The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-06

tourths are the products Of agricul.
ture, and of our total population
! nearly one half are exclusively en-.
Egaged in that occupation.
The department of Agriculture
| was created for the purpose of acqui-
ring and diffusing among the people
useful information respecting the
subjects it has in charge, and aiding
in the cause of intelligent and pro-
gressiye farming by the collection of
statistics by testing the virtue and
usefulness Of new seeds and plants
and distributing such as are found
desirable among agriculturalists.
This and other powers and duties
with which this department is invest.
ed are of the utmost Importance, and,
if wisely executed, must be Of great
benefit to the country. The aim of
our benefcent government is the i'm
provement OF the people in every
station and the amelioration of their
condition. Surely our agricultural,
lists should not be neglected. The
department established in aid of the
farmers of the land should not only
be well equipped for the accomplish
ment of its purpose, but those for
whose benefit it has been adapted
should be encouraged to avail them.
selves fully Of its advantages.
The prohibition of the Importation
into several countries of certain of
cur animals and their products, based
upon the suspicion that health is en-
dangered in their use and consump.
ton suggests the Importance of such
precautions for the protection of our
stock Of all kinds against disease as
will disacnl suspicion of danger and
cause the removal Of such an iDjuri.
Gus prohibition. If the laws now in
operation are insufficient to accom-
plish this protection I recommend
their amendment to meet the neces-
sites Of the situation, and I commend
to the consideration Of Congress the
suggestions contained in the report
Of the Commissioner of Agriculture
calculated to increase the value and
efficiency Of this department.
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
The report of the civil service CON-
mission, which will be submitted,
contains an account Of the manner in
which the civil service law has been
executed during the last year, and
much valuable information on this
important subject. I am inclined to
think that there is no sentiment more
general in the minds of the people of
our country than conviction Of the
correctness of the principles upon
which the law enforcing civil service
reform is based. In its present con-
dition the law regulates only a part
of the subordinate public positions
throughout the country. 1t applies
the test OF fitness to applicants for
these places by means of a competi-
tive examination, and gives large
discretion to the commissioners as to
the character of the examination, and
many other matters connected with
its execution. Thus the rules and
regulations adopted by the commits
sion have much to do with the prac-
tical usefulness of the statute, and
with the results of its application.
The people may well trust the Com
to execute the law with per-
feirness and with as little irritation
as possible. But. of course, no re-
Taxation Of the principle which un-
derlies it, and no weakening of the
safeguards which surround it, can be
Experience in its admin
istration will probably suggest the
Of the methods of its ex-
acution, but l venture to hope that |
we shall never again be remitted to
the system which distributes public
positions purely as rewards for par
;isan service. Doubts may well be |
whether our government |
could survive the strain of continu-
lnce Of this system, which, upon
every change Of administration, in
spires an immense army Of claimants
jor Office to lay siege to the patron
age Of the government, engrossing
he time Of public officers with their
opportunities, spreading abroad their
OF their disappointment
md filling the air with the tumult.of
heir discomfort
The allurements of an immense
lumber of officers and places ezhib-
ted to the voters Of the land, and |
'he bestowal in recognition of parti-
;an activity, debauches the suffrage
and robspoiitical action ofits thought
'ul and deliberative character. The
syiI would increase with the multi