Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-12-05


having an origin in the service and in TIE
line of duty. Two Of the three necessary
facts, viz, muster and disability, are
usually susceptible of easy proof, but
the third origin, the service, Is often diff
fioult and in many deserving cases i'm
possible to establish. That very many
Of those who endured the hordships Of
our most bloody and arduous campaigns
are now disabled from disease that had
real but not trsceable origin In the SER
vice do not doubt. Besides these there
is another class composed Of men many
of whom served an enlistment of three
full years, and of re-enlisted veterans
who added fourth year Of service, who
escaped the casualties of battle, Of the
assaults of disease, who were always
ready for any detail, who were in every
battle line OF their command and were
mustered out in sound health, and have
since the close of the war, while fighting
with the same indomitable and indepen-
dent spirit the contest Of civil life, been
overcome by disease or casualty am not
unaware that the pension roll already
involves very large animal expenditure.
Neither am deferred by that fact from
recommending tina. Congress grant q
pension to such honorsbly discharged
soldiers and sailors of the civil war as
having rendered substantial service dur.
ing the war are now dependent upon
their own labor for maintenance and
by disease or casualty are incapsoitRted
from earning it. Many of the men who
would be included in this form OF relief
are now dependent upon public aid and
it does no. in my Judgment consist with
the national honor that they shall con-
time to subsist upon the local relief
given Unfortunately to paupers instead
Of upon tho special aud generous pro-
vision of the nation they served so gal.
lsntly and uusalishly. Our people will,
| am sure. very generally approve snch
legi laton. Aud am equally sure that
| the Survivors OF the Union army aud
nOyy will feel grateful sense of relief
| when this worthy and suffering GLASS Of
their comrades is fairly cared for. There
are some manifest inequalities in the ex-
| listing Inv that Should be remedied. To
aome o; these tho Seer tary of the In
| terror has called Rttan ion.
| Or ths question OF civil services reform
the President says:
Heretofore the book Of eligibles has
been closed to every Que, except AZ Ger.
titications were made upon the requisition
/ OF the appointing officers. This secrecy
| was the eource OF much suspicion, and OF
many charges of iayoritism in the admin.
! istrstion Of tho law. What is secret is
always suspected; what is open can be
! judged. The commission, with tbs fun
approval OF oil its members, has now
opened the list of eligibIes 20 the public.
The eligible lists fo- the classified post
offices and custom houses are now pub.
licly posted in the respective Offices, as
are also the oertifoationa for appoint
ments The purpose OF the civil service
law was absolutely to exclude any other
consideration in connection with appoint
ments under it than tina. Of merit MS
tested By the examinations. The business
proceeds upon the theory that both the
examining boards and the appointing
officers are absolutely ignorant aB TO the
political views aud associations Of all
persons on the civil service lists. II ia
not too much to say, however, that soma
recent congressional Investigations haze
somewhat shaken public confidence in
the impartiality Of the selections for ep'
pointmept.
The reform OF tue civil service will
make no safe or satisfactory advance
until the present law and its equal ad-
ininistration are we'll established in the
confidence of the people. II will be my
pleasure as it ia my duty, TO see that the
law is executed with hrmnass and impair
t!ality. II some OF its provisions have
been fraudulently evsdsa by appointing
officers, our resentment should not 6ug
gsst the repeal OF the law, but reform il
its administration. We should have ont
view OF the matter, and hold it with 9
sincerity that is not affected by the con
s.dersticn that the party to which We be
long is for the time in power.
Ny predecessor on the Attn day Of Jan
Jury, 1889, Dy an executive order TO tai,
fleet March 18TH, brought the railwa!
:nail service under the operation of thu
, OWL service law. Provision was mad
that the order should take effect soone
in any state whero an eligible list wa
sooner obtained. On the llth dBy o
March, MIR. Lyman, then the only mem
Der of the commission. reported to me ii
writing that it would net be possible Il
have the list OF eligibes resdy befor
I May 1st, and requested that the takin
| effect of the order be postponed IN il tina
2 t,Ie, which was done, subject to tn
, game provision contained in the origina
order as to states in which an eligibl
, list was sooner obtained.
: As result OF the revision OF the rule,
+ OF the new classification, and OF the inclu
! sion of the railway mail service, the wor
D Of the commission has been greatly il
} creesei, and the present clerical force
t found 70 be inadequate. rocommen
q tbnt the additional clerks Esked by th
!. commission bs appropriated for.
I. J lie duty of appointment is deyclve
: by the constitution or by the law, and til
i appointing oftisers are properly held to
Q high responsibility In its exercise. Th
i growth OF the country and the consequeI
Y increase of the civil list have msgnitie
a this function OF the executive dispropo
tiouGily. It cat. bs denied however
l. that the labor connected witt this nece
J, aary work is increased often to tue poir
= Of actual distress, by the sudden and Q,
J. cessivn depsnds tEht arc made upon a
o incoming administration FOR remoya
% aud appointments. But, on the 9TH
e hand i is not true that inGOmbency is
. conclusive argument for Continuance
% Cldas. Importantly, moderation, hdali'
y to public duty, ard go0i attainment
70 the discharge OF il must be added beto
!. tho argument is complete. When thoi
10 holding administrative offices 80 cOndu
10 themselves rs TO convince jlSt polite
n opponents that no party consideration
Is biag az gots in any way the discharge
!. their public dnties, We can more CAST
Or stay he demand for removals.
le am satisfied that both in and cut
ID the classified service greA. beueii. YOU
10 accrue from tho adoption OF some syste
IN by which the officer wunld receive Il
I'd distinction and benefit that. in al priva
10 empl9ymants, comes from exception
ce frithfrlnAas nud gtiGIanpy in Tim na