Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-07


cora To labor its Just compensation and
consideration and that cOnteuted labor Is
capltais best protection and faithful ally. IT
would teach too that the diverse situations of
our people are ins,sIarGhe from our c'vilizd-
ton, that every citizen should in his sphere be
3 cOntrlbu or to the general good; that CAPT nj
does not necessarily tend TO oppression OF
labor and til 1T violent disturbance and dis
orders ALLEVIATE from their promoters true
American sym pathy aud kindly feeling.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The Department of Agriculture, represent
ing the oldest and largest Of our national in
dustries. subscribing well the purposes of it,
ofganlzat n by the introduction OF new sun
lects of farming enterprise ami by opening
new sources of agricultural wealth, and the
dissemination of early Information CONCERN
ing production and prices, has contributed
largely TO the couutry's prosperity. Through
TINS agency advanced thought and inve~tiga-
ton touching the subjects 1t has In charge,
should, among other things, be practic tlly
applied to the home production at q low cost
OF articles of food which now are imported
from abroad. Such an innovation will neces-
sarlly. OF course, IN the beginning, be
Wlthln the domain OF Intelligent
experiment, and the subject in every stage
shoud receive ali possible encouragement
from the government. The interest of mil
ions or our citizens engaG ed in agriculture
are involved in 40 enlargement and imp owe
ment OF the results of their labor, and Jealous
regard for their welfare should be a willing
tribute TO those whose productive returns are
Inc existence of pleuro- pneumonl among
the cattle Of various States has led to bur en-
some and, in some cases. disastrous
destruction in an important branch
Of our commerce, and threatened to
affect the quantity and quality OF our feed
| supply. This is amatIer of such Importance
| ana OF such far reaching consequences that
! nope IL VIII engage the serious attention OF
| the Congress to the endeavor that such
remed' may be applied as the limits OF a con-
| stltutional dele.at on OF power to the general
| government VIII permit. l commend to the
conside alton of the Congress the report OF
the Commissioner and his suggestions con-
| corning the interests ntrusted TO his care.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The continued operation of the law relating
TO our civil service has added the most con-
| vincing proofs OF its necessity and usefulness.
| IT Is fact worthy OF note hat public officer
| who has just idea of his duiy to the people
| tesliies to the value OF this reform. Its
| stanchest friends are found among those
| who understand 1t best and its warmest sun
| pnrters are those who are restrained ami pro-
| tected by its requirements. The meaning Of
| such restraint and protection is not appre-
| clated by those who want places under the
! government regardless OF merit and eilcien-
| cy, nor by those who insist that selection for
| -uch places should rest upon proper
credentials showing active partisan
| work. They mean TO public officers, If
not their lives the only opportunity Afforded
| them to attend TO public bus ness, and they
| mean to the good people of the country the
| better performance Of the work OF their gov
| eminent. 1t is exceedingly strange that the
| scope and pature of this reform are so little
| understood and that so many things not in
cluded within It's plan are called by It's name.
| When cavll yields more fully TO examination
the system will have large additions to the
| mum bers of its friends. Our civil service re-
| form may be imperfect in some of its de-
| tails. 1t may be misunderstood and opposed,
| It may not always be faithfully applied, it,
| designs may sometimes m1scarry through
| mistakes or Wlllful intent, 1t may some
| times tremble under the assaults Of its
| enemies or languish under the mis-
| guided zeal of impracticsble friends,
| but if the people of this country ever
| submit to the Punishment of its underlying
principle from the operation OF The govern
| ment they will abandon the surest guarantee
| of the safety and success OF American
| institutions. l invoke Tor this reform the
cheerful and ungrudglng support Of
mendation made last year that the
salaries of the commissioners be MADE
| equal to other officers of the government hav-
| ing like duties and responsibilities, and hope
| that such reasonable appropriations may be
| made as will enable them to increase the use
fulness of the cause they have in charge.
THE FREEDMEN's BANK.
desire to call the attention of Congress to
plain duty which the government owes TO
| the depositors in the Freedmen's Savings
| Trust. This company was chartered by Con-
gress for the benefit Of the most iliterate and
| the intention of encouraging their
industry and thrift. Most OF its
branches were presided over nv officers hold
| ing the commit sious and clothei in the uni
! form of the United States. These and other
| circumstances reasonably, hink, led the e
| simple people to supp SO that the invitation
to deposit their hard earned savings in this
| institution implied an understanding on the
| part of their government that their money
should be safely kept for them. When this
| company failed It was liable in the sum
| If 81. 9S9 g25 % to GLIB deposits. Dividends
| amounting IN the aggreg tte to 50 per cent
have been declared, and the sum called for
| and paid OF such dividends seems to be
| $l,G4S,lSl y. This sum deducted from the
| entire amount of deposit leaves $l,29l.74 so
still unpaid. Past experience shown that
quite large part OF this sum Will not be
| called for. There are assets still on hand
| amounting to the estimated sum OF $4,000.
| think the remaining 80 per cent OF such of
| these deposits as have claimants should be
| paid by the government upon principles OF
| equity and fairness. I he report of the Com
| missioner. soon to be laid before Congress,
| Ill give more satisfactory details on this
! subject.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The control of the affairs Of the District Of
| Columbia having been placed in the hands of
| purely executive officers, while the Congre 8
| still retains all legislative authority relating
| to its government IL becomes my duty to make
known the most pressing needs of the
| ton The laws of the District appear
! to be in an uncertain and unsatisfac-
| tory condition and their cOdihcat1On or
| revision is much needed. During he pat year
one of the bridges leading from the District
| to the State of Virginia became unt for use
| and travel upon il was forbidden. This leads
! me to sug sest that the improvement of all he
! hri GEES crossing the Potomac and its
branches from the city OF Washington Is
| worthy Of the attention of Congress. The
| Commissioners Of the District represent that
! the laws regulating the granting OF
! LIQUOR licenses therefor should be
! al once amended, ana that legisa-
| ton ia needed to consolidate. dedne and
| enlarge the SCOPE and powers Of the charitable
and penal institutions within the District.
! sngypst that the Comm issiou ers be clothed
| wi + mower to mako WITHIN fixed limitations
| notice regu atoms / believe this power
| vranted ana refully guarded woul tend to
| subserve the good order OF the municipality.
| IL seems that trouble still exists growing out
| of the OCCUPATION of the streets aud avenues
| bv certain RAILROADS. having their terminus in
| the city. II Is very important that such laws
| should be enacted upon this subject as will Sc
! cnre to the railroads all the facilities
/ they require for the transaction of
| their business and at the same time
| protect citl zens from injury to Their persons
| ar nrnperty. The Commits loDers again COM
| alain that the accommodations afforded them
Tor The y, cessary Offices FOR the district bust
| ness and for the sale keeping OF valuable
hoYks and DaTers are entirely insufficient.
| / recommend that this condition OF affairs be
| remedicd nv the Congress. and that suitable
quarters be fur shed for the needs OF the
| District government.
In conclusion, earnestly invoke such wise
! action on the part OF the leople's legislators
1