Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-12-13

1
| brakemen was presented 10 the commission.
| asking that steps might be taken tn bring
about the Use OF automatic brakes and coup
/ lers on freight cars,
| During the year ending on June -,
| ISIS over two thousand railroad en-
/ ployes we're killed III service. and more than
/ twenty thousand injured. II ! competent. /
| think, for Congress 70 require uniformity in
/ the construction Of cars used in interstate
! commerce. and the Use OF improved safety
| appliances upon such trains Time viii be
! necessary to make the needed changes, but
an earnest and intelligent beginning should
be made at once. 1t Is 4 reprCach 10 our
civilization that any class OF American
workmen should, i'll the pursuit OF uece>-
sary and useful vocation. be subjected u a
peril of life and limb as great as that Of 4 SOL
| der in time Of war
THE DEPARTMENT or AGRICCLTCRE.
The creation of an executive department.
10 be known as the Department of Agricul-
ture, by the act of February 3 last. was a
wise and timely response u request which
| had long been respectfully urged by the
farmers of the country. But much remains
to be done to perfect the organization OF the
department 50 that it may fairly realize the
expectations which its creation excited In
this connection attention is called TO the Sug-
gestions contained IN the report Of the Sec
rotary, which is herewith submitted.
THE WORLDS FAIR.
The proposition to observe the tO0th an
[
opening of a worlds fair or exposition in
some one of our great cities will be presented
for the consideration OF Congress. The value
and interest of such an exposition may Well
claim the promotion of the General Govern
menU.
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
The purpose Of the Civil Service law vas
absolutely to exclude any other consideration
in connection with appointments under it
than that OF merit as tested by the examine
tons The business proceeds upon the theory
that both the examining boards and TIE ap-
pointing officers are absolutely ignorant - 10
the political views and associations OF all pr
sons on the civil service lists. 1t i not too
much to say. however. that some recent Coz
gresSiOnal Investigations have somewhat
shaken public confidence in the impa-tialty
OF the selections for appointment
The reform Of the evil service viii make
no safe or satisfactory advance until the
present law and its equal administration are
well established in the confidence of the
people. 1t will be my pleasure as il is my
duty. to see that the law is executed with
frmneSS and impaTtiality. II some OF it.
provisions have been fraudulently evadad
by appointing officers, our resentment should
not suggest the repeal of the law but rctor.u
in its administration. We should have one
view Of the matter and hold it with Il sin
cerity that is not affected by the consilera-
ton that the party to which we belong is for
the time in power.
The duty of appointment is devOived nv
the Constitution or by the law, and the APP
pointing officers are properly held to a high
responsibility in its exercise. The growth OF
the country and the consequent increase Of
the civil list have magnifed this function
of the executive disprOpOrtiOnally. i can
not be denied, however, that the labor con
nected with this necessary work is increased,
often to the point of actual distress, by the
sudden and excessive demands that are
made upon an incoming administration tor
removals and appointments. But. on thr
other hand, it is not true that incumDeH"y is
a conclusive argument for continuance in
Office. 1mpaTtiality, moderation. fidelity %
public duty and good attainment in the
discharge of it must be added before the
argument is complete. When those holding
administrative offices so conduct themselves
as to convince just political opponents that
no party consideration or bias affects i'll any
way the discharge of their public duties we
can more easily stay the demand 10" re-
mOvalS.
I am satisfied that both in and Oh. OF 1na
classified service great benefit would accrue
from the adoption Of some system by which
the officer would receive the distinction and
benefit that, in all private employments.
comes from exceptional faithfulneeS and en-
cheney III the performance OF duty.
I have suggested to the heads Of the exacu-
tive departments that they consider whether
arecOrd might not be kept in each bur4au Of
all those elements that are covered by the
terms ''faithfulnGsS" and efficiency" and q
rating made showing the relative merits OF
the clerks Of each class, this rating to be II
garded a test Of merit in making promo
tons.
have also suggested to the Postmaster
General that ne adopt some plan 10y .Ti..cn
he can, upon the basis Of the reports 10 the
department and Of frequent Inspectors. u
dictate the relative merit of pOStInaelAi,~ az
each class. They viii be appropriately inGE-
Gated III the official register ana IN the 70
port of the department. That 4 GE,:-T sCi2,-
ulus would thus be given to the whole ser
vice ] do not doubt, and such re"o;i would
be the best defense against incOns!dcIG,e re-
mOvals from office.
THE EDUCATION OF OUR PEOPLE.
National aid to education has heretoio~"
taken the form of land grants. and in thai
form the constitutional power Of Congress to
promote the education of the people j. not
seriously questioned | do not thinE it can
be successfully questioned when the form i
changed TO that Of a direct grant Of money
from the public treasury.
Such aid should be as it always has been,
suggested by some exceptional conditions,
F.! The sudden emancipation Of the slaves OF
the South the bestOwal of the Sufira -e.
which soon followed, and the Impairment or
the ability of the States where these new
citizens were chiefly found to adequately
provide educational facilities. presented not
only exceptional but unexaEHDled conditions.
That the situation has been much a.ueliC-
rated there is no doubt The ability ard III
terest Of the States-have happily increased.
But great work remains to be done. and
I thinI, the general government should lend
its aid. AS the suggestion of a national
grant in aid OF education grows chiefly out
of the condition and needs OF the y-manci-
pated slave and his descendants, the relief
should, far possible, while necesSarl
proceeding upon some general lines be APP
piled TO the need that suggested it. 1t is cs-
Spntial. il much good IS to be ACCOMPLISHED