Milford chronicle., 1889-12-06
use OF automatic brakes and eoupleFs on ITeighE

cars
i. At meeting OF state railroad commissioners
and their accredited representatives. held Al
Washington in March last upon the Invitation ol
the interstate commerce commission, a resolution
was unanimously adopted urging the commission
ITO consider what can be done to prevent the los
of life and limb IN coupling and uncoupling freight
: cars, and in handling the brakes of such cars
During the year ending J Inc 80 1888 over 2,00l
railroad employees were killed in service, and more
than 10000 injured
, Il is competent think, for congress to require
uniformity in the construction Of cars used in in
teTstate commerce. and the use Of improved
safety appliances upon such trains Time viii be
necessary to make the needed changes but an
eOrnest and intelligent beginning should be made
at once 1t Is a reproach to our civilization that
any class of American w wlrkmen should, ia the
/ pursuit of q necessary ald useful vocation, be
subjected TO peril of life and limb great as
that Of a sol,iier N time o war.
THE president then speaks of the depart
ment of agriculture, the weather service,
and the District ef Golumbial
The proposition to observe the four hundreth
anniversary OF the discovery Of America by the
opening Of a worlds fair or exposition in some
one of our great cities will b. presented for the
consideration Of congress. The value and inter-
est Of such an exposition may well claim the pro
motion of the general government.
IN the course Of lengthy reference to tn
civil service commiss on, he says:
The reform Of the civil service will make nc
safe or satisfactory advance until the present law
| and its equal administration are well established
in the confidence of the people. IL viii be my
pleasure, as IL is my duty, to that the law is
executed with firmness end impartiality. II
some of its provisions have been fTaudulently
evaded by appointing officers, our resentment
should not suggest the repeal Of the law, but re
| form in its administration We should have one
] view Of the matter and hold it with a sincerity
that is not affected by the consideration that the
party 10 which we belong is for the time in power
! My predecessor, on the 9Th day of January, 1880
! by an executive order to take effect March Is
brought the railway mail service under the opera.
tion 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 11th day Of March, 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 elgibles ready before May l. and re
quested that the taking effect Of the order be
postponed until that time, which was done sub
ject to the same provision contained in the Origi.
nal order as to states in which eligible list was
sooner obtained
As a result OF the revision Of the rules of the
new classification. and OF the inclusion Of the rail
way mail service, the work of the commission has |
been greatly increased. and the present cleritai
force is found to be Inadequate l recommend |
that the additional clerks asked by the commits |
sion be appropriated for
am satisfied that both in ami out of the CLASH |
fed 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
fathfulness and efficiency in the performance OF /
duty.
have suggested to the heads Of the executive
departments that they cOnsidaS whether a record
might not be kept in each bureau of all those ele
ments that are covered by the terms faithful.
ness and efficiency" and a rating made showing
the relative merits 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 inspections, indicate the relative merit
OF postmasters Of each class. They will be ap-
propriatey indicated in the official register and in
the report Of the department That great slim
uus would thus be given to the whole service do
not doubt, and such a record would be the best
defense against inconsderate removals from office
CIhe president here suggests a national ex-
perimental grant in aid Of education.)
The "Color Question"
The colored people did not intrude themselves
upon us; they We're brought here in chains ana
held in the communities where they are now
chiefly found, by a cruel slave code. Happily ftr
bos' races they are now free. They have, from
a standpoint of ignorance and poverty, watch
was our shame, not theirs, made remarkable a,l.
vances in education and in the acquisition OF !
property. They have, as a people shown them
selves to be friendly and faithful towards the
White race, under temptat Of tremendous
strength They have their representatives in the
national cemeteries where a grateful government
has gathered the ashes Of those who died in its
defense.
They have furnished to our regular army regi
ments that have won high praise from their com
nanding officers for courage aud soldierly auali-
and for fidelity N fll-aa
civil life they are now the toilers of their com
nuhities making their full contribution to the
Widening streams of prosperity which these com
nunities are receiving. Their sudden withdrawal
would stop production, and bring disorder into
me household as well as the shop. Generally
hey do not desire to quit their homes, and their
resent the Interference of the emigra-
ion agents who seek to stimulate such desire
But notwithstanding all this, in many parts of
'ur country where the colored population is large
he people Of that race are by various devices
leprived of any effective exercise Of their poti
al rights and Of many of their civil rights The
wrong does not eXpead Itself upon those whose
'otes are suppressed Every constituency in tie
Union is wronged W
1t has been the hope of every patriot that -
ense Of justice and Of respect for the law would "
YORK gradual cure of these nagrant evils ,
urely no one supposes that the present can be ~
ecepted as permanent condition. If It is said V
nat UAese communities must work out this prob de
]
hey are at work upon it. Do they suggest any
olutiong When and under what conditions IS II
he black man To have a free ballot? When is he Ja
fact to have those full civil rights which have "a
0 long been his in lawY When is that equality Dc
I influence which our form OF government was |
ltended to secure to the electors to be restoredi an
his generation should courageously face these 10
rave questions, and not leave them as a heritage oil
woe to the next. The consultation should ca
roceed with candor, calmncss and great pa TO
ence; upon the lines Of justice and humanity ", W.
ot OF prejudice aud cruelty. No question in
r country can be at rest except upon the firm
use Of justice and of the law 'O
earnestly invoke the attention Of congress To =,
le consideration Of such measures within its q,
ell defined constitutional powers as will secure r.
all our people free exercise Of the right OF no
hrage and every other civil right under the con VIC
tuition and laws Of the United States No evil
lwever deplorable can justify the assumption 1t
ther on the part of the executive or of congress- gal
powers not granted; but both will be highly ny
amable II all the powers granted are not wisely eA
1t firmly used to correct these evils The mower
take the whole direction and control Of the
sction Of members Of the house of representa-
res is clearly given to the general government
partial and qualified supervision Of these cleo
ms is now provided for by law and in my opinion qu
Is law may be so strengthened and extended as r,
secure, on the whole. better results than can be
tanned by law taking all the processes Of such ell
,cton into federal control The colored man wi
ouQ pe projected IN all OF his relations to the 10
ieral government, whether as ltigant furor ne
witness In our courts, electOr for mem q
rs Of congress- or as peaceful traveller upon lea
interstate railways. toll
The Merchant Marine. AZ AZ
In the course Of his remarks on the mer- sIt
ant marine, the following occurs: pr
recommend that such appropriations be made j
ocean mail service. in American stsatpsbins fni
tween cur ports aud those Of Central and h, oI.
lth America, China Japan and the important !,
lnds In both Of the great oceans as will be lib -
lily remunerative for the service rendered. w W
d as will encourage the establishment and in =,
me ialr degree equalizs the chances of Ameri- 1
a steamship lines in the competitions which sar
y must meet That the American states iy- 'ec'
south OF US will cordially cooperate In es-