Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-12-12
Department of AgrIculture'

Department of Agriculture.
The creation OF an executive department. to
be known as the Department of Agriculture, by
the act OF February last, was wise and timely
response 10 request which had long been re-
spectfully urged by the farmers of the country.
But much remains TO be done to perform the
organization OF the department so that 1t may
fairly realize the expectations which its reation
excited In this connection attention Is called to
the suggestions contained in the report OF the
Secretary, which Is herewith submitted. The
need OF a law officer for the department., such
as is provided for the other executive depart
ments, is manifest The failure of the last Con-
gress to make the usual provision for the pub
LEGATION of the annual report should be promptly
remedied The public interest in the report,
and its value TO the farming community, am
sure, will not be diminished under the new or
ganization of the department.
recommend that the Weather Service be
separated from the War Department and estab-
lished as a bureau in the Department Of Agri-
culture. This will involve an entire reoreani-
Signal Corps, making of the first purely civil
organization and Of the other purely military
staff corps. The report of the Chief Signal OH
Ger shows that the work of the corps on its mill
tary side has been deteriorating.
The Worlds Fair.
The proposition to observe the four hundredth
anniversary OF the discovery of America by the
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 inter
est OF such an exposition may well claim the
lAOihOoiOh Va biio OONcIhAucnbs
Civil Service Law.
ON the fourth of March last the Civil Service
Commi saion had but single member. The
vacancies were filled on the seventh day OF May,
and since then the Commissioners have been
industriously, though with an inadequate force,
engaged In executing the law
Heretofore the book of eligibles has been closed
to everyone, except as certihcations were
made upon the requisition of the appoint
ing officers. This secrecy was the source of
much suspicion, and OF many charges of
favortism in the administration of the law.
The commission has now opened the list OF
eligbles to the public The eligible lists for the
classified postofii3es and custom houses are
now publicly posted in the respective offices,
also the certifications for appointments.
The purpose of the civil service law was abso-
lutely to exclude any other consideration in
connection with appointments under it than
that of merit az tested by the examinations. 1t
is not too much to say that some recent Con-
gressional invcstiga ions nave somewhat shaken
public confidence in ths impartiality of the Sc
lections for appointment.
The reform OF the civil service will make no
safe or satisfactory advance until the present
law and its equal administration are well estab-
lished I'm the confidence OF the people IL will
be my pleasure, as IL is my duty, to see that
the law is executed with frmness and impair
Partially.
As a result of the revision of the rules of the
new classification and of the inclusion of the
railway mail service, the work of the commits
sion has been greatly increased and the present
clerical force is found To be inadequate. 1 rec
commission be appropriated for.
Preventing Wholesale Changes in Office.
The duty OF appointment is devolved by the
Constitution or by the law, and the appointing
officers are properly held to high response
bility in its exercise. The growth of the coun-
try and the consequent increase of the
civil list have magnifed this function
Of the Executive geographically. 1t can
not be denied, however, that the la
Dor connected with this necessary work
is increased, often to the point of actual dis
tress, by the sudden and excessive demands
that are made upon an incoming administra-
ton for removals ana appointments. But. on
the ther hand, it is not true that incumbency
is conclusive argument for continuance
in office. Impartiality, moderation, fidelity
TO public duty and good attainment in tho
discharge of il must be added before the argu-
ment is complete. When those holding adminis-
trative offices SO conduct themselves as TO con-
consideration or bias affects in any way the
discharge of their public duties we can more
easily stay the demand for removals.
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
ceptional faithfulness and efficiency in the per-
formance of duty.
Education.
The interest of the General Government in the
education of the people found early express
sion, not only in the thoughtful and sometimes
warning utterances of ablest states
men, Out III liberal appropriations from the
common resources for the support OF
education in the new States. National
aid to education has heretofore taken
the form Of land grants, and in that form the
constitutional power Of Congress to promote the
education of the people is not seriously ques-
toned. l do not think it can be successfully
questioned when the form is changed to that OF
a direct grant of money from the Treasury.
Such old should be, as it always has been,
suggested by some exceptional conditions The
sudden emancipation of the slaves of the South,
the bestowal of the suffrage, which soon fol
lowed, and the impairment of the ability of the
States where these new citizens were chiefly
found TO adequately provide educational facilf-
ties, presented not only exceptional but unex-
ampled conditions.
That the situation has been much ameliorated,
there is no doubt The ability of the States has
been greatly increased. Much work remains to
be done, and / think the general Government
should lend its aid by legislation OF ma
tional grant I'm aid of education. As this de-
mand for aid grows chiefly out of the condition
and needs OF the emancipated slaves and their
descendants, the relief should, as near as posi-
ble,while necessarily proceeding upon some gen.
lines Ina annlfesl n tla hat