Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-05

to such honorabIy discharged soldiers and gaiI
ors OF the civil war as, having rendered sub
s.antisl service during tho war. sre now de
pendent upon their own labor for a main
tenance, aud through disease or casualty arr
iueapacitAted from earning It. Many OF the nun
who would be included in this form Of reliei
are now dependent upon public aid, and II
does not, In my opinion, consist with the ma
tiolal honor that they shall continue to subsisi
upon the local relief given fndiscrimina1ely "a
paupers instead Of upon the special and zener.
Gus provision OF the nation they served so gal
lantly and unselhshly. Our people will, j am
sure very generally approve such legislatSon.
And / am equally sure that the survivors OF the
Union army and navy will feel a grateful sense
Of relief when this worthy and suffering class OF
their comrades is fairly cared for.
There are some manifest inequalities In tho
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 claimants
are now promptly ans wered, and the injurious
and vexatious delays that have heretofore oc-
Cured are entirely avoided. This will greatly
facilitate the adjustment OF all pending claims.
TIE 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
same session, is an event as unexampled as it
is interesting
The certifcation Of the votes east 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 q, 1889, by the
Governors of said Territories, respectively
Having after n 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
act Of Congress had been complied with, and
that a amalority 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 to each as
to North Dakota aud South Dakota on Saturday,
November 2, as to Montana Friday November
5, 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 legislation 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
tition, 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 80,
1888, over two Thousand railroad employees were
killed in service, and more than twenty
Thousand injured, 1t is competent
in the construction of cars used in
interstate 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 civiiiza-
tiol that any class Of American workmeu
should in the pursuit of necessary and useful
vocation be subjected to O periliof life ard limb
as great as that of a 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 request which had long been re-
spectfully urged by the farmers of the country.
But much remains to be done to perform the
organization of the department 80 that it may
fairly realize the expectations which its 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
hcation of the annual report should be promptly
remedied. The public interest in the report
and its value to the farming community, l 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-
lished as bureau in the Department of Agri-
culture. This will involve an entire reoreani-
zation, both of the Weather Bureau and of the
Signal Corps, making of the first purely civil
organization and of the other a purely military
staff corps. The report of the Chief Signal Off
Ger shows that the work of the corps on its 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 0XnOaltfOn we'll claim tina
promotion of the General Government.
Civil Service Law.
On the fourth OF March last the Civil Service
Commission had but 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 as certiications were
made upon the requisition of the appoint
much suspicion, and OF many charges OF
favoritism in the administration of the law.
The commission has now opened the list Of
eligibles to the public The eligible lists for the
classified postofices and CUSTOM houses are
now publicly posted i'll the respective offices, as
are also the certifcations for appointments
The purpose Of the civil service law was abso-
lutely 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.
gressional investigate ions nave somewhat shaken
public confidence in the impartiality of the So
lections for appointment.
The reform of the civil service will make nc
safe or satisfactory advance until the present
law and it's equal administration are well estab.
lished 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 impair
partiality.
As result of the revision of the rules OF the
IaRf t,-tA IL.
railway mail service, the work of the commits
sion has been greatly increased, and the present
clerical force is found to be inadequate. 1 rec
ommend that the additional clerks asked by the
commission be appropriated for.
Preventing Wholesale Changes in Office
The duty of appointment is devolved by tn,
Constitution or by the law, and the appointing
officers are properly held to high RESPONSE
bility in its exercise. The growth of the coun
try and the consequent increase Of th,
civil list have magnified this function
of the Executive disproportionally, 1t can
bor connected with this necessary worl
is increased often to the point of actual dis
tress, by the sudden and excessive demands
that are made upon an incoming administra
the other hand it is not true that incumbenc,
is o conclusive argument for continuance
in office. Impartiality, moderation, fidelit,
to public duty and good attainment in th
discharge OF IL musb De adueu peIOfe Une argu
ment is complete When those holding admins
trative offices SO conduct themselves as TO con
vince Just political opponents that no part,
consideration or bias affects in any way tn
discharge Of their public duties, we can NOR
easily stay the demand for removals
/ am satisfied that both in and out Of tn
classified service great benefit would accru
from the adoption Of some system by which tn
officer would receive the distinction and benefi
that, in all private employment, comes from ex
ceptional faithfulness and efficiency in the pei
| formance Of duty.
have suggested to the heads of the executiv
departments that they consider whether a rec
ord might not be kept in each bureau of al
those elements that ara covered by the term
| @faithfulnessn and aetiiciency." and ratin