Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-07

more impoverished by war have been pleased
to learn from the report Of the commissioner of
education that there has been lately commend
able increase Of interest and effort for their In
struction but all that can be done by local legs-
lation and private generosity should be supple
mented by such aid "a can be constitntonally
afforded by the national government. would
suggest that II any fund be dedicated for this
purpose 1t may be wisely distributed In the states
according to the ratio Of illiteracy, as by this
means those localities which are most in need OF
such assistance will reap Its special benefits.
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. The steady increase of our population
and the consequent addition TO the number OF those
engaging in the pursuit of husbandry and farm
ing give 10 this department a growing dignity
and importance. The commissioner suggestion
touching its capacity for a greater usefulness
deserves attention rs it more and more commends
itself Ito the interest which 1t was created to
promote
PENSION MATTERS.
1t appears from the reports OF the commissioner
OF pensions that since 1860, 7S9,063 original pen
sion claims have been filed. Some 49, $40 OF
these have been allowed and inscribed on the
pension roll and 1859 have been rejected and
abandoned, being thirteen per cent Of the whole
number OF claims settled. There are now pending
for settlement 26,55I original pension claims,
%, 740 Of which filed prior to July LIST, 1880
These, when allowed, will involve the pay ment OF
arrears from the date of discharge in cases Of in
valids and from the date OF death on the terInin-
alton OF prior right in other cases. From all the
data obtained II is ascertained that fifteen per
cent OF the whole number OF claims now pending
will be rejected or abandoned. This would show
the probable rejection OF 3i,O40 cases and the
probable admission of about 1903 900 claims, all OF
which involve the payment Of arrears OF pensions;
With the present force employed, the number OF
adjudications remaining the same and no new
business intervening, this number Of claims (1g3,-
OOO) could be acted upon in n period OF six years
and taking January 1st 1884, as near period
from which to estimate in each case an average
amount Of arrears 1t Is found that every case al
lowed would require for the first payment upon
1t the sum Of 81, 800. Multiplying this amount by
the whole number Of probable admissions gives
$3.50 OOO,OOO as the sum required for the first pay
ment. This represents the sum which must be
paid upon the claims which were filed before July
1st 1880, and are now pending and entitled to the
benefits of the arrears act. From this amount
$3.50 OOO, OO0) may be deducted from $40, 600
SIS 900 900 for cases where the claimant dying
there is no person who, under the law, would be
entitled to succeed to the pension leaving S235-
OJO,OOO as the probable amount to be paid. In
these estimates no account has been taken OF the
49, 800 cases fled since June Both, 1880, and now
pending which must receive the attention Of the
current business, but which do not involve the
payment of any arrears beyond the date OF the
filing Of the claim OF this number 1t Is estimated
that So per cent could be allowed az has been sta
ted. With the present force of the pension bureau
675 clerks 1t Is estimated that II will take six years
TO dispose of the claims now pending 1t is stated
by the commissioner of pensions that by an addi-
ton Of $50 clerks increasing the adjudicating
force rather than the mechanically double the
amount OF work could be accomplished, so that
these cases could be acted upon within three
years. Aside from the consideration of justice,
which may be urged for speedy settlement OF
,I.t..
1t is not less important on the score Of economy,
nasmuch as fully one-third Of the clerical force Of
the office is wholly occupied in giving atten-
ton to the correspondence with the thousands OF
claimants whose cases have been on the files for
the past eighteen years. The fact that a sum so
enormous may be expended by the government
to meet demands for arrears OF pensions is an adj
monition to Congress and the executive to give
cautious consideration to any similar project in
the future. The great temptation to the presenta-
ton of fictitious claims Is affirmed by the fact
that the average sum obtained upon each applca-
tion is 81 800 which leads me to suggest the pro-
priety Of making some special appropriation for
the prevention of frauds.
NAVIGATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
advise appropriations for such internal i'm
provements as the wisdom of congress may
deem to be OF public Importance. The ne
cessity OF improving the navigation of the
Mississippi river justifies special alusion to
that subject. ! suggest the 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 acceptation of the nomination
for the vice presidency, stated that, in my judg-
ment " no man should be an incumbent of an
office the duties OF which he is for any cause I'M
| fit to PERFORM or who Ii lacking in the ability,
fidelity or integrity which proper administration
of such office demands. This sentiment would
doubtless meet with general acquiescence, but
| opinion has been evenly divided upon the wisdom
and practicability of the various reformatory
schemes which have been suggested, and of GER
tain proposed regulations giving appointments to
public office. The efficiency Of such regulations
| has been distrusted mainly because they have
seemed to exalt mere educational and abstract
tests above general business capacity, and even
special fitness for the particular work in hand.
1t seems to me that the results that should be APP
piled to the management of the public service
may properly conform in the main to such as reg
ulate the conduct OF successful private business.
| Original appointments should be based upon as
certained fitness. The tenure OF office should be
stable, and positions of responsibility should so
far as practicable, be filled by the promotion of
worthy and 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 letter are
those which will govern my administration of the
executive office. They are doubtless shared by
all intelligent and patriotic citizens, however d.
vergent in their opinion the best methods of put
| ting them into practical operation For exam
pie, the assertion that Original appointment
should be based upon ascertained fitness " is not
open to dispute, but the question how in practice
such fitness can be most effectually ascertained,
Is one which has for years excited interest and
discussion. The measure which, with slight varia-
tions in its details, has lately been urged upon
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 give
admission to the service only in its lowest grade,
and would 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 system OF Great
Britain, and, indeed, the success which has at
tended that system In the country Of its BIRTH is
the strongest argument which has been urged for
its adoption here. The fact should not, however,
be overlooked that there are certain features OF
the English system which have not generally been
received with favor in this country, even among
| the foramOst advocates of civil service reform