The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-12-09


THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The secretary of the interior suggests
change In the plan for the payment Of
he Indebtedness Of the Pacific subsi-
fixed roads 70 the government. His sug-
yestion has she unanimous endorsement
If the persons selected by the govern
ment to act as directors o. the roads and
protect the interests OF the United States
10 the board Of direction. In consider
.Dg the plan proposed the sole mat
Iers which should be tskeL. into account,
IN my opinion, are the situation of the /
as = creditor and the surest |
way 70 secure the payment OF the |
principal and interest OF It's deb. By q 1
recent decIsion Of the supreme court OF !
the U Lifted States IL has been adjadged,
that the laws Of the several states are in |
ton upon railways IL such regulation in |
terteres with the rate Of carriage from
one state into the other. This important
field Of control and regulation having
been thus left entirely unoccupied the
expediencY of federal action upon the
subject is worthy Of consideration.
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
The relations OF labor 10 capital
and OF labOripg men TO their
Germ TO every patriotic citizen. When
these are strained and distorted, IN
juStihable claims are apt TO be insisted
upon by both interests, and In the con-
troversy which results, the welfare OF all
and the prosperity Of the country are
jeopardized. ANY Intervention Of the
general government within the limits Of
its constitutional authority 20 avert such
condition should be willingly accorded.
In special message transmitted to the
congress at its last session, suggested
AnNATOQmanf
labor bureau, and adding to its
present functions the power Of
arbitration in cases where differences
arise between employer and empioye.
When these differences reach such
stage as to result In the interruption OF
commerce between the states, the appli-
cation Of this remedy by the general gov
eminent might be regarded as within the
constitutional powers, and l think we
must reasonably hope that such arbitrA-
tors, II carefully selected, and II entitled
to the confidence OF the parties so disaf-
footed, would be voluntarily called TO the
settlement of controversies of less extent,
and not necessarily within the domain OF
federal regulation. am OF the
IL worthy the attention Of the congress,
but after all has been done by the pas
sage OF laws, either federal or state, to
relieve q situation full of solicitu1e, more
remains to be accomplished by the re-
instatement and cultivation OF a true
American sentiment which recognizes
the equality of American citiz snship.
This, In the light Of our traditions and
loyalty to the spirits Of our institutions
would teach that hearty corporation on
the part Of all interests is the surest path
70 national greatness, and the happi-
ness OF all our people that
capital should be In recognition
Of the brotherhood OF our citizenship and
in . spirit of American fairness, gener-
ously accord TO labor its Just compensa-
ton and consideration, and that content
ed labor IL capitals best protection and
faithful ally. 1t would teach, too, that
the diverse situations of our people are
insepArAble from our c.villz 4tiOn, that
every citizen should in HIS sphere be q
contributor to the general good; that
capital does not necessarily tend to the
oppression OF labor, and that violent die
turbAnces and disorders ALLEVIATE from
their promoters true American sympathy
and kindly feelings.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The department OF agriculture, repre-
senting the Oldest and largest of our
national Industries Is subscribing well the
purposes OF ITS oriRination by the intro
duotIOn Of new subjects Of farming en-
teTprise and by opening new sources OF
agricultural wealth and the dissemina-
ton OF early information concerning
production and prices. Ii has contributed
largely to the country's prosperity.
Through this agency advanced thought
and investigation touching the subjects Ii
has in charge ehOuld, among other
things, be practically applied to the
home production at low cost OF articles
of food which are now imported
from abroad. Slch an innovation
will necessarily, OF course, IN the Begin
ming, be within the domain of intelligent
experiments, and the subject in every
stage should receive all possible encour-
agement from the government. The in
terests of millions OF our citizens engaged
In agriculture are involved in an en-
largement and Improvement Of the re-
sulIs OF their labor and a Jealous regard
for their welfare should be willing tri-
butte to those whose productive returns
are q main source Of our progress and
power. TheieXistence OF pleuro-pneu-
monia among cattle of the states has led
to Durdensome and in some cases dis
astroHs restrictions in an important
branch Of our commerce, threatening TO
affect the quantity and quality Of our
food supply. This Is q matter Of such i'm
portance and Of such far reaching conse-
quences that hope IL will engage the Sc
riOus attention of the congress to the end
that su jh q remedy may be applied as the
limits OF q constitutional delegation of
power to the general government will
permit. i commend to the consideration
of the congress the report of the commits
sioner and his suggestions cOncering the
interests intrusted TO his care.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The continued operation OF the law re-
latlng to our civil service has added the
most convincing proof of its necessity
and usefulness. It is fact
worthy of note that every public officer
wh0has just idea Of his duty to the
people testities to the value Of this re-
form. It's staunchest friends are found
among them who understand best, and
its warmest supporters are those who are
restrained by its requirements. The
meaning of such restraint and protection
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
showing active partisan work.
They mean to public officers, if
not their lives, the only opportunity at
forded them to attend TO public business,
and they mean to the good people OF the
country the better performance of the
work of their government. IL Is exceed
ingly strange that the scope and nature
OF this reform are so lille UNDERSTOOD,
and that 30 many things not included
within Its plan, are called by its name,
when cAvil yield more fully to exAmina-
ton, the system viii have large additions
10 the number of Its friends. Our civil
service reform may be imperfect in
some of its details; 1t may
be understood and opposed;
1t may not always be faithfully applied Its
design may sometimes miscArry through
mistake, or will fail; the intent may
sometimes tTemble under the assaults OF
its enemies, or languish under the
misguided zeal Of impracticAbie friends,
but 1t the people of this country will
ever submit to the Punishment OF
its underlying principles from the opera
tons of their government, they will
abandon the surest guarantee of the
safety and success OF American institu-
tiOns. invoke for this reform the
cheerful and ungrudging support
of the congress. / renew my
recommendation made last year
that the commissioners be made
equal to either Off oers OF the government
having like duties and responsibilities,
4 D., sEgN HI