Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-04

is my duty, to see that the law is executed
with truness and impartiality. II some
OF It's provisions have been fraudulentiy
evaded by appointing officers, our resent.
ment should not suggest the repeal of the
law, but reform in its administration.
We should have one view of the matter,
and hold it with a sincerity that is not
affected by the consideration that
the party to which we belong
is for the time IN power. My
predecessor on the 4th day of January,
1889, by al executive order to take effec;
March 10, brought the railway mail service
under the operation 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 18th day of March Mr.. Lyman,
then the only member of the Commission,
reported to me in writing that it would be
impossible to have the list of eligibles
ready before May l, and requested that the
taking effect of the order be postponed I'M
til that time, which was done, subject to
the same provision contained in the origi-
nal order as to States in which an eligible
list was sooner obtained. AS result OF
the revision of the rules, Of the new CLASH
6cation and of the inclusion of the railway
mail service, the work of the Commission
has been greatly increased and the present
clerical force has been found to be made
quate. recommend that the additional
clerks asked by the Commission be appro-
priated for.
THE OFFICE SEEKERS RUSH.
The duty disappointment is devolved by
the Constitution or by the law, and the ap-
pointing officers are properly held to a
high responsibility in its exercise The
growth of the country and the consequent
increase of the civil list have magnitied
this function of the executive duty. 1t
cannot be denied, however, that the labor
connected with this necessary work is in-
creased, often to the point of actual dis
trees by the sudden and excessive de-
mands that are made upon an incOm-
ing administration for removals and
appointments. But on the other hand
it is not true that incumbency
is 8 conclusive argument for a continuance
in Office. Impartiality, moderation, fdel-
ity to public duty and good attainment
in the discharge of it must be added before
the argument is completed. When those
holding administrative offices so conduct
themselves as to convince just political OPP
pOcents that no party consideration or bias
affects in any way the discharge OF their
public duties, We can more easily stay the
demand for removals.
TO CLASSIFY APPOINTEEs.
am satisfied that both in and out of
the classified service great benefit would
accrue from the adoption of some system
by which the officer would receive the dis
tinctiOn and benefit that in all private en-
comes from exceptional faith
fulnCss and efficiency in the performance
of duty. have suggested to the heads Of
the executive departments that they con-
slider whether a record might not be kept
il each bureau Of all these elements that
are covered by the terms "fsithfulness"
and efficiency" and rating made show
ing the relative merits of the clerks of
each class, his rating to ts regarded as a
test Of merit in making promotions.
I have also suggested to the Postmaster
General that ne 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 postmasteTs
Of each class. They will be appropriately
indicated in the official register and in the
report Of the Department. That a great
stimulus would thus be given to the whole
service l do not doubt, and such a record
would be the best defense against incon-
siderate removals from office.
NATIONAL AID TO SCHOOLS.
The interest of the general government
IN the education Of the people found an
early expression, not only in the thought
fal and some times warning utterances of
our ablest statesmen, but in liberal apprO-
p,iatiOns from the common resources for
the support Of education in the new States.
No one viii deny that it is of the gravest
national concern that those who hold the
ultimate control Of all public affairs should
have the necessary intelligence wisely to
direct and determine them. National aid
20 education has heretofore taken the form
of land grants, and in that form the con-
stitutiOnsl power of Congress to promote
the education of the people is not serious
ly questioned. I do not think it can be
successfully questioned when the form is
changed to that of direct grant Of money
from the public treasury. Such aid should
be, as it always has been suggested, by
some exceptional condition. The sud
den emancipation of the slaves OF
the South, the bestowal of the
suffrage, which soon followed, and the
impairment of the ability of the States
where these new citizens were chiefly
found 10 adequately provide educational
facilities presented not only exceptional
but unexampled conditions. That the
situation has been much smeliOrated there
is no doubt The ability and interest of
the States have happily increased. But a
great work remains to be done, aud l
think the general government should lend
It's aid.
AS the suggestion OF a national grant
in aid of education grows chiefly out OF
the conditions and needs of the
emancipated slave and his descendants, the
relief should, as far as possible, while
necessarily proceeding upon some general
lines, be applied to the need that suggest
ed it. It is essential, if much good is TO
be accomplished, that the sympathy and
active interest of the people of the States
should be enlisted, and that the methods
adopted should be such as to stimulate and
not to supplant local taxation for school
purposes.
AN EXPERIMENT RECOMMENDED.
As one Congress cannot bind q succeed
ing one in such case, and as the effort
must, in some degree, be experimental, 1
recommend that any appropriation made
for this purpose be so limited in annual
amount aud as to the time over which it is
to extend as will on the one hand give the
local school authorities opportunity to
make the best use Of the first years allow
snce. and on the other deliver them from
the temptation to unduly postpone the as
sumption Of the whole burden themselves
The colored people did not intrude them