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

thr Onlteu otnttot tuat ali Tue provisions
Of the act Of Congress had been complied
with, and that e msiOrity of the votes cast
in each OF said proposed States was in f.
vOr Of the adoption OF the constitution sub
mitted therein, did 60 declare by a separ-
ate proclamation as TO each; as to North
aud South Dakota, on Saturday, Novem-
Der >; IS to Montana, on Friday, Novem-
Der s, and as to Washington, on Monday,
November IL
Each Of these States has within it re-
sources the development OF which will
employ the energies Of, and yield a COM
Portable subsistence to, a great population,
The smsllest Of these new States, Wash
iugtOr. stands twelfth, and the largest,
Montana, third, among the forty-two in
area. The people of these States are al
ready well-trained, intelligent and patri-
otto American citizens, having common
interests and sympsthies with those of the
older States and a common purpose TO
defend the integrity and uphold the honor
of the nation.
SAFETY OF RAILROAD WORKAIEN.
The attention of the Interstate Com
merce Commission has been called to the
urgent need Of congressional legislation for
the better protection of the lives and limbs
of those engaged in operating the great
interstate freight lines Of the country,
and especially tire yardmen and brakemeu.
A petition signed by nearly 10, 900 railway
0rakemen was presented 20 the Commission
asking that steps might bs taken
to bring about the use Of automatic
brakes snd cOuplers on freight cars At
meeting Of the State Railroad Commission
ers and their representative held at Wash
lngton in March last upon the invitation Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission, a
resolution was unanimously adopted urg-
Ing che Commission To consider what can
be done to prevent the loss of life and limb
10 coupling snd urcouplirg freight cars,
aud in handling the brakes of such cars -
Daring the year ending June 80, 1888,
over 9, 1000 railroad employees were killed
m service and more than %. 600 IN
iured. Ii is competent, l think,
tor Congress to require uniformity
in the construction of cars used
in Interstate Commerce and the use of
improved safety appliances upon such.
Time will be necessary TO make the need
ed changes, but an earnest and intelligent
beginning should be made at once 1t is
a repToaCh to or c,viliz ltiOn that any
class of American workmen should, IN the
pursuit of q necessary and useful vocation,
be subjected to a peril Of life and limb as
great as that Of soldier in time Of war.
UNCLE JERRY's DOMAIN.
The creation of an executive depart
ment, TO be known as the Department of
Agriculture, By the act of February 8 last,
was wise and timely response to a re-
quest which had long been respectfully
urged by the farmers OF the country. But
much remains % be done to perfect the
organization of the department so that il
may fairly realize the expectations which
its creation excited. In this connec-
ton attention is called to the
suggestions contained in the report
Of the Secretary, which is herewith sub
mitted. The need Of law officer for the
Department, such as is provided for the
other executive departments, is manifest
The failure of the last Congress to make
the usual provisions for the publication of
the anuusl report should be promptly rem
edied The public interest in the report
and its value 10 the farming community I
am sure will not be diminished uuder the
new organization of the Department. 1
recommend that the weather service be
separated from the War Department and
established as a bureau in the Department
Of Agriculture. This will involve an en-
/ tire reorganization, both Of the weather
bureau and of the signal corps, making of
| the fret a purely civil organization and OF
OF the other a purely military staff corps.
The report Of the chief signal officer shows
that the works Of the corps on its military
side has been deteriorating.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA INTERESTS.
The interests of the people of the Dis
trict of Columbia should not be lost sight
of in the pressure for consideration Of
measures affecting the whole country.
Having no legislature Of it's own, either
municipal or general, its people must look
to Congress for she regulation of all those
concerns that in the States are the subj cts
Of local control. Our whole people have
an interest that the National Capital should
be made attractive and beautiful, and
above all that its repute for social order
should be well maintained. The laws
regulating the sale Of intoxicating drinks
in the District Of Columbia should be re-
vissd with 8 view to bringing the traffic
under stringent limitations and control.
! In execution o. the power conferred up
on me by the act making appropriations
| for the expense of the District Of Columbia
for the year ending June 80, 1889, did,
on the 18th day Of August last, appoint
Rudolph Heing of New York, Samuel
Gray, Of Rhode Island, snd Frederick P.
| Stems, of Massachusetts,, three eminent
sanitary engineers to examine and report
upou the system of sewerage existing in the
\ District Of Columbia. Their report, which
is not vet completed, will be in due course
submitted 70 Congress. The report of the
commissioners Of the District is herewith
transmitted, and the attention of Congress
is called to the suggestions contained
therein.
The proposition to observe the four hun
dradth anniversary Of the discovery of
America by the opening Of a worlds fair
or exposition in some one Of our great
cities, viii be presented for the considera-
ton of Congress. The value and interest
of such an exposition may we'll claim the
promotion of the general government.
THE CIVIL SERVICE PRETENsE
On the 4th of March last the Civil Ser
vice Commission had bat a single member.
The vacancies were filled on the 18th day
Of Nav, and since then the Commissioners
have been industriously, though with an
inadequate force, engaged in executing
the law. They we're assured by me thst
cordial support would be given them
for the faithful and impartial enforcement
of the statute and of tbs rules and regula-
tons adopted in aid Of il. Heretofore the
book Of elgibles has been closed to every
one. except as Qualifications were made
upon the requisition of the appointing Of
ficers. This secrecy was the source of
much suspicion, and of many charges Of