, 1889-07-18
GOOD FIELD FOR REFORM.

Washington, d. G., under, the name OF
the National Domain, Besides con-.
tainlng the leading declsions'of the land
department from week NO week II con-
tains u large amount of matterrelating
to public land affairs, thus making 1t
popular publication, as well as one OF
value to lawyers. The most commend
aide feature Of the publication, how
ever, Is found in the able editorial ef-
forts IL Is putting forward in support OF
reforms in the methods of doing busi-
ness in the public land department.. 1t
shows that congress has been shame
fully neglectful in the matter of making
proper appropriations TO carry on the
work of the general land Office, and that
in addition to this there has grown up
much useless rigmarolei in the methods
of transacting business. 1t Is contend
ing that more direct and .business-hke
methods should he employed and that
all red-tape performances should be dis
carded.
During the session of the late congress
that body wastime and time againlih-
plored to augment the torce'ofthe once
to a number somewhat commensurate
with the work to be performed, ana IN
that way enable the commissioner 10
get rid of all accumulated work, 50 that
the current business might be disposed
of without unnecessary delay. But such
relief. for, political or other reasons was
persistcntlY refused, and, as conse-
quence, the shes of the office have been
piled up, until, at this time, the cases
and entries are countcd,by the hundreds
of thousands. Papers are everywhere
on desks and under tables, on the floors
and over NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. iull-
everything full. Had the relief thus
asked from congress been afforded, the
old business could speedily have been
disposed of, but, as it was refused, the
only thing left was 10 seek a remedy
within the. office itself. The thing to be
accomplishing, the,best and most work
insthe shortest time.
1t has been, apparent'to everyone who
has given any attention to the subject
that unless ashving of time and"fabor be
effected somewhere the office will fall
further behind with itsSwork, and fdelqy
be added to delay, resulting in an IN
creased injury to the settler, who has
already'been waiting, patiently or. other
wise, fonseyeral years for title to his
home. Reorganization is neccssarN'
And by reorganization istmeant, not
merely;a change, but the doing, away
with ntiqjiatecsmethod grading,
concentrating and classifying the work
placing clerks upon the work. which is
best suitedsto-their capacity Apayingthe
highest salarieSto,those clerks who per
form the highest character of work
having II understood that promotions
must dcpend'upon merit alone-weedine
out the e.dropesiand advancing the pro-
foient-and. last, ,sbut not least, avoiding
the'duplieationo ofwork. These are some
of the remedies which the National
Domain has been contending forinits
editorial columnsSand itiappearsto have
much hope andiconfdence thatthes new
Assistant Commissioner Stone, who is
now acting commissioner, will prove to
be the right man in the right place
The public land department is an i'm
portant feature of the government, ant
the,present administration will do well
TO makelsuch- reforms .as'the'serviee,may
demand. The first great necessity'de'
wolves on congress TO so increase the
appropriations for this and all Other
classes of public business as to enable
the heads of departments to secure the
necessary help to clear up the accu
mulated work. These small!bored
'"statesmen" whohave been bowling fol
''cconomy"in public expenditures unit
they have succeeded in reducing al
branches fthe,publics service'to disgrace
full ihefiiciency ought to be relegated'tc
obscurity. Economy is commendsblC
thing, but there'isno economy in-haying
the business-of the public delayed anc
neglected as it'has been forSevcral year!
past while the people are taxed to-iH al
ovcrfull treasury. This Is what we have
been doing and it is time such senseles'
demagogues as Holman should be called
to halt. ATepuhlican administration
cannot afford to have the work the peo
pie have entrusted to It neglected ant
republican congressman should see TO il
that the postoffice department, the law
department and all other department!
are no longer crippled The country
will sustain the party that efficiently
performs the public work. In Spokan,
Falls any day long lines of tired ,anxiou.
people may be seen standing in lin,
waiting for their turn to he served by
tired, over-worked postal clerk. Any
party that will remove such nuisance
as these and enable the public to bt
waited upon without having to submit
to such delay and annoyance will b,
popular with the people.
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THE STATE OF TRADE.
| Notwithstanding the encouraging re