Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-06-26
HENDRICKS

this afternoon, Vice President Hendricks
was rendered q reception and dinner by the
Bay State Cub. Plates were laid for 800
and about that number gathered to do honor
to the "war horse" from Indiana. Promi-
among these present were Ex-Governor Gas
ton, Col Taylor, Congressman Collins,
Hon. Edward Avery, Charles P. Thompson,
ex-Mayor Prince, Mayor O'Brien, Hon.
John Quincy Adams and Josiah G. Abbott
and numerous State and Municipal Off.
cials. Col. Taylor, President of the club
presented Mr.. Hendricks, who was received
with three cheers. After thanking
the club for the honor conferred upon him,
referring to his receptions at Yale and Hsr
ward, touching upon the result in Indiana
last fall aud expressing the opinion that
since troubles in Massachusetts, had pass
ed" che would take her place beside In
diana as Democrat State. He took up the
subject of civil service reform. he told how
he received letter from President Pierce,
appointing him Commissioner General of
the land office Of his acceptance of the posi-
ton of the important work in hand, includ
ing surveys beyond the Missouri river and
in California. He then said: when l
took charge Of that Office with l8O clerks !
found the business four years behind. The
patents that ought to have gone to the peo-
Die living upon the lands were four years
behind date. l said at once:
This will Not do.
The man who has purchased the land of the
government has a right at an early date to
his patent so that he may sellit so that he
may obtain his rights whatever they may
be-"
said at once, there must be reform in
this Office My ambition was connected
with reform. could not well afford to
take that appointment aud 60
out OF that Office without having
brought the work up to
date. So did commence the work of re-
forming seriously and very earnestly, very
soon became acquainted with all the
clerks in the Office, and very soon | knew
the clerks who would be able to help me
with work that had to be carried through,
and very soon those who imped or were
unwilling or Indifferent did step out. Gap
plause.)
The 'tHickory Broom"
of Jackson that represented Democratic re-
foIm was the sentiment and emblem of re-
form that / sought to bring about, and in
stead of the men who had to step out there
came in young and earnest fellows that
we're willing to do work, 80 that by one gen
eral order | required that work done at each
desk should be 25 per cent more
than it had been before. These
men came in and took their share
readily and cheerfully and cordially. And
when l left that Office nearly four years
after, it was only four months behind in the
delivery OF the patents to the men that had
bought land. Applause. From four
years it came down to four months and that
was as close as it was practicable to
bring the work. That l thought was
reform. I want to tell you another
thing gentlemen. When you men that
give your votes at the election and pay
your money to the tax gatherer want to
understand the particular part at which
civil service can be brought about, will
tell you. 1t is not with the President in de-
tail 1t is not with the Secretaries in detail,
it is
With the Bureau Officer
that has to do directly with the work and
with the clerks who petorm the work
+ Applause / am not personally very
much acquainted with the bureau officers
employed by the Secretaries. know some
of them in the Interior Department. !
know the Commissioner Of the Land Office.
know the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs. l know by reputation the ex:
cellent gentleman who is in the Bureau OF
patents / believe they by their own iudg-
ment and force will bring about civil SER
vice reform in their departments. Ap-
plause. | think | am safe in saying that !
know they have.slresdy taken steps in that
direction that the people will not be sold out
BY them. TApplause. That is my
own history about civil service reform.
IL may be no account, but
it is mine (Applause) and that administra'
ton, whenever it shall be that it fills all the
bureaus in Washington with capable men
At The head, and tell them that the work
devolves upon them and hold them respon'
,ible, will bring about certain and prompt
reform. think we are going through all
light Is was q great while that the Demo
Gratis were kept out A quarter Of century
he sentiment OF the country had been 'en.
forced; the Democrats shall not share in
The honors of the public offices. Gap
A Cruel Prescription
such as never advocated toward the oppo-
site party, for know there are honest men
among them, and would not to-day, if !
could, take the charge of this entire Gov
ernment away from the opposite side.
They pay their taxes; they help to
6eht the battles when horrid war
comes upon us, and it is but fair that they
should share in the honors, but it is not fair
and never has been fair that they should
clutch them all and say to the young men
OF the Democracy: you are not to be
trusted; YOU shall not share in them"
Applause.
BE closed by saying that after the next
national election, in which he proposed to
have no personal interest (cries OF head of
the ticket next time). he wanted to come
back and meet the Bay State Club, bringing
good news from Indiana to Massachusetts.
When the Wood Famine Is Expected.
DEER PARK, Nd, June 25.-At the
opening of the morning session of the Sec
ond day of the convention Of the American
Society of Engineers, Mr.. F. Colhngwood,
of Elizabeth, n. j., read Q paper on the
preservation of forests. The paper
presented a large number Of statistics
collected from various sources, Its purpose
being to show the necessity Of ex.
ercising economy in the use OF
forest products, and the apparent pos
sibifity Of wood famine. The writer con-
cluded that the supply of white pine in the
United States is certain to be exhausted be-
fore the end of this century and probably in
Canada also. There is probably twenty
Eve years supply Of hard woods. The sup,
piy Of black walnut and ash is being rapidly
exhausted. The supply Of other kinds OF
wood are, however, so abundant that q
f.rD;na ca mint he predicted, In reference