The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16

p,era,icns cf the Pens!on BuTeau during tee
last fiscal year and to pension mftters 81. - .hs
ally, the President says the uSeIulneSs a.. - -
justice Of any system for the !! .S mt
pensions depends upon the equality anu UNI i
fornity OF its operation, and as long as VIC g. g.
here to the principle Of granting pensions LcI
service and disability as the result OF Ine Sc
ice the allowance OF pensions snoulu 20 ~
strir;ed 10 cases presenting these features
Every patriotic heart" he says, reSponos
TO a tender consideration for those VINO, htNll1S
served their country long and well, are reuuce1
10 destitution and dependence, not as an lEcl-
dent of their service. but with advancing age OF
misfortune. We are all tempted oS the COZ
templation of such condition TO supply renei,
and are often impatient OF the limitations
of public duty. Yielding to no one
in the desire to indulge this feeling OF conslaer
alton / can lot rid myself OF the convlcuon
that il these ex-SoldierS are TO be relieved tney
and their cause are entitled 10 the oehe1t oI
an enactment under which reller shoulu Oe
claimed as right. and that such rehel may oS
Granted under the sanction, not the INVASION,
OF it: dor should such worthy
objects of care, all equally entitled. De renltteo
10 the unequal operation OF sympathy, or tne
teSder mercies of social and political influence
with their unjust discrimination.
OF the Pacific railroad debt extension propo-
sition, he says, that in considering the plan
suggested by the Secretary Of the Interior and
indorsed by the board of Government directors,
the sole matters which should be taken into
account are: THE situation OF the GoVesn-
ment as a creditor and the surest way tc ss~-
cure the payment Of the principal anu inteTSs@
on its debt
Ofinter-State commerce, he says that by
recent decision Of the Supreme Court or rs
United States il has been adJudged that tne
laws OF the several States are imperative 10
regulate rates of transportation upon railroads,
il such regulation interiereS VITA the rate OF
carriage from one State into another. This I'M
portant field of control and regulation haNlng
been left thus unoccupied, the expedlency OF
Federal action upon the SUBJECT Is worthy Oh
of the relations of labor 10 capital. the Presi-
dent thinks that when these differences De-
tween employer and employed reach Such
stage as TO result IN the interruption OF COM
,nerce between the States, the application or
arbitration by the General Government might
be regarded as entirely within its constitutional
powers. and he thinks We might reasonably
hope that such arbtratorS, II carefully selected,
and il entitled to the confidence OF the parties
10 be affected, would be voluntarily called 10
the settlement Of controversies of less extent
and not necessarily within the domain OF Fed
eral regulation.
The President recommends, as plain duty
on the part OF the Government, the payment OF
n million and a quarter dollars still due 20 the
Freedman's Savings Bank depcsitors.
Ciyil-Service reform is the last important topic
operation OF the Civil-SerVice law, he asserts,
has added the most convincing proof OF its
necessity and usefulness. Every, public
his duty to the people testifes TO the value ct
this reform. Its staunchest friends are foura
among those who understand II best, and ia
WarmeSt SuppOrLeV9 luOeS NAo arc
strained and protected by its requirements
The meaning of such restra.ct and protection
Is not appreciated by those who want pl3-Ss
under the Government, regardless OF merit S1c
ericiencv nor BY those who insist that the -
lection for such places should rest upon
proper credential showing active partiSNH
work They mean to public officers, if ny
their lives the only opportunity afforded thE7N
to attend the public business, and they mS-ta
10 the good of the country the better perfor7s-
ance of the work of their Government II q
exceedingly strange, the President thinks, tESS
the scope and nature Of this reform are so ht-<e
understood and that so many things not -
cluded within its plan are called by its naIrH-
When cavil yields more fully TO eXalninatica,
the system will hCve large additions to ne
number of its friends.
Our CiVil-SerVice reform, the President says,
may he imperfect in some OF its details; IL may
be misunderstood and opposed ii may not al
WAYS be faithfully applied; its designs may
sometimes miScarry through mistake or wilful
intent: il may sometimes tremble under the as
saults of its enemy OF lNgulSh under
the misguided zeal OF lmpractlcaole
friends: but if tho people OF this country ever
submit TO the Punishment OF its underlying
principle from the operation OF their Govern
ment they will abandon the suTest guarantee
of tine safety and success OF American lnstltu-
tiOnS."
In conclusion. he iny0kes for this reform the
cheerful and ungrudging support OF Congress,
uraycs an increase of the salaries OF the Com
missioners. and expresses the hope that such
reasonable appropriations may be made rs Will
enable them 10 increase the usefulness o. bne
cause they have in charge.