The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

AT meeting Of state railroad commissioners
and their accredited representatives, held at
Washington In March last, upon the invitation Of
the Interstate commerce commission, a resolution
was unanimously adopted urging the commission
TO consider what can be done TO prevent the loss
Of life aud limb in coupling and uncoupling freight
oars, and in handling the brakes OF such cars"
During the year ending June 30 1885 1900
railroad employees were killed in service, and more
than 90 900 injured.
uniformity in the construction of used in in
terstate commerce, and the Use Of improved
safety appliances upon such trains. Time will be
necessary TO make the needed changes, but an
earnest and Intelligent beginning should be made
at once. 1t is a reproach to our civilization that
any class Of American worllmen should, in the
pursuit Of necessary and useful vocation, be
subjected 20 peril Of life and limb as gieat as
that Of a soldier in kline Of war.
(The president then speaks of the depart
ment of agriculture, the weather service
and the District of Columbia.)
The proposition to observe the four hundreth
anniversary OF the discovery Of America by the
opening of worlds fair or exposition in some
one of our great cities will be presented for the
consideration Of congress The value and inter.
est OF such an exposition may well claim the pro-
motion of the general government
In the course of lengthy reference to the
civil service commission, he says:
The reform of the civil service will make az
safe or satisfactory advance until the present law
and It's equal administration are well established
in the confidence Of the people. 1t will be my
pleasure as It is my duty to see that the law Is
executed with frmness and impartiallty. II
some of its provisions have been fraudulently
evaded by appointing officers, our resentment
should not suggest the repeal of the law, but re
form in its administration. We should have on,
Uiaxvn fha as.l hold 70 ..ttN
that is not affected by the consideration that the
party to which we belong is for the time in power
My predecessor, on the 9TH day of January, 1889,
by an executive order TO take effect March 15
brought the railway mail service under the opera
tion of the civil service law. Provision was made
that the order should take effect sooner in any
state where an eligible list was sooner obtained
On the 11th day Of March, MIR. Lyman. then the
only member of the commission reported TO me
In writing that it would not be possible TO have
the list of eligibes ready before May l. and re.
quested that the taking effect of the order be
postponed until that time which was done, s,lb.
ject to the same provision contained in the origi.
nal order as 10 states in which an eligible list was
sooner obtained.
As result of the revision of the rules, of the
new classification, and of the inclusion Of the rail
way mail service, the work of the commission has
been greatly increased, and the present clerical
force is found to be inadequate. l recommend
that the additional clerks asked by the commits
sion be appropriated for.
am satisfied that both in and out Of the cassi.
fed service great benefit would accrue from the
adoption of some system by which the officer
would receive the distinction and benefit that in
all private employments, comes from exceptional
fathfulness and efficiency in the performance of
duty.
have suggested TO the heads of the executive
departments that they consider whether record
might not be kept in each bureau of all those ele.
ments that are covered by the terms faithful.
ness" and efficiency" +" and rating made showing
the relative merits of the clerks of each class this
rating to be regarded as test of merit in making
promotions
i have also suggested to the postmaster general
that he adopt some plan by which he can upon
the basis Of the reports to the department and of
frequent inspections, indicate the relative merit
OF postmasters Of each class. They will be ap
propratey indicated in the official register and in
the report of the department That a great stim
ulus would thus be given to the whole service do
not doubt, and such a record would be the best
defense against inconsderate removals from Office
Crhe president here suggests a national ex-
perimental grant in aid of educatiop)