The Washington critic., 1888-03-31
WASHINGTON, MARCH 81, 1883.
RIVERS AND HARBoRs.

Ibc literature OF the opposition TO
this bill is voluminous and unique, as
viii be seen bv reference TO old files
Of the Congressional Record. An ex-
animation of such chestnuts will
show that no measure of this charac-
ter-can possibly escape assault which
doesn't run steamboat into every
Cong'essman's dooryard. One would
imagine, indeed, that rivers and har-
bors are only other names for nests of
corruption, and that however honest
andtdecent in all other relations of
life the members of the committee
having them in charge may be, they
no sooner undertake to figure up APP
propiations for their improvement
Than they become thoroughly dis
reputable.
Weave willing to admit that as
result of mutual concessions and COM
promises and understandings, be.
tween different sections of the coun.
try, some appropriations creep into
the bin which are wholly unnecessary
10 the interests of commerce, but this
"ditkeling," as il is called, does not
always, or even usually, imply any
moral dcreiction on the part Of the
"dickcrers;" and il is seldom that APP
Iropriations are agreed to of such an
outrageous or eXtravagant character
that the whole bill should be torn to
pieces, OF, if passed by Congress, he
vetoed by the President
twill more often be found that sec
tional jealousies or local prejudices
prevail in antagonism to the River
and Harbor bill than. really just mo-
tives or wisely economical principles,
and this will probably be the case
with the measure, just reported. The
inerefaet thatit appropriates so large
an amoiint as $l9000,000 will be pro-
claimed as reason enough for making
war on it without stopping to inquire
whether such an expenditure is war
raDtable, and all the arts of claptrap
and demagoguery win be brought into
reqnisition TO show that the authors Of
this proposed legislation are simply
Engaged in conspiracy to rob the
Treasury.
Yet the bill appears TO be equitably
drawn, and as it carries two years APP
propriations, the last one having
failed for want of executive approval,
there is nothing excessive in its fig
ures and the Senate will probably
swell the total several millions more,
if for no other reason, to prevent its
passage or encourage veto. II were
good policy, perhaps, We're the Pres
ident empowered to act separately
npon the items embracedqin the bill
but the exercise of such power
wonld involve vast amount of labor
and. delicate, possibly momentous,
responsibility which no President
would like TO incur 1t will he unfor-
tunate, however if some bill is moi
carried through, and the more libera
its appropriations, within the limits
of reason, the better for the country
AccoRDiNG no THE New York World
if Minister Phelps becomes Chief jus
tice, il Secretary Bayard becomes Min
isterto England, If Secretary Whine,
""sthecemps Secretary of State, ther
iii Congressman Collins of Boston be
come Secretary of the Navy. The if
ness Of this thusness is exceedingly
hence, and Mr.. Collins isn't saying |
woEd.,
1NHs PRESIDENTS letter TO the Civil
Service Commission is one Of tn,
most practical bpsiness'like docu
meRts that has emanated from, Ad
miniatfstion aheadquartes since Mr.
t'leselapd's Inauguration, Whateye
Upipionslnaybe entertained-in regap
10 thewisdon or efficacy of the Civil
SsTiice system. it is here made plail
thatsthf President. is not, only de
teTmined gupon a rigorous enforce
meptof the law as long as it remain
q laN,but upon such a construction
andlenlargement OF the CiviliServic
rulesas are best calculated TO main
tainiftha Esprit as we'll as lette
of the statute nnd enhance th
nnifoIuiity Of its application
There Fanst ben rela&ation-ef tn
principle of competitive examination
unless fllere are exceptional circnn
stances o,justify it, and il is also q
the FIRST Importance. that some sy'
temaiic re-classifcation Of all branche
of departmental service rbe-made, 5
thatnone may enjoy advantages owe
ano1lerfand opportunities that nos
exisLf1r evasions of the law be NOR
eifectnaily prevented. The letter wi
be ,eIninently satisfactory to til
friends of Civil Service Reform, an
its opponents have only the law I
blame and not the President, who
in duty bound 10 support it.
TnE \ ISTERSArIoSSL Council J.
WonaaIb has beenua grea1 success
fnaBcially az well as otherwise.
il tils most notable gathering tha
was ever held Of a similar character
Many wise and brave words hay
been spoken IN bebalf of the amelia
ration Of existing inequalitiesS an
tbe rroeeeVfings, conducted as Che.