The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-09

consideration OF Congress the report oil the Com
missioner and his suggestions concerutng tne in-
terests entrusted to his care
CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
The continued operation Of the Law relating TO
our civil service has sdded the most convincing
proofs of its necessity and usefulness IL is mct
worthy of note that every public officer who has
luss ides OF ais cny 20 me people 20 s,s
found among those who understand II best, ana rs
warmest supporters are those who are restrained
and protected by its requirements The meaning
Of such restraint and protection Is not ap-
preciatcd by those WHO want places under the
Government regardless OF merit and efnciency,
nor nor by those who Insist insist. that the se,ee -
credentials showing active partisan work
They mean to the public officers that il is only an
opportunity afforded them to attend to pubic bust
ness and they me to the good people Of the
country the better performance Of the work of tier
Government Ii is exceedingly strange that the
scope and nature of this reform are SO little under
stood, and that many things not included within
it's plan called by its name hen cavil yields
more fully TO examination the system VIII have
large additions to the number OF Its frienos; Cish
Service Reform may be imperfe in some OF It's de-
tails 1t may be misunderstood and opposed. IL
may not always be faithfully applied It's designs
may sometimes Discarry through mistake or wiifui
intent. IT may sometimes treinble under the as
saults of its enemies, languish under the mis-
guided zeal OF impracticable friends. But If the
people Of this country ever submit to the binish-
ment ofits underlying principle from the operation
of the Government, they will abandon the surest
guarantee OF the safety aud of American in
situations. invoke for this reform the cheerful
and uugrudgiug support of Congress. l renew my
recommendation made last year that the salaries OF
the Commissioners D. made equal TO the other Off
GERS of the Government having like duties and re-
sponsibilities, and hope that such reasonable ap-
preparations may be made as will euable them 10
increase the usefulness of the they have in
charge.
THE FREEDXAN's BANK.
desire to call the attention of Congress to plain
duty which the government owes to the depOsitOrS
in the Freedman's Saving Trust Company. This
company was chartered by Congress for the bene-
fit of the illiterate and poorer of our people,
and with the intention OF encouraging their indus
try and thrift Most Of its branches were presided
over by officers heading the commissions and
clothed in the uniform oflbe United States: These
and other circumstances reasonably, / think, led
these simple people to suppose that the invitation
deposit their hard earned savings in this institn
ton implied understanding on the part of their
government that their money should be safely kept
for then. When this company failed ii was liable
in the of g., 939 995 u to eli, l3l deposltors.
Dividends amounting in the aggregate to 62 per
cent have been declared, aud the sum called for and
paid of such dividends seems to be 81, l64, SIS H.
This deducted from the entire amount of the de-
post, leaves 81 9 450 still unpaid. Past expert
ence has shown that quite large part of this sum
| will not be called for and there assets still on
| hand, amounting to the estimated sum OF Sl6,OOO.
think the remaining thirty-eight per cent of such
of these deposits as have claimants should be paid
| by the government upon principles oil equity ana
fairness, and the report of the Comm ssioner soon
TO be laid before Congress will give more satisac
| tory details on this subject.
! DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The control of the aff.irs of the District of Co
| iunbia having been placed in the hands of purely
executive officers, while Congress still retains al
legislative authority relating to the Government, il
| becomes my duty to make known the most press
ing needs of the District and recommend their con
sheraton. The laws of the District appear to bt
| in uncertain and unsatisfactory condition anc
their codificaton or revision is much needed. Dur
ing the past year one OF the bridges leading from
the District 10 the State Of Virginia became uni
| for and travel upon il was forbidden lhl
leads TO suggest that the improvement of all th
bridges crossing the Potomac and its hranchr
from the city of Washington is worthy of the ut
tention of Congress. The Commissioners of th
District represent that the Jaw regulating the grant
ing of liquor licenses should b" AT once amended
and that legislation is needed to consolidate dcfin
and enlarge the scope and powers of charitable AM
penal institutions within the District. suggest tha
the Commissioners be clothed with power TO max
within fixed limitations police regulations. brev
his power granted and carefully guarded would ten
70 subserve the good order OF the municip Atty
that trouble still exists growing ont of the ot
cupa;ion of the street and avenues by certain raj
roads having their terini in the city 1t is very in
pOrtaG that such laws sho uld be enacted up II hi
subject as will secure to the railroads all the faci
tiles they require tor the transaction Of their bus
ess and at the same time pro ect citizens from II
jury to their persons or property. The Comm
,ioners again complain that the accommodation
afforded them for the necessary officers for Dsrit
hu>iutos ana LOT tue ~aic-kfepinE Oh uooh
and papers entirely insufficient and recOmmen
that this condition OF affiirs be rcmedied by Coz
grtss and that suitable quarters be furnished &c
the needs Of the District Government.
; CONCLUSION.
In conclusion | earnestly invoke such wise acto
the part Of the peoples Legislators as will sui
serve the public good and demonstrate during til
remaining days Of the Congress, as at present organ
iZ"d, its ability and inclination to meet the PEI
pies needs that it shall be gratefully remembe ere
by eXiectant constituency.
, GROVER CLEVELAND.
f WASHINGTON, December 6, 1886