National Republican., 1886-12-07

such places should rest upon proper Gre
Dental showing actlvo partisan work, They
mean TO public officers, II not their lives,
the ouly opportunity afforded them TO at
tend to public business, aud they. mean TO
the good people of the country the better
performance OF the work Of their govern
ment.
1t is exceedingly strange that the scope
and nature Of this reform are so little un-
derstood, and that so many things not In
cluded within its plan are called by its
name. When cavil yields more fully to eX-
animation the system will have large ad-
ditlons to the number Of its friends.
Our civil service reform may be imper-
feet in some Of its details; II may be mis-
understood and opposed; IL may not always
be faithfully applied; It's designs may some.
times miscarry through mistake or willtul
intent; 1t may sometimes tremble under the
assaults Of enemies or languish under the
misguided zeal Of impracticable friends,
but II the people Of this country ever sub
NIT to the Punishment Of its underlying
principle from the operation Of their gov
ernment they will abandon the surest
guarantee Of the safety and success OF
American institutions.
invoke for this reform the cheerful and
ungrudgiug support Of the Congress. l re-
new my accommodation made last year
that the salaries Of the commissioners be
ment having like duties and responsibilities,
and hope that such reasonable appropria-
tions may be made as will enable them to
increase the usefulness Of the cause they
have in charge.
desire TO call the attention of the Con-
gress 10 plain duty the government owes
to the depostors in the Freedman's Savings
and Trust Company.
This company was chartered by Congress
for the benefit Of the most illiterate and
humble of our people, and with the
intention Of encouraging In them industry
and thrift. Most OF It's branches were pre-
sided over by officers holding the commits
sions and clothed in the uniform OF the
| United States. These and other circum-
stances reasonably, think, led these simple
| people to suppose 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 II was liable In
the sum Of So, ,925.22 to l,l3l deposit
tors. Dividends amounting IN the aggre
| gate to CO per cent. have been declared,
and the sum called for and paid OF such
dividends seems to be 1,6is, 1Sl.72. This
sum deducted from the entire amount Of
deposits leaves Sl,99l, ,744.50 still unpaid.
| Past experience has shown that quite q
large part Of this sum will not be called
| for. There are assets still on hand amount
ing to the estimated sum Of $4,000.
think the remaining 3s per cent. OF
| such OF these deposits as have claimants
should be paid by the government, upon
| principles Of equity and fairness.
| TIE report Of the commissioner soon to
be laid before Congress, will give more sat
isfactory details on this subject.
The control of the affairs of the District
Of Columbia having been placed in the
hands Of purely executive officers, while
the Congress still retains all legislative
authority relating 10 Its government, 1t
becomes my duty to make known the most
pressing needs OF the District and recon-
mend their consideration.
The laws Of the District appear to be In
an uncertain and unsatisfactory condition,
and their codlilcatlon or revision is much
needed.
During the past year one Of the bridges
leading from the District to the state Of
Virginia became unfit for use, and trave
upon It was forbidden. This leads me tc
suggest that the improvement Of all the
bridges crossing the Potou &C and IT.
branches, from the city OF Washington, II
worthy Of the attention OF Congress.
The commissioners Of the District repre-.
sent that the laws regulating the sale oi
liquor and granting licenses therefor should
be at once amended, and that legislation II
| utNuNu W hChhNf uhN Shiui ~
the scope and powers Of charitable and
penal institutions within the District.
] suggest that the commissioners b,
clothed with the power to make, within
fixed limitations, police regulations. be
lieve this power granted and carefully
guarded would tend to subserve the goot
order Of the municipality.
1t seems that trouble still exists growing
out Of the occupation Of the streets and av
enues by certain railroads having their ter
mini in the city. 1t is very important tina
such laws should be enacted upon this sub
iect as will secure to the railroads all thu
facilities they require for the transaction o
their business, and at the same time protec
citizens from injury to their persons o
property.
The commissioners again complain tba
the Accommodations afforded them for tn
necessary offices for District business, an,
for the safekceping Of valuable books an,
papers. are entirely insufficient. / recon
mend that this condition of affairs be RENE
died by the Congress, and that suitabl
quarters be furnished for the needs Of tn
District government.
In conclusion, j earnestly invoke sue
wise action on the part Of the peoples leg
islatois as will sutserve the public goo
and demonstrate during the remaining day
Of the Congress, as at present organized
It's ability and inclination to so meet tn
peoples needs that 1t shall be grateful
remembered by an expectant constituency
GROVER CLEVELAND.
w smINGnnN nnn 1890