The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-16

muen % 90 win the pracucai usefulness q,
a..s stlu,s ana VITA the results Of its appIi-
calIol. Ihe people may well trust the com
mission 10 execute the law with perfect fair
ness ana Win as little irritation as is possi-
ole; bnt or course no relaxation of the prin-
~ &c, "lssel underlIes y and no weakening
expeeted- Experience in IFS asirinlsfrafion
VIII pro0aoly suggest an amendment az fha
nett hietlaoas OF rs execution, but venture to
nope tiaat we never shall be RENTED 10 the
system which distributes public nosItions
purely As rewards for partisan service.
Ceuots nav well he entertained whether our
cs,sir,.lteht cS,',i,,ht could survive the strain Of
oohtlhuance of this system, which. upon
s.'ls Sssels cbaIge OF Administration, INSPIRES an
si.ile.tss. army OF claimants Tor Office 10 law
,,,..5, s,sse % tne patronage of the Government.
stsls.usS>hlS - the tine os public officers with
thetr opportunities, spreaftin- ah~osA 80
SohtaSton or their disappointment AMI sIl
.lg tile ar with the tunult of their disean-
hsr ,F a,sS s.iVletileilts OF an Immense num-
- -. " OuiSeS anu places exhibited To IN,
sutets ol tIe tand. and the promise of their
S-tfs ,fa a "a recognition OF partisan activity
is ueolueh ule suffrage and rob political acton
ni us thoughtful and deliherafive chars,.s'-
Ihe evil would increase with .he nn,,itirl;
Satloh OF eIues.TS consequent upon onr exten-
sion, and the mania for ofiics-hpidu,- s-r,SSs,
.ls itoin is indulgence would peryade our
population 50 generally that patriotic MIR
pose, the support Of principle. the dessjre for
the public good and soiieitude for the NJ
.ih .,oh ; we,tarc would be nearly baniShed from
the activity OF our party contests and carSs
them 10 degenerate into ignoAle selfish ana
ulSSraeeIul struggles for the possession of
Office aud public place
CNll-Seryice reform, enforced by law. came
not t9o soon 10 cheek the progress OF de-
mofaliZatlon. One of its effects not enonvh
ttsAfdetl. Is the freedom il brings TO the DO
htleal action OF those conservative and sI,i,,sr
men men VINO, N Ie9r OF the confusion and risk
"A N a. afr~sv- a
All the public offices with change of fsrtv
Iu,e cast uler ballots against such a change
=. 1 ~ tleS seem 70 oe necessary, and will con-
titst.v ~. .,l. 70 eAlSl. nor can Il be now denied
th3t there are legitimate advantages not DIS
connected With Office holding Which follow
party supremacy. While partiSanshin con-
tlhIIes 0itter and pronounced, and supplies
80 much OF motive TO sentiment and action
Il Is not fair 10 hoSd public officials in chareS
| OF important trusts, responsible Tor the hest
l results IN tue performance of their tIuties
anu se' INSIST that they shall rely, in CONT
| dental and important places, upon the work
| OF those not only opposed to them in noIit,-
| car ANIMATION but SO stepped IN partisan prei,-
| uice anu raheor that they have no LOYALTY to
their chiefs and no desire for ht.ir success
| SlVu-serVlce reform does not exact this, nor
| does II require that those IN suhonlinate posi-
tion VINO fali IN Yielding their hest s,.rpic,. or
VINO are incompetent should be retained
simply because they are In place The whir,-
ing OF clerk, discharged tor indolene.. or
lncompetency. who, though he gained his
place by the worst possible operation of the
Spolls system, suddenly discovers that he i
entitled To protection under the sanction of
| clVtt-SerVlce reform. represents an idea no
less absurd than the clamOr nt the applicant
VINO claims the vacant position as his cuu-
penSdton Tor the ufost questionable party
I work.
The Civil-service law does not prevent the
discharge of the indolent or incompetent
; clerk. but u does prevent supplying his place
, Win the unht party-worker. Thus in both
: the phases Is seen bcnent to the public ser
wee, and the people who desire good gov
: emmpnt having secured this statute, will
not relinqutSh its benefits without protest
nor are they unmndtul of the fact that It's
fuil advantages can only be gained through
I the complete good faith of those having is
1 execution IN charge, and this they will insis
r upOu.
T | recommend that the salaries of the Civi
S service Commissioners be increased 10 a sun
4 | more nearly commensurate 10 their impor
e tant duties.
! THE GOVERNMENT LIBRARY.
= 1t is a source of considerable and not un
q natural discomfort that no adequate provi
i | sion has yet been made for the accomInada
ton of the principal library of the Govern
ment OF the vast collection of books ant
J, | pamphlets gathered at the Capitol, number
. ing some 100000 volumes exc usive of manu-
u scripts, maps anu the products OF the graph
g arts, also OF great volume and value, Onl
about 100000 volumes, or less than half IN
, 1 colitcblOH, are PROVIDED WIN smell room
1 The Others. which are increasing at the rat
4 OF from $4,000 TO $4,000 volumes a year, ar
: not only inaccessible to the public, but ar
e subject to serious damage and deterioration
l from other causes III their present situation
= A consideration of the fact that the librar
OF the Capitol has twice been destroyed o
a damaged by fire, its daily increasing valu
y and lis Importance as place of deposit O
books under the law relating 10 copyright
l make manifest the necessity OF prompt act
| ION To ensure lis nTOnpr accommodation an.
4 protection.
DISTRICT MATTERS.
g NY attention has been called to a contro
!, versy which has arisen form the condition
: of law relating to railroad facilities in tn
n city of Washington which has involved tn
/, | commissioners of the District in much an
5 noyanee and trouble | hope the difficult
: will be promptly settled BY appropriate Leg
4 iSlation. The Commissioners represent tina
: enough of the revenues of the District ar
now ON deposit in the Treasury OF the Unite
Sta eS, to repay the sum advanced by tn
| Government for sewer improvements, unde
: | the act of June so. 1884. They desire noN
{ an advance of the share which ultimately
: should be borne by the District of the cost o
= extensive improvements To the streets of tia
: city. The total expense. of these contem
| plated Improvements is estimated at $1,000
| 900 and they are OF the opinion that con
: siderable sum could be saved if they had al
= | the money IN hand, so that contracts 10
= work could bc made at the same time. The
y | express confidence that, If the advance ash
8 ed for should be made, the GOvernmer
, would be reimbursed the same within a res
= Sonabe time. | have no doubt that thes
: Improvements could be made much cheape
y if undertaken together and prosecuted az
!, eOrding to a general plan.
The License law now in force within th
: District is deficient and uncertain in some c
. its provisions and ought to be amended
: The Commissioners urge with good reaso
= the necessity OF providing a building for th
. use of the District Government which sha
\ better secure the safety and preservation
a its valuable books and records.
5 THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
The present condition OF the law relatin
{ to the succession to the Presidency in tn
y event OF the detth DISABILITY or removal {
II both the President and Vice President
such as to require Immediate amcndmen
This subject has repeatedly been conSid, IL
l. by Congress, hut no result has been reaches
s The recent lamentaoie death of the Vic
e President and tine vacancies at tie san
l. time in all other offices, the incumbents
# which might immedi teiy exercise tine fun
3 tions of the Presidential office, has cause
8 pubic anxiety and just d mand that r
cuITence of such condition 0l affairs shou
,, not be permitted.
= CONCLUSION.
It Iu conclusion, | comm nj TO the wise car
ii and thoughtful attention of Congress til
/ needs amt the wei Hare of the America
Nation. To subordinate these to IN m
8 row adyant ges "t p Tils HS1p of the a
d cnmpishment of selfish inns is TO viola
). the peOpl = trust and betr the people
1t interest. But an individual sens. OF T
i sponsiDlity on the part of each us, and
T. stern determin ton to perform our du
IS well, must give Us place among those WI
e have addei in th -ir day ami generation,
5, the glory and prosperity OF our believe
II land.
(Signed) GROVER CLEVELAND.
WAsHINGToN. ID CEN er :, leo5.
Ie