Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-12-14
I ure for removal of Instructions which now
impede the navigation of that great channel of

impede the Navigation OF Cnat great channe1 OF
commerce.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The report of the commissioner Of ag1icul-
ture exhibits the results of the ex periments in
which that department has been engaged dur
ing the past year, and makes important sug-
gestions in reference to the agricultural de-
velopment of the country. The steady increase
of our population and the consequent addition
to the those engaging in the pursuit Of hus-
bandry aIe giving to this department growing
dignity and Importance. The commissioners
suggestions touching its capacity for greater
usefulness deserve attention as it more and
more commands itself to the interest which it
was created to promote. "s ~
PENSIONS. .
It appears from the report of the commission.
er of pensions that since 1860, 739, 063 original
pension claims have been filed; $50, $40 of these
have been allowed and inscribed on the pen
sion roll ~, $50 have been rejected and aban
doned, being thirteen per cent. of the whole
number of claims settled. There are now pend
ing for settlement 265.575 original pension
claims, 227 040 Of which were filed prior to July.
1880. These when allowed will involve the
payment of arrears from the date Of discharge
in CASE Of an invalid, and from the date of
death or termination of prior right on all
other cases. From all the data obtainable il is
estimated that fifteen per cent of the
number Of claims now pending VIII be rejected
or abandoned. This would show the probable
rejection of 81 900 cases and the probable adj
mission of about 1913, 600 claims. all of which
involve the payment Of arrears of pensions.
With the present force employed, the number
Of adiudications remaining the same, and no
new business intervening. this number of
claims, 1913. 000, could be acted upon in period
of six years and taking January !, 1884, as a
near period, from which TO estimate in each
case, the average amount of arrears, it is found
that every case allowed would require for the
first payment upon it the sum of ST. $50.
Multiplying this amount by the whole number
of probable admissions, will give $3.50, GOO
as the sum required for the first payment.
This represents the sum which must be paid
upon claims which were filed before July 1,
1880, and which are now pending, and entitled
TO the benefit Of the arrears act. From this
amount, $3.50, coo. 600, may be deducted from
$10,000,000 to 515, 100000 for cases where the
claimant dying there is no person who under
tie law would be entitled to succeed to the pen
sion, leaving $685., 1000, 900 as the probable
amount to be paid III these estimates No ac-
count has been taken of the 80, 500 cases filed
since June 80, 1880, and now pending, which
must receive attention as current business, but
which do not involve the payment of any ar
rears beyond the date of fling the claim. OF
this number it is estimated that Sc per cent. will
be allowed as has been stated. With the pres
ent force of the pension bureau, CTS clerks, it is
estimated that it will take six years
to dispose of the claims now pending.
1t is stated by the commissioner of pensions
that by an addition of $50 claims INCREASING the
adjudicatlng force rather than the mecchanicaD
double the amount Of work could be accom-
plisEed 80 that these cases could be acted on
within three years. From consideration of
justice speedy settlement Of the claims now
on the files of the pension Office may be urged.
1t Is no less important on the score of economy
inasmuch as fully one-third of the clerical
force OF the office is now wholly occupied in
giving attention to correspondence with the
thousands of claimants whose cases have been
on the files for the past eighteen years.
CIVIL SERVICE.
In my letter accepting the nomination for
vice president, stated that in my Judgment no
man should be the incumbent of an Office the
duties of which he is for any cause unfit to per-
form, who is lacking in the ability, fidelity or
integrity which proper administration of such
Office demands. This sentiment would doubt
less meet with general acquiescence,
but opinion has been unduly divided
upon the wisdom and practicability of
the various refOrmatOry schemes which have
been suggested and of certain proposed reSula-
tons governing appointments to public of
ices. The efficiency of such regulations has
been diStrusted mainly because they have
to exalt mere educational and abb
stract tests above general business capacity
and even special fitness for the particular work
should be applied to the management of the
public service may properly conform in the
main TO such as regulate the condition of sue
ceSsful private business. Original appointments
should be based upon ascertainted fitness
The tenure of office should be stable. 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
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
divergent IN their opinion as to the best
methods of putting them into practical operation
For example, the assertion that the original ap-
polntment should be based on ascertained fit
ness is not open to dispute, but the question of
how III practice such fitness can be most effect
ually obtained is one which has for years
excited interest and discussion. The measure
which with slight variations in its details has
lately been urged On the attention of congress
and the executive has for its principal feature
the scheme of competitive examination, save
for certain exceptions which need not
here be specified. This plan would apply to adj
mission into the service only in its lowest grade
and would accordingly demand that all vacan
cies in the higher positions should be filed by
promotion alone. In these particulars it is in |
conf ormity With the existing civil service sys-
tenn OF GfeaG Britain and indeed the success |
which has attended that system in the |
country of its birth is the strongest
which has been urged for its adop- |
ton 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 foremost advocates of civil service |
reform. Among them are first, a tenure of |
office which is substantially a life ten
ure. Second. a limitation of the maximum |
age at which an applicant can enter the service
whereby all men in middle life or under are. !
with some exceptions, rig1dly. excluded; third,
retiring allowance upon going out of service. |
These three elements are as important factors |
of the problem as any of the others. To elm
mate therefrom the English system would effect |
a most radical change IN its theory and |
practice. The avowed purpose of that |
system is to induce the educated young
men of the country to devote their lives to the |
public employment by an assurance that having |
once entered upon it theynever needle it and |
that after voluntary retirement they shall be |
the recipients of an annual pension. That this |
system as an entirety has proved very success
full in Great Britain seems to be generally con-
ceded, even by those who once opposed its |
o1 ofot13 Viii Oh