The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-18
ETC,

IMPORTANCE OF THE FARMS.
The agricultural interest of the country de-
mands just recognition and liberal encourage
ment. 1t ~sustatns with uncertainty and unfail-
Ing strength our nations prosperity by the prod
ucts OF its steady toll, and bears its full share of
the burden Of taxation without complaint. Our
agricnltUrists lave but slight personal rerre-
sentation in the councils of tho nation, aud are
generally content with the humber duties of
citizenship and willing to trust to the bounty of
nature for 4 reward of their labor. But the
magnitude and value of this industry is ap},re-
ciated when the statement is made that OF our
total annual exports more than threc-fourtlis
are the products of agriculture, and of our total
population nearly onc-half are exclusively en-
gagged in that OCCUPATION. The department of
agriculture was created for tho purnose OF ac-
quirihg and difrus;ng among the people useful
respecting the subjects it has in
charge, and are doing In the cause of intelligent
and progressive farming by the collection of
statistics, by testing the value and usefulness of
new seeds and plants and distributing such RS
are found desirable among a.ricultur:sts, This
and other powers and duties with which this de-
partment is invested are OF the utmost import
ancc, and. If wisely exercised, must be of great
benefit to the country. The aim OF our benef.
cent government is the Improvement of the
people in every station and the amclioration of
their condition. Hereby our aGriculturists should
not be neglected. The instrImentality estab-
lshcd in aid of the farmers of the land should
not only be well equipped for the accomplish
ment Of its purpose. but those for whose benefit
1t has been adopted should be encouraged to
avail themselves fully of its advantages.
CATTLE DISEASES.
The prohibition of the importation into several
countries OF certain of our animals and their
products, based upon the suspicion that health
Is endangered in their use and consumption,
suggests the Importance of such precautions for
the protection of our stock of all kinds against
disease as will disarm suspicion of danger aud
cause the removal Of such an injurious prohibi-
lion, II the laws now in operation arc insult
hcicnt to accomplish this protection l reco m
mend their amendment to cover the neccssi-
ties of the situation, and l commend to the con-
gliprltlGn of npnYrrpsS the SVupnS. ignE cnntuinoH
in the report OF the commissioner of agriculture,
calculated to increase the value and efficiency Of
this department..
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
TIMELY WORDS.
The report of the civil service commission.
which will be submitted, contains an account OF
the manner in which the civil service law has
been executed during the last year. and much
valuable on this Important subject.
| am inclined to think that there is no sentiment
more general ir the minds OF the people of our
country than a conviction of correct moss of the
principle upon which the law enforcing civil ser
vice reform is based. In its present condition tho
law regulates only part of the subordinate public
positions throughout the country. 1t applies a
ties: of fitness to applicants for these places by
means OF a competitive examination. and gives
large discretion to the commissioners as to the
character OF 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 or the
statute and with the results Of It's application,
The people may well trust the commission to
execute the law with perfect fairness and with
as little irritation as is possible; but, OF course.
no relaxation OF the principle which underlies it.
and no weakening OF the safeguards which sur
round it. can be expected. Experience In its
mcnt of the method of its execution, but I ven
ture to hope that we shall never again be re-
mlttcd to the system which distributes public
public positions purely as
REWARDS FOB PARTISAN SERVICE.
Doubts may well be entertained whether our
tinuance OF this system, which upon every
change of administration inspires an immense
array OF claimants for office to lay siege to the
patronage or government. Cngrossing the time
Of public officers with opportunities. spread
ing abroad the contagion of their disappoint-
ment and filing the air with the tumult of their
discomfort. The alluretnents of an Immense
number OF offices and places exhibited TO the
voters OF the land. and the promise of their
hestowal in recognition OF partisan activity,
iebauch the suffrage and rob political action OF
Its thoughtful and dcliberative character. The
evil would increase with the multiplication of
mania tor ofiiceholding, growing from its indul-
rcnce,, would pervade orr population so gcner-
ally that That T patriotic pnrn the support Of
solicitude for the nations welfare would BIZ
nearly bani.hed frcln the activity of our party
contests aud cause them to degenerate into isno-
BILE, selfish aud disgracefui struggles for the
possession OF office and public place.
Civil service reform enforced by law came not too
Vcoi LLI llSSlCSs VI decentralization.
One of Its effects. not enough regarded, is the
freedom it brings to the political actions Of those
conservative men who, in fear of the confusion
and risk attending an arbitrary and sudden
change in all the public offices with change OF
party rule, cast their ballots against such a
change. Parties seem necessary. and will
continue to exist: nor can it be now denied that
there are legitimate advantages not disconnected
with ofticcholding which follows party suprem-
acy. While partisanship continues bitter and
pronounced. and supplies so much of motive TO
sentiment and action. 1t Is not fair to hold public
officials in charge Of important trusts RESPONSE
Bile for the best results IN the performance of
their duties, and yet insist that they shall rely
in confidential and important places upon the
work OF those not only opposed to them In polit-
1cal afRliation. but so STEPPED in partisan preiu-
dice and ranc0r that they have no loyalty to
their chiefs and no desire for heir success. Civil
service reform does not exact this. nor does 1t
require that those in subordinate positions who
fail in yielding their best service, or who arc
incompetent, should he retained simply because
they are iu place. The whining Of a clerk dis
charged for Incidence or Incompetence, who,
though he gained his place by the worst possibts
.rs that he is entitled to protection under the
sanction OF civil service reform. represents an
idea no less absurd than the els Jior of tho ap-
pltcant who claims the vacant position as his
compensation for the
MOST QUESTIONABLE PARTY WORK.
The civil service law does not prevent the dis
charge OF the indolent or Incompetent clerk, but
party worker. Thus in both the phaser is seen
benefit TO the public service. And the people
who desire good government having secured this
sta ute VIII not reltnauisn Its benefits without
protest. nor are they U pmindful of tho fact that
Its full advantages can only be gained through
the complete good faith Of those having it's ex-
ecutlon in charge, and this they will insist upon.
l recommend that tn e salaries of the civil serv-
ice commissioners be Increased to q sum more
nearly commensurate to their important duties.
MISCELLANEOUS.