Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-12-05

book of ehgibles has been closed to
everyone, except as certifcations were
made upon the requisition of the appoint
ing officers. This secrecy was the source
of much suspicion, and of many charges
of favoriteism in the administration of
the law. The commission. with the full
approval OF all its members, has now
opened the list of eligibles to the public.
The eligible lists for the classified post
offices and custom houses are now pub
licly posted in the respective offices, as
are also the certificauons for appoint
mentS. The purpose of the civil service
law was absolutely to exclude any other
consideration in connection with appoint
ments under it than that of merit as
tested by the examinations.
He vi; Sill It cs to 1t.
The reform of the civil service will
make no safe or satisfactory advance
until the present law and its equal admin
istration are well established in the con-
fidence of the people. 1t will be my
pleasure, as it is my duty. to see that the
law is executed with firmness and i'm
partiallty. If some of its provisions
have been fraudulently evaded by ap-
OlA1CClS, OuE IcStulUl6ul
not suggest the repeal of the law, but
reform in its administration.
My predecessor, on Jan. 4, 1889. by an
executive order to take effect March Is.
brought the railway mail service under
the operation of the civil service law.
Provision was made that the order
should take effect sooner in amy state
where an eligible list was sooner OBJ
tainej. On March II Mr.. Lyman, then
the only member of the commission, re-
ported to me in writing that it would
not be possible to have the list of eligi-
bles ready before May 1, and requested
that the taking effect of the order be
postponed until that time, which was
done
The growth of the country and the
consequent increase of the civil list have
magniiied this function of the executive
dispositionally. 1t cannot be denied,
however, that the labor connected with
this necessary work is increased, often
to the point of actual distress. by the
sudden and excessive demands that are
made upon an incoming administration
for removals and appointments. But,
on the other hand, it is not true that
incumhency is a conclusive argument
for continuance in office. Impartiality,
moderation. fidelity to public duty, and
a good attainment in The discharge of
it, must be added before the argument is
completed.
am satisfied that both in and out of
the classified service great benefit would
acrue from the adopt on of some system
by which the officer would receive the
distinction and benefit that in all private
empiOyments. comes from exceptional
faithIulness and efficiency in the per-
formance of duty. l have suggested to
the heads of the executive departments
that they consider whether a record
might not be kept in each bureau of all
those elements that are covered by the
terms ''faithfulness' and efficiency"
and a rating made showing the relative
merits of the clerks of each class, this
rating to be regarded as test of merit
in making promotions. | have also sug-
gested to the postmaster general that he
adopt some plan by which he can, upon
the basis of the reports to the depart
ment and of frequent Inspections, indi-
cate the relative merit OF postmasters 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 do not doubt. and
such record would be the best defense
against inconsiderate removals from
office.
Government Aid tp Education.
The sudden emancipation Of the slaves
of the south, the bestowal of the suf-
frage, which soon followed. and the i'm
pairment of the ability of the states
where these new citizens were chiefly
found to adequately provide educational
facilities presented not only exceptional
but unexampled conditions. That the
situation has been much ameliorated
there is no doubt The ability and in
terest of the states have happily in
creased. But great work remains to
be done, and think the general govern
ment should lend its aid. As the sug-
gestion of national grant in aid of edu-
estiosI grows chiefly out OF the condition
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 suggested it. 1t is essen ]
tai, If much good is to be accomplished,
that the sympathy and active interest of
the people of the states should be en-
listed, and that the methods adopted
should be such as to stimulate and not
to supplant local taxation for school pur
poses.
As one congress cannot bind a succeed
ing one in such case, and as the effort
must in some degree be experimental, |
recommend that any appropriations
made for this purpose be so limited in
annual amount and as to the time over
which it is TO extend as will, on the one
hand, give the local school authorities an
opportunity to make the best use of the
first years allowance, and on the other
deliver them from the temptation to un-
puly postpone the assumption of the
whole burden themselves.
The colored people did not intrude
themselves upon US; they were brought
here in chains and held in the communi-
ties where they are now chiefly found,
by cruel slave code. Happily for both
races they are now free. They have,
from standpoint of ignorance and pow
erty, which was our shame. not theirs,
made remarkable advances in education
and in the accumulation of property.
They have their representatives in the
national cemetery, where a grateful gov
ernment has gathered thousands of those
who died in its defense. They have
furnished to our regular army regiments
that have won high praise from their
officers for courage and
qualities. and for fidelity to the
enlistment oath. In civil life they are
now the toilers of their communities,
making their full contribution to the
widening stream of prosperity which |
these communities are serving. Their
sudden withdrawal would stop produc- |
ton and bring disorder into the house
hold as well as the shop.
CoIored Men Must be Protected.
But notwithstanding all this, in many |
parts of our country where the colored |
population is large, the people of that
race are, by various devices, deprived of
any effective exercise of their political
rights and of many of their civil rights.
The wrong dos not expend itself upon
those whose votes are suppressed. Every
in the union is wronged. |
1t has been the hope of every patriot
that a sense OF justice and of respect for
the law would work a gradual cure of
these flagrant evils. If it is said that
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