The Portland daily press., 1889-12-04
nur,rs ,bo ,o.r ending lime 30. 1883, over

During the year ending June 80, 1888. over
1000 railroad employees were kllieq III tne
service, and more than 10000 injured II Is
competent think. for Congress 10 requlrse
uniformity in the construction OF cars uSeu
in interstate commerce, and the use OF
improved safety appliances upon sucn
trains. Time will be necessary to
make the needed changes, but an earnest
and intelligent beginning should De maue
at once. 1t is a reproach to our civilization
that any class of American workmen should,
in pursuit of necessary and useful .voca-
ton, be subjected to peril OF life and limb
as great as that of soldier In time OF war.
The creation Of an executive department.,
to be known as the Department of Agricul-
ture, by the act of Feb. 9 last, was a wise
and timely response to request which had
long been respectfully urged by the farmers
of che country. But much remains to be
partment, so that 1t 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
departments, is manifested. The failure Of
the last Congress to make the usual pro-
vision for the publication of the annual re-
port should be promptly remedied. The
pubic interest IN the report, and Its value
to the farming community, am sure, will
not be diminished under the new organiZa-
ton of the department
recommend that the weather service be
separated from the war department, and es-
tablished as bureau in the department of
agriculture. This will involve an entire re-
organization, both of the weather bureau
and of the signal corns, making of the first
purely civil organization, and of the other
purely military staff corps.
The report of the Chief Signal Officer
shows that the work of the corps on its mill
tary side has been deteriorating. The inter-
est of the people of the District of Column
bia should not be lost sight of in the pres
sure for consideration of measures affecting
the whole country. Having no legislature
people must look to Congress for the regula-
ton of all those concerns that in the States
are the subject 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
Tor social order should be well maintained
The laws regulating the sale of intoxicating
drinks in the District should be revised with
a view to bringing the traffic under stringent
limitations and control.
In execution of the power conferred upon
me by the act making appropriations for
the expenses OF the District of Columbia for
the year ending June 80, 1889, did, ON the
18th OF August last, appoint Rudolph Her
Ing OF New York, Samuel M. Gray of Rhode
Island, and Frederick P. Stearns of Massa-
chusetts, three eminent sanitary engineers,
to examine and report upon the system of
sewerage existing in the District Of Co um-
bia. Their report, which is net yet complet-
ed, will be in due course submitted to Con-
gress.. The report of the commissioners of
the District s herewith transmitted, and the
attention OF Congress is called to the sugges-
tions contained therein.
The proposition to observe the four hun
dredth anniversary of the discovery of
America by the opening of 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 government.
On the 4th of March last
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
had but a single member. The vacancies
were filled on the 7th day of May, and since
ously, though with an inadequate force, en-
gagged In executing the law. They were as
sured by me that cordial support
would be given them in the faithful and i'm
partial IaI enforcement of the statute
adopted in aid of it. Heretofore the book
of eligibles has been closed to every
one. except as certifcations were made upon
the requisition of the appointing officers.
This secrecy was the source of much suspi-
cion and many charges of favoritism in the
administration of the law. What is secret
Is always suspected; what is open can be
judged. The commission, with the approval
OF all its members, has now opened the list
OF eigibles to the public. The eligible lists
for the classified post offices and custom
houses are now publicly posted in the re-
spective offices, as are also the certifcations
Tor appointments.
The purpose of the civil service law was
absolutely to exclude any other considera-
tlon In connection with appointments under
it than that of merit as tested by the exam
nations. The business proceeds upon the
theory that both the examining boards and the
appointing officers are absolutely ignorant as
to the political views and associations of all
persons on the civil service lists. 1t is not
too much to say, however, that some recent
congressional Investigations have somewhat
shaken public confidence in the impartiality
OF the selections for appointments. The
reform. of the civil service will make
no safe or satisfactory advance until
| the present law and its equal admins
tration are well established in the confidence
| of the people. 1t will be my pleasure, as it
With 80 %
Its provisions have been fraudulenty avoid
ed by amounting officers, our resen tment
should not suggest the repeal of the law. but
reform in its administration. We should
have one view of the matter, and hold it with
sincerity that Is not affected by the cOnsid-
Grafton that the party to which we belong is,
for time, in power.
My predecessor, on the fourth day of Jan
"
feet March Is, brought the railway mail SER
vice under the operation of the civil service
law. Provision was made that the order
| should take effect sooner in any state where
an eligible list was sooner obtained. On the
| 18th day of alch Mr.. Lyman, then the only
member of the commission, reported to me
| In writing that it would not be possible to
have the list of eligibles ready before May l.,
and requested that the taking effect of the
order be postponed until that time, which
"a IN hn ufctn
tanned in the original order as to states in
which an eligible list was sooner obtained.
AS result of the revision of the rules, of
the new classification and of the inclusion of
the railway mail service, the work of the
commission has been greatly increased, and
the present clerical force is found to be mad
equate. l recommend that the additional
clerks asked by the commission be appro-
priated for. The duty of appointment is de-
volved by the constitution or by the law and
the appointing 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 Magnif d this
function of the executive dispropOrtionally.
1t cannot be denied, however, that the labor
connected with this necessary work is in
creased, often to the point of actual distress
by the sudden and excessive demands that
are made on incoming administrations for
removals and appointments. But on the
other hand it is not true that incumbency is
conclusive argument for continuance in
office. lmpartiality, moderation, fidelity to
public duty and a good attainment in the
discharge Of 1t must be added before the ar
gument is complete. When those holding
administrative offices so conduct themselves
as to convince just political opponents that
no party consideration or bias affects in any
way the discharge of their public duties, we
can more easily stay the demand for remov-
ais.
am satisfied that both in and out of the
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 employment come
from exceptional faithfuness and efficiency
in the performance of duty.
l have suggested to the heads of the exec
utive departments that they consider wheth-
or record might he kept in each bureau of
all those elements that are covered by the
terms of "faithfulness," and efficiency"
and rating made showing the relative mer-
its of the clerks of each class, this rating to
be regarded as a test of merit in making
promotions.
have also suggested to the postmaster
general that he adopt some plan by which
he can, upon the basis of the reports to the
department and of frequent inspection, in
dictate the relative merit of postmasters of
each class. They will be appropriately in
Dictated in the official register and in the re-
port Of the department That great stim-
illus would thus be given to the whole SER
vice do not doubt, and such record would