Evening star., 1885-06-26


road company proposes to carry out Its prom
ises of establishing more liberal policy in local
accommodations than has heretofore prevailed
with that economically managed corporation, Is
found In the report that midday traius are to
be put on the Metropolitan branch. and also on
the same road night train, leaving the city at
11:30 p. m. These trains will supply much
needed facilities for communication between
town and country during the middle hours of
the day, and will afford an opportunity for peo-
pie residing on the line OF the road to get home
after attending places of amusement, or look
Ing after business matters in the city
during the evening. At present there Is
no train leaving the city after $50 p. m.
The elevated. breezy country along the line OF
the Metropolitan road has always presented
great attractions for health and pleasure
seekers, but the scanty means Of rail communi-
cation with the city has been q serious draw
back TO continuous residence In the country
throughout the year. Despite these disadvan-
tages, the region traversed by this road has
filled up rapidly, and IL the B. and o. corpora
ton will now adopt policy Of encouragement
to this growth, instead of discriminating against
1t, as on a non-competing road. there will un-
doubtedly spring up an almost continuous line
of airy, attractive villages all the way from the
city to the Point of Rocks.
Heretofore the great trunk lines Of railroads
have, in their ruinous cut-throat competition,
sacrificed the interests OF their local customers
In favor OF through traffic and transportation
against competing lines. The disastrous results
OF these wars have shown, however, that there
are too many trunk lines for the amount of
business to be done. Evidently there never can
be paying through business for all the great
competing lines, and they had better change
their policy and in future cultivate and build
up local business as a certain, permanent and
constantly increasing source of income.
Mr. Hendricks would naturally feel a little
awkward while talking on civil service reform
among the mugwumps of Massachusetts,; so
that his yesterdays utterances on the subject
In Boston should be judged indulgently. The
tenor Of his remarks was that he believed i'm
keeping good clerks in and turning bad clerks
out Of office. and he then went on to explain
that this consisted In free use of the "hickory
broom of Jackson" which he said represented
democratic REFORM" If Mr.. Hendricks really
approves the doctrine of a tenure of office based
upon merit he should cordially endorse the
civil service act. By this system the offices are
thrown open to competition, judicious
examination IL made by experienced and
impartial officers and from the successful
candidates the departments are supplied with
competent men, who have still to approve
themselves by q probationary term of six
months practical service before their appoint
ment Is ratified; and this done, they are sup.
posed to be protected by their merit against the
nekle whims or the selfshness of politics,
There is certainly no prescription" In this
scheme, unless the democratic party is shut out
by the fact Of a competitive examination
which democrats would not care to admit But
10 reconcile this or any similar system for sup
plying the departments with q competent work
ing force with "the hickory broom of jackson,
VIII exceed the ingenuity Of Mr.. Hendricks or
any one else.