The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-12-10

retain the same purchasing power and be
interchangeable at will.
- We have now on hand
all the silver dollars necessary To supply
the present needs of the people and 10
satisfy those who from sentiment wish to
see them in circulation and if their coin
age is suspended they can be readily OBJ
tanned BY all who desire them. II the
need of more is at any time apparent, their
coinage may be renewed.
The suggestion that probably more than
half Of the army have been tried for Of
feses, great and small, in one year may
we'll arrest attention.
All must admit the Importance of an eff
fective navy TO a nation like ours, having
such an extended ea-coa~t 10 protect, and
yet we have not a single vessel Of war that
could keep the seas against IA first class
vessel Of any important power. Such q
condition ought not longer 10 continue.
The overburdened condition Of the courts
makes remedial legislation impcratively
necessary Among he plans suggested
for relief is one submitted by the Attor-
nev General, which | approve. Its main
=
jurisdiction of the circuit courts 20 the dis
trict courts, and an increase OF judges to
the circuit courts and constituting them
exclusively Of appeal and reasonably lin
iting appeals thereto; further restrictions
of right to remove causes from State to
Federal courts, permitting appeals to the
Supreme courts from the courts to the Dis
trict of Columbia and the Territories only
in the same cases as they are allowed from
the State courts and guarding against an
unnecessary number OF appeals from the
circuit courts.
The Indian question is fully discussed
Among other things the President says
Il recommend the passage of a law au-
thorizing the appointment Of six commits
sioners, three of whom shall be detailed
from the army, to be charged with the
duty of careful inspection from time to
time of all indians upon our reservations or
subject to the care and control Of the GOV
ernment."
Discussing the Mormon question in
Utah, the President says: There should
be no relaxation in the firm but Just exc
cution Of the laws now in operation and |
should be glad to approve such further
discreet legislation as will rid the country
VI UllS DlOl u poll llS Idll IdIllC tolllCC tllC
people upholding polygamy in our Terri
tories are reinforced by immigration from
other lands, l recommend that a law be
passed to prevent the Importation of Nor
mons into the country.
The reduction of fee on a s. money
order to ) cents is recommended. LegiS-
latOn for the protection of our live stock
against disease is also recommended.
Civil Service Reform.
The report of the civil service commits
sioner contains an account of the manner
in which the civil service law has Eeen eX
ecuted during the last year and much val
liable information on this important sub
ject | am inclined to think there Is no
sentiment more general IL the minds of
the people of our country than cOnvic-
ton of the correctness of the principle
upon which the law enforcing civil service
reform is based. In the present condition
the law regulates only part of the subor
dinate public positions throughout the
country. 1t applies the test of fitness to
applicants for these places by means of
competitive examinations and gives large
discretion to the commissioners as to the
character of the examination and many
other matters connected with its execution.
Thus the rules and regulations adopted by
the commission have much to do with the
practical usefulness of the statute and with
the results of its application. The people
may well trust the commission to execute
the law with perfect fairness and with as
little irritation as possible, but Of course
no relaxation of the principle which un-
derlieS it and no weakening of the safe
guards which surround it can be expected
Experience in its administration will prob
ahlV a amendment of the h
ods of its extension, but | hope that We
shall never again be remltted to a system
which distributes public positions purely
as rewards for partisan services. Doubts
may we'll be enterta ned whether our gov
ernment could survive the strain of Il con
tinuance of this system which upon every
change of administration inspires All i'm
menSe army of claimants for Office to lay
siege to the patti onage of the government,
engrOssing the time of public officers with
their opportunities spreading abroad the
contagion of their disappointment and fill
| ing the air with the tumuit of their dis
content The allurements of an immense
number of offices and places exhibited to
| the voters of the land and the promise of
| their bestOwal n recognition o. partisan
activity dehauCh the suffrage and rob poll
| tical action of its thoughtful and dellbera-
tive character. The evil would increase
with the multiplication of offices con
sequent upon our extension and the
mania for office holding growing from
its indulgence would pervade our pop
ulation so generally that patriotic pur
pose, support of principle, desire for
public good and solicitude for the ma
tons welfare would .e nearly banlShed
from to activity of our party contests and
would cause them to degenerate iHto ig-
noble, selfish aud disgraceful struggles fol
the possession of office and public place.
The civil service reform enforced by law
came none too soon to check the progress
of decentralization. One of its effects, not
enough regarded, Is the freedom it brings
to the political action of those conserva
tive and solid men who in fear of the con
fusion and risk attending an arbitrary and
sudden change in all public offices with
the change Of party rule, cast their ballots
against such change. Parties seem to bt
necessary and will continue to exist nOl
can it be now denied that there are leglti
mate advantages not disconnected witt
office holding which follow party suprem
acy. While partlsanship continues bitter
and pronounced and supplies so much o
motive 10 sentiment and aolion. il is no
fair to hold public officials in charge Q
important trusts. responsible for the bes
results in the performance of their dutle
and yet insist that they shall rely, in con
fidential and important places, upon tn
work of those not only opEosed to Them IL