
its theory and practice. The ayowed pur-
pose of the system is TO induce the educated young
men Of the country to devote Their lives To
public employment by an assurance that having
once entered upon it, they never need leave il
and that after a voluntary retirement they shall
be the recipients of an annual pension. That this
system rs an entirety has proved very successful
in Great Britain, seems to be generally conceded
even by those who once opposed its adoption To a
statute which should incorporate all these essential
features, | should feel bound 70 give my
apprC val but whether it would be
for the best interests Of the publ, to
fix upon an expedient for immediate
extensive application which embrace certain
features of the English system but excludes or
ignores other equally important measures. it
may be strenuously doubted even by those who
are impressed | am with the grave Importance
of correcting the evils which inherit the present
methods of appointments. For ex nipple. the
English rule which shuts out persons above the
age OF 25 years from a large number Of public
yY1flioN M.
part of our system. II is questionable
whether the attainment of the highest number of
marks competitive examination should be the
criterion by which all applications for appoint
conditions il may also be questioned whether ai
mission 10 the service should be strictly limited