Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-06
USEFULNESS or rHr crvn SERVICE Law.

our civil Service has added the most convincing
proofs Of ITS necessity ana usefulness II Is fact
worthy OF note that every public ofsccr who hes
Just Idea Of his duty 20 the people testhcs the
value OF THIS reform. It's staunchest friends are found
among these who understand n best and its
waimest supporters are those who are restrained
The meaning OF such restraint ana protection Il
not appreciated by those who want places under
sne Sosernment, rexardiess Of merit and efiici-
for such places should rest upon a proper crsien-
taal showing active partisan work They mean 90
tunity afforded them 10 attend 10 public business
and they mean 10 the good people OF the country
the better performance Of the work OF their Gov.
II is exceedingly strange that the scope ana
nature OF this reform are 81 little understood and
that SO many things not Included within IT, plan
are called by It's Maine. When cay1l Yields more
fully to examination the system will have large
additions TO the number az It's friends
our Civil-Serytce reform mag bc tmperfect IN
some OF its details: IL may be misunderstood and
opposed; it may not always be faithfully applied;
It's designs may sometimes miscarry Through mis-.
take or wilful intent; n may sometimes tremble
under the assaults OF its enemies anguish under
the misguided zeal OF impractcable friends; but n
the people of this country ever submit 60 the ban
ishment OF It's underlying principle nom the ope
ration Of their government, they viii abandon the
surest guarantee of the safety and success OF Amer
Invoke for this reform the cheerful and un.
grudglng support OF the Congress ! renew my
Recommendation made last year that the salarie.
OF the Commissioners be made equal 20 other
omcers OF the Government having like duties and
responsibilities and hope that such reasonable
appropriations may be made as will enable them
10 Increase the usefulness OF the cause they have
In charge.
THE FREEpxANs BANK
ldesire TO call the attention of the Congress to
plain duty which the government owes 10 the de.
positors In the Freedmans Savings and Trust
Company.
This company was chartered by the Congress
for the beneft OF the most illiterate and humble
OF our people and with the intention OF encouras.
Ing in them industry and THRIFT Most O, Ms
branches were presided over by officers holding
the commissions and clothed In the uniform Of the
United States Thesc ana other circumst ances
reasonably think, led these simple people 10 sup.
pose that the invitation 10 deposit their hard
earned savings In this Institution implied an un-
dertaking 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 F2,aha,ss5.22 90 GLIB depostors DNL
LENDS ,ieI amounting In the aggregate TO sxtytwc
per cent have been declared and the SUN called
Tor aud paid OF dividends seems 10 be
sl64s ISL Ills sum deducted from the entire
amount of deposits leaves 81 el. IA. 20 stlll uI
paid. Past experience has shown that quite a
large part OF This sum Will not be called Tor There
are assets still ON hand amounting 10 the esff
mated sum OF $4,000.
think the remaining thirty eight per cent OF
such OF these deposits as have claimants should
oe paia Dy tne government upon principles OF
The report OF the Commissioner, soon 10 be laid
before Congress. viii give more satisfactory de-
REVISION or DISTRICT LAWS RECOMMENDED
The control OF the affairs OF the District OF Cox
umba having been placed In the hands OF purely
executive officers while the Congress SIN retains
| all legislative authority relating 10 its govern
| ment II becomes my duty 10 make known the
most pressing needs OF the District and recon-
mend their consideration
i The laws OF the District appear 10 be I'm an I'M.
certain and unsatisfactory condition and their
codlilcation or revision Is much needed
During the past year one OF the bridges leading
from the District TO the state OF Virginia becaIns
unfit for use, and travel upon II Was forbidden
inns leads me TO suggest that the improvement Of
an the bridges crossing the Potomac and us
branches from the city of Washington is worthy
OF the attention Of Congress-.
The commissioners OF the District represent
| that the laws regulating the sale OF iouor and
| granting licenses therefor should be at once
amended, and that legislation is needed TO consol-
daie, delne ana enlarge the scope and powers u
charitable and penal Institutions within the Dis
| I1ct.
1 suggest that the Commissioners he clothed
| with the power TO make, within fixed limitations,
police regulations. ] believe this power granted
aud carefully guarded would tend 10 subserve the
good order OF the municipality.
IL seems that trouble sill exists growing out of
the occupation OF the streets and avenues by GER
tain railroads having their termini in the city IL
| Is very important that such laws should he
| enacted upon this subject as will secure 10 the
railroads all the facilities they require for the
| transaction OF their business, and al the saline
tine protect citizens from injury 10 their persons
| or property.
/ Inc souHlssloners again complain tlat the ac-
! commodaions afforded them Tor the necessary
offices for District business and for tie safe keep
Ing OF valuable books and papers, entirely In
| sufficient. l recommend that this condition OF
affairs be relneded by the Congress- and thai suit
able quarters be furnished for the needs Of the
District government.
In conclusion, earnestly invoke such wise ac-
ton on the part OF the peoples Legislators will
subserve The public good and demonstrate during
the remaining days OF the Congress as at present
organized it's ability and inclination 10 so meet the
peoples needs that II shall be gratefully reineIn.
l bered by an expectaHt constituency.
Il GROVER CLEvEIAND.
! Washington, december g, 1856
l Keeping the Pot Boiling.
TARIFF REFORM AGITATION TO BE KEPT CP THu