The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-12-05

ture. neither am deferred by that fact from
recommending that Congress grant pension
to such honorably discharged soldiers and sail
ors OF the civil war as having rendered sub
stantial service during the war, are now de-
pendent upon their own labor for main
tenance and through disease or casualty
incapacitated from earning it. Many of the men
who would be included in this form of relief
are dependent upon public aid, and 1t
does not, in my opinion, consist with the ma
tional honor that they shall continue to subsist
upon the local relief given Unfortunately to
paupers instead of upon the special and gener-
Gus provision of the nation they served so gal
lantly and unselfshly Our people will, I am
sure, very generally approve such legislation.
And am equally sure that the survivors OF the
Union army and navy will feel q grateful sense
of relief when this worthy and suffering class of
their comrades is fairly cared for.
There are some manifest inequalities in the
existing law that should be remedied. To some
of these the Secretary of the Interior has called
attention. It is gratifying to be able to state
that by the adoption of new and better meth.
DDS in the War Department. the calls of the
Pension Office for information as to the mill
tary and hospital records OF pension elaine nts
are now promptly ans wered, and the injurious
and vexatious delays that have heretofore oc-
CURED entirely avoided This will greatly
facilitate the adjustment of all pending claims.
The New States.
The advent of four new States, South Dakota,
North Dakota, Montana. and Washington into
the Union under the Constitution, the same
month, and the admission of their duly chosen
representatives to our National Congress at the
same session. is an event as unexampled as 1t
is interesting.
The certifcation of the votes cast and of the
constitutions adopted in each of the States
was filed with me, as required by the eighth
section of the act of February o. 1885, by the
Governors of said Territories respectively.
Having, after a careful examination, found
that the several constitutions and govern
ments were republican in form, and not
repugnant to the Constitution of the Unit
ed States, that all the provisions of the
Congress- cOmni00 with
that majority of the votes cast in each of said
proposed States was in favor of the adoption OF
the Constitution submitted therein, did so de-
clare by separate proclamation as to each; as
to North Dakota and South Dakota on Saturday,
November 2, to Montana Friday, November
s, and as to Washington on Monday, November
Protection to Railway Employees.
The attention of the Interstate Commerce
Commission has been called to the urgent need
OF Congressional 1egi slatlon for the better pro-
lection of the lives and limbs of those engaged
in operating the freight lines of the country, and
especially OF the yardmen and brakemen. A Pc
titioIl, signed by nearly ten thousand railway
brakemen, was presented to the commission,
asking that steps might be taken to bring about
the use of automatic brakes and couplers on
freight cars. During the year ending June 30
1888, over two thousand railroad employees were
killed in service and more than twenty
thousand injured 1t is competent, L
think for Congress to require uniformity
in the construction of cars used in
interstate commerce and the of improved
SaToUy Appliances upon Sucn Trans. limo Will
be necessary to make the needed changes but
an earnest and intelligent beginning should be
made at once. 1t is reproach to our civiliza-
ton that any class of American Workmen
should in the pursuit of necessary and useful
vocation, be subjected to peril of life aud limb
great as that of q soldier in time of war.
Department of Agriculture.
The creation of an executive department, to
be known as the Department of Agriculture, by
the act of February last was wise and timely
response to a request which had long been
spectfully urged by the farmers of the country.
But much remains to be done to perform the
organization of the department so that it may
fairly realize the expectations which it's creation
excited. In this connection attention is called to
the suggestions contained in the report of the
Secretary, which is herewith submitted. The
need of @ law officer for the department. such
as is provided for the other executive depart
ments, is manifest. The failure OF the last Con-
gress TO make the usual provision for the pub
LEGATION of the annual report should be promptly
remedied. The public interest in the report,
and its value to the farming community, I am
sure, will not be diminished under the new or
ganization of the department.
1 recommend that the Weather Service be
separated from the War Department and estab-
hshed bureau in the Department of Agri-
culture. This will involve an entire reoreani-
zaticn, both of the Weather Bureau and of the
Signal Corps, making of the first purely civil
organization and of the other purely military
staff corps. The report of the Chief Signal Off
Ger shows that the work of the corps on it's mill
tary side has been deteriOrating.
The Worlds Fair.
The proposition to observe the four hundredth
anniversary of the discovery of America by the
opening of q 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
promotion of the General Government.
Civil Service Law.
On the fourth of March last the Civil Service
COmmi ssiOn had but 81 single member. The
vacancies were filled on the seventh day of May,
and since then the Commissioners have been
industriously, though with an inadequate force,
engaged in executing the law.
Heretofore the book of eligibles has been closed
to everyone, except certifcations were
made upon the requisition of the appoint
ing officers. This secrecy was the source of
much suspicion, and of many charges of
favoritism in the admin stration of the law
The commission has now opened the list of
elig1bles to the public The eligible lists for the
classified postofices and custom houses are
publicly posted in the respective Offices al
also the certihcations for appointments.
The purpose of the civil service law was abso-
1utely to exclude any other consideration in
connection with appointments under it than
that of merit as tested by the examinations. 1t
is not too much to say that some recent Con-
gressiOnalinvestiga ions nave somewhat shaken
public confidence in the impartiality of the Sc
1ect1ons for appointment.
The reform of the civil service will make no
safe or satisfactory advance until the present
law and it's equal administration are well estab-
1ished in the confidence of the people 1t will
be my pleasure, as it is my duty, to see that
the law is executed with firmness and impair
partiality.
AS a result of the revision of the rules of the
classification, and of the inclusion of the
railway mail service the work of the commits
sion has been greatly increased, and the present
clerical force is found to be inadequate. I rec
ommend that the additional clerks asked by the
commission be appropriated for.
Preventing Wholesale Changes in Office.
The duty of appointment is devoIved by the
Constitu ton or by the law, and the appointing
officers are properly held to high response
bility in it's exercise. The growth OF the coun-
try and the consequent increase of the
civil list have magniied this function
of the Executive disproportionally. It can
not be denied, however, that the la
Dor connected with this necessary work
is increased, often to the point of actual dis
tress, by the sudden and excessive demands
that are made upon an incoming administra-
ton for removals and appointments. But, on
the other hand, it is not true that incumbency
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 argu-
ment is complete. When those holding admins
trative offices SO conduct themselves as to con-
vince just political opponents 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.
1 am satisfied that both ir nd out of the |
classified service great benefit d accrue |
fhQ of