The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-07

operative TO regulate rates of TRANSPORTATION
upon railroads. II such regulation interferes
with the rate of carriage from one State into
another. This important field of control and
regulation having been thus left entirely mn
occupied, the expediency Of federal action
upon the subject is worthy Of consideration
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
The relations Of labor to capital and ~
la5oring men to their employers are of the
utmost concern to every patriotic citi-
zen. When these are strained and dis
torted. unjustifable claims are apt 10 Inc
insisted upon by both interests. and In the
controversy which results the welfare az
all and the prosperity of the country are
jeopardized. Any Intervention Of the gem
eral government within the limits of It's con
stitutional authority to avert such condi-
ton should be willingly accorded. In a spec
lal message transmitted to this Congress at
its last session ! suggested the enlargement
OF our present labor bureau and adding 10
its present functions the power Of arbitra
tion in cases where differences arise between
employer and employed. When these diff
ferences reach such stage as to result in the
interruption Of commerce between the States
the application Of this remedy by the general
government might be regarded as entirelv
within its constitutional powers. And /
think we might reasonably hope that sucn
arbitratOrs, IL carefully selected and if en-
titled to the confidence Of the parties to be
affected, would be voluntarily called Go the
oClLlCinCHb VI tOHllONclSlto VI less extent
and not necessarily within the domain Of
Federal regulation. | am of the opinion
that this suggestion is worthy the
attention of the Congress. But after
all has been done by the passage Of laws.
either Federal or State, TO relieve the situa-
ton, full Of solicitude, much more remains
to be accomplished by the reinstatement and
cultivation of true American sentiment,
which recognizes the equality of American
citizenship. This, in the light of our tradi-
tiOuc and N laUolfv m fba III of
buttons, would teach that a hearty coopera-
tion on the part Of all interested is the surest
path TO national greatness and the happiness
OF all our people; that capital should, In rec
ognltion OF the brotherhood of our citizen
ship and IN spirit of American fairness,
generously accord to labor its just compensa-
ti0n and consideration, and that eOntented
labor Is capitals best protection and faithful
ally. 1t would teach, too, that the diverse
situations Of ,our. people are inseparable
from our civilization; that every citizen
should, in his sphere, be contributor to the
general good; that capital does not necessa-
rily tend to the oppression of labor, ana that
violent disturbances and disorders ALLEVIATE
from their promoters true American sympa-
thy and kindly feeling.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The Department Of Agriculture, represent.
ing tho oldest and largest of our national in
dustries, is subscribing well the purposes Of
its organization. BY the Introduction Of new
subjects of farming enterprise, and by open
ing new sources Of agricultural wealth and
the dissemination Of early information con-
corning production and prices, it has contri-
bnted lardely to the country's prosperity.
Ihaugh this agency has advanced thorough
ly, its investigation touching the subjects it
has in charge should, among other things,
be practically applied 10 the home prOduc-
ton at low cost of articles of food which
are now imported from abroad. Such an in
nOvation will necessarily of course in the
beginning be within the domain of in
telligent experiment, and the subject in
every stage should receive all possible en-
couragement from the Government The in
terests Of millions of our citizens engaged in
agriculture are involved in an enlargement
and improvement of the results of their la
Dor, and Jealous regard for their welfare
should be willing tribute to those whose
productive returns are main source Of our
progress and power The existence of pleu-
r0-pneumonla among the cattle of various
States has led to burdenSOme and in some
cases disastrous restrictions in an important
branch OF our commerce, threatening to af-
feet the quantity and quality Of our food sup
ply. This is matter of much Importance
and OF such far-ceaehing consequences that
| hope it will engage the serious attention Of
the Congress. To the end that such RENE
dy may be applied as the limits oil a coestitu-
tional delegation of power to the General
Government will permit, / commend to the
consideration Of the Congress the report of
the Commissioner and his suggestions con-
corning the interest intrusted to his care,
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The continued operation of the law relat-
ing TO our civil service has added the most
convincing proofs of its necessity and use
fulress. II is fact worthy Of note that
every public officer who has Just idea of his
duty to the people testlfies TO the value of
this reform. Its stanehest friends are found
among those who understand 1t best, and its
warmest supporters are those who are re-
strained and protected by its requirements
The meaning of such restraint and pretec-
ton is not appreciated by those who want
places under the government, regardless of
merit and efficiency, nor by those who insist
that the selection for such places should rest
upon proper credential showing active par
tisan work. They mean to public officers, if
not their official lives, the only opportunity
afforded them to attend to public buainess,
and they mean to the good people of the
country the better performance of the work
OF the government. 1t is exceedingly strange
that the scope and nature of this reform are
so little understood, and that so many things
not included within its plan are called by its
name. When cavil yields more fully to exam
nation the system will have large additions
TO the number of its friends. Our civil SER
vice reform may be imperfect in some Of its
details; 1t may be misunderstood and OPP
posed 1t may not always be faithfully ap-
piled; It's designs may sometimes miscarry
through mistake or willful ihtents; may
sometime tremble under the assaults of its
enemies or languish under the misguided
zeal Of impracticable friends, but if the peo-
pie of this country ever submit to the ban
ishment of its underlying psinciple from the
operation OF their government they will
abandon the surest guarantee of the safety
and success of American institutions. /
invoke for this reform the cheerful and I'M
grudging support of the Congress-. renew
my recommendation made las. year. that the
salaries of the Commissioners be made equal
TO other officers Of the government having
like duties and responsibilities, and / hope
that such reasonable appropriations may be
made as will enable them TO increase the
usefulness Of the cause they have in charge
THE FREEDMAN's SAVINGS BANK.
desire to call the attention of the Con-
gress to plain duty which the government
owes to the depositors in the Freedman's
Savings and Trust Company. This COM
pany was chartered by the Congress for the
benefit OF the most illiterate and humble of
our people and with the intention of encour-
aging In them industry and thrift. Most of
its branches were uniformly in the United
States. These and other circumstances reason
ably, think, led these simple people to sup
pose that the invitation to deposit their hard
earned savings in this institution implied an
undertaking 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 of S2,939, 925.22 to 81. 13l
depositors. Dividends amounting in the
aggregate to sixty-two per cent. have been
declared, and the sum called for and paid of
such dividends seems to be 81, 64S.lsf, ~.
This sum deducted from the entire amount
of deposits leaves S1,291, 744.50 still unpaid.
Past experience has 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 re-
naming thirty. eight per cent. of such of
these deposits as have claimants should be
paid by the government upon principles of
equity and fairness. The report of the Com
missioner, soon to be laid before Congress,
will give more satisfactory details on this
subject.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The control Of the affairs of the District of
Columbia having be placed in the hands of
purely executive officers, while Congress still
retains ali legislative authority relating to its
government, it becomes my duty to make
known the most pressing needs of the Dis
trict, and recommend their consideration.
The laws of the District appear to be in an
uncertain and unsatisfactory condition, and
their cOdification or revision Is much needed