Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-09

ening of the safeguards which surround it
can be expected. Experience in its ad-
minisiration will probably suggest amend
ment of the methods Of its execution, but
| venture to hope that We shall
never again be reunited to the
system which distributes public position
purely as rewards for partisan service.
may well be entertained whether
our Government could survive the strain
a continuance of this system, which
upon every change Of administration In
spires an immense army of claimants for
Office to the Government eDgrossipg the
time of public officers with their importu.
mites spreading abroad the contsgion Of
their dissatisfaction and filing the air with
the tumult of their discomfort. The allure
of an immense number OF officers
and places exhibited to the
band and the promise of their bestoWsl in
recognition of partisan activity debsuch
the suffrage and rob political devotion of
its delightful and deliberative character.
The evil would increase with the mulhpli-
cation of offices consequent upon our ex-
tension, and the mama for Office holding
growing from its indulgence would pervade
people 60 generally that patriotic pur.
pose, the support of principle the desire
for the public good and solicitude
for the nations welfare would
be nearly banished from the
activity of our party contests
and cause them to degenerate into ignoble
selfish and disgrsceful struggles for The
possession of Office and public places
Civil Service Reform enforced BY law can
none too soon to check the progress of its
decentralization. One of its effects, not
enough regarded is the freedom it brirgs
to the political action of those conserva-
tive and sober men, who, in the fear OF
the confusion and risk attending an
arbitrary and sudden change in all the
public Offices. with q change of party, will
cast their ballots against such q chance.
Parties seem to be necessary and will con-
tiRue to exist, nor can it now be denied
that there are legitimate advantages net
disconnected with ol~fice,holding which fSe
low party supremacy. While ~parlissnship
continues bitter and pronounced, and sup
plies 30 much of motive to sentiment and
action, it is not fair to hold public Offices in
charge Of important trusts responsible fer
the best results in the performance CT
their duties, and yet insist that they shall
rely in confidential and important places
upon The word Of those not only opposed
to them in political utilization, but so
stupid in psrizan prejudice and rancor
that they have no loyalty to their chiefs
and no desire for their success. Civil SER
vice reform does not exact this, nor does it
require that those in subordinate positions
who fail in yielding their bes. service or
who are incompetent should be re.
tanned, simply because they are in place
The whining of q clerk discharged TOR in.
dolence or incompetency, who though he
gained his place by the worst possible
operation of the spoils system suddenly
discovers that he is entitled to protection
under the sanction Of civil service reform,
represents an idea no less absurd than the
claim of the applicant who claims the
vacant position as his compensation
for the most questionable party work.
The civil service law does not prevent the
discharge of the indolent or incompetent
clerk, but it does prevent supplying his
place with the party worker. Thus in
beth these places is seen the beneficial re-
suits to the public service and the people
who desire good government having Sc.
cured this statute vii! not relinquish it's
benefits without protest or were they un.
mindful of the fact that its full advsn-
tegss can only be gained through the
com plete good faith of those having it's
execution in charge, and this they will in
sist upon. recommend that the salaries
of the Civil Service commissioners be in
creased to a sum more nearly commen-
surate to their important duties.
Il LIBRARY.
It's a source OF considerable and not
unnatural discomfort that no sd,-
quate provision has yet been made
for accommodating the p.inci-
pal library of the government.
Of the vast collection OF books and pam.
phlets, gathered OF the Capitol, numbering
700, 900 exclusive of manuscripts,
maps and the products Of the graphic arts,
also OF great volume and value, only about
three hundred thousand, or less than half
the collection, are provided With ehtlt
room. The other, which are increasing at
the rate Of %, 1000 to 3d. 900 volumes q YER
are not only inaccessible to the public
but are subject to serious damage and
deterioration from other causes in their
present situation. A consideration of the
fact that the library Of the Capitol has
twice been destroyed or damaged BY FIRE,
its daily increasing value ard it's inpor.
lance as a place of deposit of books under
law relating to copyright, make manifest
the necessity Ct prompt action 10 insure
accommodation and protection,
AT WASHINGTON.
My attention has been called to q con.
troversy which has arisen from the condi-
ton of the law, relating to railroad iacili.
ties in the city of Washington, which hss
involved the commissioners OF the district
much annoyance and trouble, | hope
his difficulty will be promptly settled by
appropriate legislation. The commission.
IOPASoSnS taot OuouSu W tu6 revenues
ot the district are now On deposit
N the treasury of the United States to re.
pay the SUN advanced By the Government
or " improvements under the act of
June 80. 1884. They desire now an I'D
'sRce OF tho share which ultimately should
'e born" by the District OF the cost of ex.
ensiVe Improvements to the streets of tbe !
ity. The total expense OF these contem.
dated improvements is estimated At
9OG, COO, and they are OF the opinion
hat considerable sum could he
aved If they had all The
noney in hand so that contract.
Or the whole work could hs asds at The
anne time. They e1psOss confidence tina, !,
the ADVANCE Ssksd for should be majs
he Government would b. reimbursed tbe
aae within a reasonable time. have M
o doubt that these improvements could he
lade much theapss If undertaken
and EsGseouted according TO III
plan. The license Law now in
'rce within the DISTRICT is deficient and
ncertain in some of its provisions, and
ughs 10 be amended. The commissioners
rye. with good reason. the necessity Of
Z building for lhe pss nf tho