New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-07

from time 10 time, devoted TO the promotion OF edl-
! cation. There is "A special reason why, by SET
ting apart the proceeds Of its sales of public lands
| or by some yther course the Government should
| aid the work Of education. Many who now exef-
else the right Of suffrage unable 20 read the BAL
| lots which they cast. Upon many who had just
| emerged from q condition of slavery were suddenly
developed the responsibilities OF citizenship In that
! portion of the country more impoverished by war
have been pleased 90 learn from the report Of the
| Commissioner of Education that there has been
lately a cOmmendable increase of interest and ef-
fort for their instruction, but all that can be done by
local legislation and private generosity should DO
supplemented by such aid as can be constitutions
ally afforded by the National Government. would
suggest that if any fund he dedicated to this pur-
! pose il NAV be wisely distributed in the different
States according TO the ratio of iteracy, as by this
| means those locations which most in need Of
such assistance will reap its especial benefit.
GROWTH OF AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
| 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
sequent addition TO the number of those engaged IN
the pursuit of hnsbandry giving to this Depart
ment growing dignity and importance. The Com
missOner's suggestions touching Its capacity for
greater usefulness, deserve attention. as " more ana
more cOmmends itself to the interest winch IL was
called to promote.
ARREARS OF PENSIONS.
1t appears from the report of the Commissioner
of Pensions that since 1850 7S9,O63 original PEN
sion claims have been filed; 450949 OF which
have been allowed and inscribed on the pension
roll r. 539 have been rejected and abandoned, be-
ing 10 per cent of the whole number of claims set.
tied There now pending for settlement
265, 575 original pension claims, Z2lOlO OF winch
were filed prior 20 July 1, 1880 These when al
lowed will involve the payment OF arrears IRON the
date of discharge in case of an invalid, and from
date of death termination Of prior night in all
other cases From all the data Obtainabe, II Is
estimated that 10 cent OF the number OF claims
now pending will be rejected or abandoned. This
would show the probable rejection OF 3f,O4O cases
and the probable admission Of about 10000 claims,
all o. which Involve the payment OF arrears CT PEN
SION With the present force employed The numbefof
adiudicatons remaining the same, and no new busl-
ness intervening this number of claims ll93,0O0)
could be acted upon III period OF SIX years ana
taking January l. 1884, as a near period from which
to estimate in each case average amount OF ar
would require, for the first payment upon
this amount by the whole number of probable al
missions, gives $250.000OOO as the sum required
for first payments ms represents the e sun w9ica
must be pad upon claims which were MED before
July /, 1850, aud are now pending and entitled to
the benefits of the Arrears Act. From TINS amount
$3.50 600 may be deducted IRON ten 10 ulteeh
millions for cases where, the claimant dying, There
is no person who, under the law, would be entitled
TO succeed 10 the pension. leaving S235, ODOuOU as
ihe probable 10 be paid. In these estimates
no account has been taken of the 3o,0OO cases Med
since June 30, 1850 and now pending, winch must
receive attention as current business but which DO
not involve payment of any arrears beyond the date
OF filing the claims. OF this number 1t u estimated
stated with the present force of the Pension Bureau.
675 clerks IL is estimated that II VIII take sN
years to dispose OF the claims now pehuih9 D.
| IT is stated by the Commissioner OF Pensions
that by an addition of go clerks increasing tho
(adiudcating force rather than the mechanical,
double the amount Of work could De accomplished,
50 that these cases could be acted upon within three
wears Aside from the consideration OF justice
which may be urged for speedy settlement Of the
claims now the niles of the Pension Ooe, 1t IS 10
less important the score OF economy naSAuch as
fully one-thrd of the clerical force OF the Office Is
now wholly occupied Ia giving attention 20 CORE
spondence with the thousands of claimants whose
claims have been on the files for the past eighteen
wears The fact that "A sUn SO enormous may be eN-
pended by the Government TO meet demands for az,
rears of pensions admOnltlon 10 Congress ana
the Executive to give cautious consider tlOE 70 any
mllar project in the future The great temptation
To the ore srnta ton OF fictitious claims Afforded ~
the fact that the average sum obtained upon each
application 800 leads me t. suggest the pro-
priety of making some special Appropriation Iof mo
prevention of fraud.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS,
advise appropriations for such internal improve
mcnts az the wisdom of Congress may deem to DO OF
publIc importance. The necessity of improving the
NAVIGATION of the Mississippi River justlies spe-
cial ailusion to that subject. suggest the adop-
ton of some measure for the removal OF oostrnc-
tons which impede the Navigation VI tnaI
great cham | OF commerce.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
In nv letter accepting the nomination Tor Vice.
President stated that in my judgment no man
should be the incumDe of al Office, the duties OF
which he is for any unit TO perform, who IS
lacking in the ability, fidelity. or integrity which a
proper administration of such office demands.
This sentiment would doubtless meet WITH general
acuuescence, but opinion has been evidently III.
vided upon the wisdom and practcabllty OF
the various reformatory schemes which have
been suggested and Of certain proposed REGULATIONS
governing app lintments public Office. The etii-
cheney OF such regulations has been dlstruSted
mainly because they have seemed to eXaI mere rdu-
catIonal and abstract testS above general business
capacity and special fitness for the particular
work in hand. IL seems to me that the rules when
should be applied to the management OF the public
service may properly c0nio'mln the mann to such AZ
regulate the conduct Of successful private business
Original appointments should be based upon aSceF-
tanned fitness. The tenure OF office should be
stable Positions OF responsibility should, so far as
pgi,ticab,e be Tiled by the promotion OF worthy
and efficient officers. The Investigation of all COM
plants and the punishment of all Official misconduct
should be prompt and thorough. .,.
The views expressed in the foregoing letter are
those which wil govern my administration OF the
Executive office. They are doubtless shared by all
intelligent aud pa triotic citizens, however divergent
m their opinions rs to the best methods of putting
them into practical operation.
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS.
For example the assertion that original appoint
ments should be based upon aScertalned illness Is
not open to dispute But the question how in pfac-
tce such fitness, be most etectualiy aScertaIned
is one which has for years excited interest aud dis
cussion The measure which, with slight vaEia-
ons in it's details has lately been urged upon the
attention of Congress and the Executive, has as ITS
principal feature tue scheme OF competitive exam,
nation Save for certain exceptions, which need
not here be specified this plan would admit to ths
service only in its lowest grede, aud would accord
| indy demand that all vacancies in high positions
| shonld be filled by promotion alone In these par
ticuiars it is in conformity with the existing Civil
Service system of Great Britain and indeed the sue
cess winch has attended that system in the country
of its birth is the strongest argument when mas Oeeh
| urged for its adoption here. The fact should not
however be overlooked that there are certain Tea
! lures of the English system which have not gene
rally been received with favor in tins country even
among the foremost advocates of Civil Service re-
| form. Among them are: ar.
/. tenure of office which is substantially a life