The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-03-08
uArprsow TAKING THE OATH.

gress, has become very burdensome, and it's
wise and efficient discharge full of difficulty.
The civil list Is so large that personal knowl-
edge of any large number OF the applicants Is
impossible The president must rely upon the
representations of others and these arc often
made incOnsideratcly and without any just
sense of responsibility. 1 have right, think,
to insist that those who volunteer or are in
vited to give advice as tn appointments shall
exercise consideration and fidelity. high
sense Of duty and an ambition to improve tho
service should chaIactcrize all public officers.
There are many ways in which tho convenience
and comfort of those who have business with
our pubic officers may be promoted by q
thoughtful and Obiging officer, and shall ex-
pect those whom l may appoint to Justify
their selection by conspicuous efficiency in
the discharge Of their duties; Honorable
party service will certainly not be
Office, but il will in no case be allowed to serve
IA a shield of official negligence, incompc-
tency. or delinquency. 1t Is entirely credta-
oIe 10 S; seek pnorc 0e ProPea
will be treated with consideration. But l
shall need, and the heads of departments will
sistent importantly will not, therefore, be the
best support of an application for, Office.
Heads of departments, bureaus, and all other
herewith, will be expected to enforce the civil
service law fully and without evasion. Be
yond this obvious duty hope to do something
ice. The ideal or even my own ideal, shall
probably not attain. Retrospect will be safer
basis or Judgment thAn promises. we snail
not, however, / am sure, be able to put our
civil service upon non-partisan basis until
we have secured an incumbcncy that fair
minded memo the opposition will approve for
impartiality and integrity. As the number of
such In the civil list Is increased removals
from office will diminish.
While q tr asury surplus Is not the greatest
evil It IL n rious evil. Our revenue 3 ould DO
ample to NEE the ordinary annual demands
upon our treasury with a'suflicien margin for
those extraordinary ut scarcely less +impera-
tive emands VIII n arise now a Ia then. FIX
penditures should always be mad with @ on
Omy, aud only upon public no esst;. Waste
fu ness, proiiga y or favorititm In publ OK
pcnditures Is criminal. But there IS thing
In tho condition OF our country or of our peo-
Pile Ia suggest that anything presently neces-
sary ~ the pu lie prosperity, security or honor
should he unduly post oned. IL will be the
duty Of congr IS wisely to forecast and esti-
matc thes extraordinary dema Ills, and, hav-
ing addol them to our or iinary expendi-
lures, 10 80 adjust ur revenue laws that no
considerable annual surplus will r main. We
will for. unately he able I, apply TO the re-
dcmption of the pub ic debt any small and un-
forcsecn excess OF revenue This Is better than
10 reduce our income below our. nece -sary ex-
pendltures with the resulting ,hoice between
another change OF our revenue laws and an
incr ase OF the public debt. IL Is quito posef-
bic. am sure, to effect tho necessary reduce
ton In our revenue, without breaking down
our protective riff or seriously injuring any
domest Q In iustry.
The construction al Sufficient number Of