Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-12-11
ORR AGRrcrITURALIsrs

made that OF our total animal exports, more than
| of our total population nearly one-haf e4cIu-
| siyely engaged in that occupation. The del art
| ment OF agriculture was created for the purpose
| Of acquiring and diffusng among the people use
| full information respecting the subjects
| it has in charge, and aiding IN the
cause OF Intelligent and progressive farming
v-Iue and usefulness Of new seeds aud plants, and
! distributing such as are found desirable among
agriculturalists This and other powers and duties
with which this department is invested are of
the utmest importance, and If wisely exercised
| must be OF great benefit 70 the country. The aim
| OF our benefeent government is the improvement
of the people in every state, and in the ameliora-
ton Of their condition. Surely orr agricultural
| lists should cot be neglected The instrumental
ity established in aid Of the farmers of the land
| should not only be well equipped for the accom-
! plishment Of Its purpose, but those for whose
benefit it has been adopted should be encouraged
! TO avail themselves fully Of its advantages.
AIMED THE HOG.
The prohibition Of the Importation .nro severa
| countries of certain Of our animals and their
products based upon the suspicion that health IS
| endangered in their use and consumption sug-
gests the importance OF such precautions for The
! protection OF our stock of all kinds against DIS
1 ease as will disarm the suspicion of danger, and
cause the removal of such an injurious prohlbl-
ton. If the laws now in operation are lusuftl,
! cient to accomplish this protection recommend
their amendment 10 necesstiesuf the situation,
| and Eeomme Ed 10 the consideration of congress
The suggestions contained In the report OF the
commissioner of agricu ture calculated TO In
crease the value and efficiency OF this depart
ment. The report of the
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
which will be submitted contains an account of
| the manner in which the civil service law hiss
1 been executed during the last year, and much
val liable information on this important subject.
/ am inclined TO think that there is no seuti-
| ment more general in the minds of the people of
our country than conviction OF correctness of
! principle upon which the law enforcing civit ser
vice reform is based in its present condition
| The Law regulates only part of the subordinate
| public positions throughout the country. 1t ap-
ElAc h. f1Ern al n
| places by means of a competitive examination
and gives a large discretion to the commissioners
to the character of the examination and many
other matters connected with its execution, thus
the rules and regulations adopted by the COM
| missioner have much. to do with the practical
| usefulness OF the statute with the results OF its
| application.
The people may well trust the commission to
| execute the law with perfect fairness and with
IS little irritation possible. But OF course
no re'axation of the principle which un6e..ies it
| and no weakening OF the safeguards which sur
round it can be expected: Experience in its ad-
| mnistration will probably suggest amendment
| "f the methods Of its execution, but venture to
hope that we shall never again be RENTED to the
system to which distributes the public positions
| purely as rewards for partisan ssrvice.
| DOUBTS may well be entertained whether our
government could survive the strain Of contnu-
ance of this system which upon every change OF
| administration, inspires an immense array or
claims for Office to lay siege to the patronage or
| the government, engrossing the time OF public
offiSers wife their opportunities, spreading abroad
the cuutagion of their disappointment and filling
| their air with the tumult Of the discomfort
The allurments of immense number Of of
| fees ard places exhibited by the voters or the
| and and the promise OF their bestowal in recog
| milton of partisan activity debauch the suffrage
and rob political action of its thoughttu and de-
liberate charac er. The evil would increase with
the multiplication of offices consequent upon
| Iur extension and the mania for office holding
| rowing from its indulgence would prevade our
yhe support Of principle the desire for the public
| tood and solicitude fer the nations welfare
| would be nearly banished from the activity OF our
party contests and cause them to degenerate into
i:nobe, selfish and disgraceful struggles for the
possession OF office and public place.
! Civil service reform, enforced by law, came not
100 soon to check the progress of Generalization.
One of its effects not enough regarded, is the
freedom it bringe TO the political action of those
conservative and sober 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 change Parties seem to be necessary,
and will continue to exist, can it be now de-
rie that there are legitimate advantages not dis
connected with office holding which follow party
| supremacy.
While partsanship continues bitter and pro-
nouneed and supplies much of motive to
sentm mt and action, it is not fair to hold public
officials In charge OF important trusts, RESPONSE
| BILE for the best results In the performance of
duties and yet insist that they shall rely in
| confidential and important place upon the work
Of those not only opposed to them in political af
ii tatOn, but so stepped in partisan prejudice and
| rancor that they have no loyalty I" their chiefs
70 III does not exact this nor does 1t re quire that
| those ia subordinate positions wEo fail ill yield
| il G their best service or who are incompetent
| should be retained simply because they are in
! place.
The whining of the clerk discharged for indo-
| lence incompetency who, though he gained
| his place by the worst possible operation OF the
| spos system, suddenly discovers that he is en-
| titled to protection under the sanction of civil
| service reform represents an idea no less absurd
| tnan the camor OF the applicant who claims the
vacant position as his compensation for the most
| gu stonable party work The civil service law
| do not prevent the discharge of the ndolent
or incompetent clerk, but it does prevent supply
ins his pace with the unfit party work
seen the benefit to the the public Service and
the people who desire good government,
having secured this statute will not relinquish its
| benefits without protest, nor they unmindful,
| Of the fact that its fall advantages can only be
gained through the complete good faith of those
having its execution in charge, and this they will
| Insist upon. recommend that the salaries of
the civil service commissioners be increased TO
sum more nearly commensurate to their impor-
| tant duties
| THE CONGRESSIONAL. LIBRARY.
| 1t is Il source OF of considerable and not I'M
| nat raj discomfort that adequate provision
! has yet been made for accommodating the prin-
cipai library of the government
| OF the vast collection of books and pamphlets
| gathered at the capitol, numbering some eco 900,
| exclusive of manuscripts, maps and the products
OF the graphic arts. also of great volume and value
only about three hundred thousand volumes or
| less than half the collection, are provided with
| shelf room, the others, which are increasing at
| the ate oi from - 600 to $1,000 volumes year,
are TO only inaccessible to the public, but are
SUBJECT 10 serious damage and deterioration from
other causes in their present situation.
| y consideration of the fact that the library of
| the capitol has twice been destroy ed or damaged
| by fire. its daily increasing value and its import
ance as place of deposit of books under the law
| relating to copyright make manifest the neces-
slty OF prompt action to insure its proper accom-
| mediation and protection
| My attention has been called to a controversy
| when
relating to
| RAILROAD FACILITIES IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON,
which has involved the commissioners of the dis
| trict in much annoyance and trouble hope the
difficulty will be promptly settled by appropriate
| legislation.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The commissioners represent that enough of
| the revenues Of the District are now on deposit
| in the treasury of the United States to repay
| the sum advanced by the government for sewer
| improvements. under the act of June 80, 1884,
| They desire now an advance of the share which
| ultimately should be borne by the District OF the
cost OF extensive improvements to the streets of
| the city. The total expense OF these contem-
! plated Improvements is estimated at one million
dollars and they are of the opinion that a consd
| cradle sum could be saved if they had all the
| money in hand SO that contracts for the whole
work could be made at the same time,
They express confidence that if the advance
| asked for should be made the government would
| be reimbursed for the same within reasonable
time have ne doubt that their improvements
could he made much cheaper if undertaken to-
| gether, and prosecuted according TO a general
| plan. The license law now in force within the
District is deficient and uncertain in some of its
| provisions. and ought to be amended The com
miSsoners urge with gosd reason the necessity of
providing building for the use of the district
government, which shall better secure safety and
preservation of its valuable books and records.
SUCCESSION.
The present condition of the law in relation to
the succession to the presidency in the event of
the death, disability or removal of both the pres
dent and vce-president is such as TO require
immediate amendment. This subject has re-
peatedly been considered by congress, but no
result has been reached. The recent lamentable
death of the vice president, and the vacancies at
the same time in all other offices the incumbents
of which might Immediately exercise the func-
tons Of the presidential Office, has caused public
anxiety and a just demand that a recurrence of
such condition of affairs should not be permit
ted.
CONCLUSION
commend to the wise ard thoughtful atten-
ton of congress the needs, the welfare and the
cooperation of an intelligent and generous
nation. To subordinate these to the narrow ad-
vantages of partisanship er the accomplishment
of selfish aims, is TO violate the peoples trust
and betray the peoples interests. But an indi-
vidual sense of responsibility the part of each
duty well must give US place among those who
have added in their day and gene alton TO the
glory and prosperity Of our beloved land.
(Signed) GROVER CLEVELAND.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec S, 1885.