Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-11

lanUS, | recommend UndU law ne passed.
to prevent the importation of Mormons
into the country.
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
The agricultural interests of the coun-
try demands just recognition and liberal
encouragement. 1t sustans with certain
ty and unfailing strength, our nations
prosperity by the products of its steady
soil, and bears its full burden of the
taxation without complaint. Our
agricuturists have but slight personal
representation in the councils OF the ma
ton and are generally content with the
humber duties of citizenship and willing
to trust to the bounty of nature for a re-
ward of their labor But the magnitude and
value of this industry is appreciated when
the statement IS made that of our total
annual exports more than three-fOurths
are the products of agriculture and of our
total population nearly One-halt are eN-
clusively engaged in that occupation.
The department of agriculture was created
for the purpose of acquiring and diluSlng
among the people useful information re
speeding the subjects it has in charge and
aiding in the cause of intelligent and pro
gresSiVe farming by the collection of sta
tstics by testing the value and useful
ness of new seeds and plants and distrib-
ating such rs are found desirable among
agrlculturists. This and other powers
and duties with which this department is
invested are .Of the utmost Importance
PrecautOn for the protection of our stock
of all kinds against disease as will dsarm
suspicion of danger and cause the removal
Of such an injurious prohibition. | com
mend to the consideration of Congress the
suggestions contained i'll the report of the
commissioner of agriculture calculated to
increase the value and efficiency of this de-
partmcnt.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The report of the civil service commit
tee which will be submitted contains aC-
count of the manner i'll which the civil
service law has been executed during the
last year. | am inclined to think that there
is no sentiment more general in the
minds of the people of our country, than
Il conviction of the correctness of the
principle upon which the law enforcing
civil service reform is based. In
its present condition the law regu
lates only part of the subordinate
public positions throughout the country
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 Tire commission to
execute the law with perfect fairness and
with as little irritation a. is possible But
of course, nc, relaxation of the principle
which underlieS it, and no
weakening of the safeguards
which surround it can be expected.
| venture to hope that we shall never
again be RENTED to the system which dis
tributes public positions purely as re
wards for partisan service. Doubts may
well be entertained whether our govern
ment could survive the strain of con
tlnuance of this system, which upon every
change of administration inspires an inn
mense army of claimants for office to lay
siege to the patronage of government,
spreading abroad the cOntagiOn of their
disappointment and filling the air with
the tumult of their discomfort.
The auurements of an immense mum
Der of offices and places exhibited to
the voters OF the land and the promise of
their bestowal in recognition OF partisan
activity, debauch the suffrage and rob
political action of its thoughtful and de
liberate character, 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 tothe political action of
those conservative and sober men who,
in fear of the confusion and risk attend
ing an arbitrary and sDddcn change in all
the public officers with Il change OF party
rule, cast their ballots against such
chance. Civil service reform does not
require that those in subordinate posi-
tons should tml in yielding their best
service, or who are incompetent should
ne returned NlinpN because IncN are III
place. The whining OF Il clerk discharged
for Incidence or incompetency who though
he gained his place by the worst possible
operation of the spolls system suddenly
discovers that he is entitled to protec-
ton under the system OF civil ser
vice reform should not be needed
The civil service law does not prevent
the discharge of the indolent or iicompc.
tent clerk, but it does prevent supplying
his place with the unfit party worker
Thus in both these places is seen benefit
to the public service, and the people who
desire good government having secured
this statute will not relinquish its enc
fits without protest. ] recommend that
the salaries of the civil service commits
sioners he increased to Il sum more near
ly commensurate TO their important du-
ties.
THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
1t Is a source of considerable and not
unnatural discomfort that no adequate
Sit,t lNsl