Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-12-14

given indisoriminately to paupers instead Of
upon the special and generous provision OF
the Nation they served 50 gailantiy and nn-
selfishly. Our people will, ! am sure, very
generally approve such legislation, and am
equally sure that the survivors OF the Union
army and navy will feel grateful sense OF
relief when this worthy and suffering class
of their comrades Is fairly cared for There
are some manifest inequalities in the exist
ing law tiiat should be remedied. To some
ofthese the Secretary OF the Interior mas
called attention.
THE FOUR NEW STATES.
The advent of four new States, South Da-
kota, North Dakota, Montana and Washing
ton, into the Union under the Constitution IN
the same month and the admission OF their
duly chosen representatives TO our National
Congress at the same session, Is an event q
unexampled as 1t Is interesting. The certi-
fieatiOn OF the votes cast and OF the Constl,
tuition adopted in each of the States was filed
with me as required by the eighth section OF
the act of February ~, 1888, by the
Governors of said Territories respect
ination, found that the several Consti-
tutions and governments were republican IN
form, and not repugnant to the Constitution
of the United States; that all the provisions
of the act Of Congress had been compneu
with, and that a majority OF votes cast IN
each of said proposed States was in favor OF
adopting the Constitution submitted therein,
did so declare by separate proclamation
as to each, as to North Dakota and South
Dakota on Saturday, November u as 70
Montana On Friday, November y, and as to
Washington on Monday, November II.
Each of these States has within II resources,
the development of which VIII employ the
energies OF and yield comfortable subsist.
ence to great population. The smallest OF
these now States - Washington - stands
! twelfth, and the largest--Montana-th
AMONG the forty-two In area. The people
of these States are already well trained, IN
telligent and patriotic American citizens,
| having common interests and sympathles
| with those of the older States, and common
purpose to defend the integrity and OF up
holding the honor of the Nation.
INTER STATE COMMERCE.
Tho attention OF the Inter-S State 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 in
| ter.State freight lines of the country and es-
| pecially of the yardmen and brakemen. A
| petition signed by nearly ten thousand rail-
way brakemen was presented TO the COM
mission asking that steps might be taken to
| bring about the use of automatic brakes ana
| couplers on freight cars
During the year ending June 30, 1888, over
| 1000 railroad employees were killed in service,
petent, / think, for Congress to require
| Uniformity in the construction OF
cars used In inter State commerce, and the
use of improved safety appliances upon such
| trains. Time will be necessary to make tue
| needed changes, but an earnest and in
tellgent beginning should be made at once
1t is q reproach to our civilization that any
class of American workmen should, in the
pursuit Of a necessary and useful vocation
be subjected to a peril of life and limb as
greata as that of a soldier in time OF war.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The creation of an executive department
to be known as the Department OF Agricult
ure by the act OF February 9 last was a wise
and timely response to request which hao
long been respectfully urged by the farm
ers of the country; but much remains to be
a, to- isyufi nf -
partment so that it may fairly realize tht
expectations which its creation excited
In this connection attention is
called to suggestions contained In the
report of the Secretary of Agriculture, whlcl
is herewith submitted. The need of law
officer for the department, such as is provid
ed for the other executive departments, II
manifest The failure OF the last Congress u
make the usual provision for the publication
of the annual report should be promptly
remeded The public interest in the repor
and its value to the farming community,
am sure, will not be diminished under tn
new organization of the department.
THE WEATHER SERVICE.
l recommend that the weather service b.
separated from the War Department and es
| tablished as bureau in the Department o
Agriculture This will involve an entire re
organization both of Weather Bureau and o
the Signal Corps, making of the first pureil.
civil organization and of the other purel.
military staff corps. The report of the Chic
Signal Officer shows that the work of tn
corps on its military side has been deteriorat
ing.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The interests of the people of the Distric
of Columbia should not be lost sight o
} in the pressure for consideration o
measures affecting the whole country
Having no Legislature of its own, eithe
! municipal or general, its people must lool
) to Congress for the regulation of those con
Germs that the subject of local control ou
whole people have in interest, that the Ma
tonal capital should be made attractive am
beautiful, and all its reputP for social orde
should be maintained. Tho laws regulatin
the sale of Intoxicating drinks in the Dlstrc
should be revised with view to bringin
t tho traffic under stringent limitations an
= control.
r In the execution of the power conferred
upon me by the act making appropriation
| for the expenses of the District of Ooldmbi
for the year ending June 30, 1899, ldid, on tn
18th day of August last appoint Rudolp
, Herring, of New York; Samuel Nj. Gray, @
I Rhode Island, and Frederick T. Stearns, {
Massachusetts,, three eminent sanitary en-
: gineers, to examine and report upon the sys
: tenn of sewerage existing in the District {
Columbia. Their report, which is not y(
completed, will be in due course submitte
to Congress. The report of the Commission
> ers of the District is herewith trapsmittet
i and the attention of Congress Is called to th
suggestions contained therein.
. THE WORLDS FAIR.
+ The proposition to observe the four hun
| uTe0Jn anniversary Oh lue uISGONbTy OI Aunel
! lea by the opening of Worlds Fair or Ex
position in some one of our great cities Wi
8 be presented for the consideration of Cor
3 gress. The value and interest such an el
I position may well claim the promotion
the General Government.
THE CIVIL. SERVICE COMMISSION.
On the 4th of March last the Civil -Servic
| Commission had but a single member. Th
= | vacancies were filed on the 18th day of Ma,
= and since then the commissioners have bee
. | ndustriously, though with an inadequat
. appropriation, engaged in executing I'll
law. They were assured by me that a col
I dial support would lie given them in th
: faithful and impartial Enforcement of I'll
| statute, and of the rules and regulation
adopted In aid of it. Heretofore the book
| eligibles has been closed to every one, excel
as certifications were made upon the requis
n | tion of the appointing officers. This scores
= | was the source of much suspicion and of man
+ charges of faYortism in the administratio
a | of the law. What is secret is always suspec
q | ed, and what is open can he judged. I'll
q | commission, with the full approval of /
members, has now opened the list OF eligible
g to the public. The eligible lists for rclassltiS
y | post Offices and custom houses are now pul
\ liclv posted in the respective offices, as al
u also the certifications for appointment
Y cIvIL-sERvICE REFORM.
. The reform of the civil serv ice viii make i
T. safe or satisfactory advance until the prosel
!. law and its equal administration are we
/. | established in the confidence of the peOpli
l. 1t will be my pleasure, as it is my duty,
|
q impartiality. If some of its provisions haV
s been fraudulently evaded by appontin
officers our resentment should not sugge
the repeal of the law, but reform in its az
n ministration. We should have one view
. the matter, and hold it with sil
! certify that is not affected by, the COZ
= sideration that the party to whiC
i we belong is for the time in powe
y My predecessor, on the 4th day of Januar
y 1883, by an executive order, to take effe
4 March is, brought the railway mail servi'
!, under the operation of the Civil Servi'
Z laws. Provision was made that the ord'
\ should take effect sooner in any State whel
!. an eligible list was sooner obtained. On Il
4 llth day of March Mr.. Lyman, then Il
= only member of the commission, reported
q me in writing that 1t would not be possib
4 to have the list of eligible ready before Mi
Il l, and requested that the taking effect of Il
Il order be postponed until that time, whit
a was done, subject to the same provlsiC
!. contained in the original order as to States
/ which an eligible list was sooner obtaine
/, As a result OF the revision of the rules of Il