Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-05
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fcoosinued from FIRST page. ]

some, and it, wise and efficient discharge
full Of difficulty. The civil list 10 20 Large
that personal knowledge Of any large num-
Der Of the applicants il impossible. The
President must rely upon the representations
Of others and these are often made without
my just sense Of responsibility. | have
right, think, TO insist that those Who volun-
rer or are invited to give advice ~ 10 sp-
pointments shall exercise consideration and
adelity. A high sense Of duty and an ambition
10 improve the service should characterize all
public officers. There are many rays in
which the convenience and comfort of those
who have business With our public officers
may be promoted by a thoughtful and onlig-
lag officer, and stall expect those whom
may appoint to justify their selection BY
conspicuous efficiency 10 the discharge of
their duties. Honorable party service will
certainly not be esteemed by me disqnal-
iieation for public Office, but il will in no
case be allowed To serve shield Of Off
ciai negligence, incompeteDcy or delin-
quency. Its entirely creditabie TO seek
public Office by proper methods and with
proper motives, and applicant. will be
treated xith consideration. But | shall need
and the heads Of departn ents will need, time
for inquiry and deiiberatioD. Persistent
importantly will not, therefore. be the best
support of 40 application for Office. Heads
Of depa, ments bureaus and all other pub
lie officer. having any duty connected there
xith will be expected to enforce the civil
service Law fully and without evasion.
Beyond this obvious duty ! hope to do
something more 10 advance the reform Of
the civA service. The IDEAL, or even my
own IDEAL, shall probably not attain. Re-
tro,pect will be a safer basis of judgment
than promises We shall not, however,
am sure, be able TO put our iyii service upon
a non psrtizan basis until have secured
an incumbency that fair minded men of the
opposition will approve for impartiality and
integrity As the number OF such in the
civil list Increases, the removals from once
will diminish.
The Treasury Surplus.
While atreasury surplus is not the greatest
evil, it is q sericu. evil. Our revenues
should be ample to meet the ordinary an
nual demands upon our treasury with a
sufficient margin for these extraordinary
bat scarcely less imperative demands which
arise now snd then. Expenditures should
always be made with economy and only upon
public necessity. Wastefulne's, profigaey
or fayoritism in public expenditures is Grim
maj tHfrt - uDtE.HS va VIE 'phHseiV' u
our country or our people to suggest that
anything presently necessary 10 the public
prosperity. security or honor should be undu-
IL postponed. 1t will be the duty of Con-
gress usually to forecast and estimate these
extraordinary demands, and having add
ed them 10 our ordinary expen-
diture. To so adjust our rev.
enue laws that no considerable sur
plus should remain. 1t will fortunately be
able to apply to the redemption of the public
dept any small and unforeseen excess of
revenue. This is better than to reduce our
income below our necessary expenditures
with the resulting choice between another
change of our revenue laws and an increase
Of the public debt. 1t is quite possible |
am sure, 10 effect the necessary reduction in
our revenues without breaking down our
protective tariff or seriously inluring any
domestic industry.
Our Navy. Pensions, New States.
The construction of a sufficient number of
war ships and their necessary armament
should progress, as rapidly as is consistent
with care and pc fectitn Ia plans and work
manship. The spirit, courage and skill OF
our naval officers and seaman have many
times in our history given to weak ships and
inefficient guns rating greatly beyond that
of the naval list. That they will again do so
upon occasion | do not doubt but they ought
not by PR meditation or neglect to be left
10 any risks and exigencies.
We should encourage the establishing of
American steamship lines. The exchanges
of commerce demand stated. reliable and
rapid means of communication and until
these are provided the development of our
trade with the states lying south of us Is i'm
possible.
Our pensions should give more individual
and discriminating ieief to union soldiers
aud sailors and to their widows and orphans.
Such occasions Is this should remind us that
We owe everything to their valor and sacri-
fee.
It is subject of congratulation that there
is near prospect of the admission into the
union of the DakOtas, Montana and Wash
ington. This act of justice has been I'M
reasonably delayed in the case IF some OF
them. The people VINO bave settled those
Territories are intelligent, enterprising and
patriotic and the accession Of these new
States will add strength TO the nation. IL is
due to settlers in the Territories who have
avniled themselves of the invitations OF our
land laws to make homes upon the public
domain that their titles should be speedily
adjusted aud their honest entries co iiirmed
by patent.