The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-04
rHE AanrcrIruRAI nrpInrrrrr.

The creation OF an executive department. 70
ne known as the department Of agriculture, By
the act OF February 9. last was a wise aud
timely response 20 q request which had long
osen respectfully urged by the farmers Of tha
country; but much remains 10 be done to per-
tect the organization OF the department so tha1
IL NAV fairly realize the expectations which it,
creation excited. In this connection attention
Is called 70 the suggestions contained Ia the
report OF the secretary which Is herewith sub
mtted. The need Of law offcer for the de-
partment. such as Is provided for In the other
executive departments is manifest. The failure
o. or the last congress 70 make the usual provision
TOT the publication OF the annual
report, should be promptly reme-
died. The public interest in the report and its
T ! sm s 70 the Siu farming oemmgnity;
under the new organization of the department.
l recommend that the weather service be-
separated from the war department and estab-
hthed as bureau in the department OF agri-
culture. This will involve an entire reorzanizs-
ton both of the weather bureau and OF the
signal corps, making OF the first a purely civil
organization and Of the other a purely military
staff corps. The report OF the chief signal
ofneer shows that the work Of the corps on ita
military side has been deteriorating.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The interests of the people OF the District of
pressure FOR consideration of measures Affect
ing tine Whole country. Having no Legislature
OF us o w either municipal or general, iis peo-
pie must look TO congress for the regulation OF,
Ject OF local control. Our whole people have am
interest that the national capital should be at
tractlve and beautiful, and above all that its re-
pute Tor social order should be well maintained.
The sale of intoxicating drinks In the districts
should be revised with a view to bringing tha I
tratfic under stringent limitations and controI-t
IN execution OF the power conferred upon ms
by the act making appropriations for the ex- !
pcnses OF the District OF Columbia for the year
ending June 80, 1889, did. on the nth day Of s
August last appoint Rudolph Herring of New
n 81 DkAA- -
Frederick Z. Storms Of Massachusetts,, three
eminent sanitary engineers TO examine and re- !
port upon the system of sewerage existing In
the District Of Columbia Their report which
is not yet completed, with be in due course sub
mitted to congress. The report Of the commis- I
sioners of the district is herewith transmitted.
and the attention of congress Is called to tho
suggestions contained therein.
THE WORLDS FAIR.
The proposition to observe the Tooth amir
versary of the discovery of America by the
opening of a worlds fair or exposition In SONS
OF our great cities, will be presented for ths
consideration OF congress. The value and inter-
est of such an exposition may well claim tha
promotion of the general government.
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
On the 4th OF March last the civil service COM
mission had but single member. The vacan<
clcS we're filled on the seventh day of May, and
since then the commissioners have been indus
triously though with an inadequate force en-
gagged In executing thcla They were assured
ny me bnht n tOFuihi support would be gwen
them in the faithful and impartial endorsements
of the state rules and regulations
adopted In aid Of IT, Heretofore the BOOK OF
oligibes has been closed to every one excaDt an
certliicatons were made upon the requlsition
OF the appointing officers. This secrecy was
the source OF mucn suspicion and of many
charges OF favortism In the administration OF
the law. What Ia secret is always suspected
What IL open can be judged. The commission.
with the full approval OF all its members has
now opened the list OF eigibles to the public
The eligible lists for the classified postoffices
and custom houses are now publicly posted In
the respective offices, as are also the certinca-
lions for appointments. The purpose of the civil
service law was absolutely to exclude any other
consideration in connection with appointments
under 1t than that Of merit as tested by the
examinations. The business proceeds upon tbs
theory that both the examining boards and the
appointing officers are absolutely ignorant as to
the political views and associations of all per-
sons on the civil service lists.
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE SHAKEN.
IL is not too much to say, however. that some
recent congressional Investigations have some
what shaken the public confidence in the i'm
Partially 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 administration are well estab-s
be my pleasure, as 1t 10 my duty, TO see that the
law Is executed with frmness and
p l%p%Fitaty bava s ss%e ,r Of lie
evaded by the appointing OF officers, our re-
sentiment should not suggest the repeal of the
law, but reform in It's administration. We
should have one view OF the matter and hold il
with a sincerity that Is not affected by the
consideration that the party Co which we belong
u for the time in power. My predecessor, on
the 9TH day of January, lB o. by an executive
order TO take effect March Is. brought tho
railway mail service under the operation OF
the civil services law. Provision was made that
the order should take effect sooner in any
sooner obtained. On the 18th 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
eligibles ready before May /, and requested that
the taking effect of the order be post
poned until that time, which was done, subjecr
to the same provisions contained In the original
order as to the states Ia which an eligible list
was sooner obtained.
MORE CLERKS NEEDED.
As result of the revision of the rules OF the
new classification, and OF the inclusion of thai
railway mail service. the work OF the commits
sion has been greatly increased and the present.
clerical force Is found to be inadequate.
recommend that the additional clerks asked by
the commission BE- appropriated Tor. The duty,
of appointment Is devolyed by the constitution
or by the law. and the appointing
officers properly held to a high
responsibility in its exercise. The growth of
the country and the consequent increase of the
civil list have maguifed the function of the
executive disproportionaly. 1t cannot be de-
MED however, that the labor connected with
TINS necessary Work IS increased, OFTEN to th0A
point Of actual distress, by the sudden and ex-'
cessive demands that are made upon an incom-
ing administration for removals and appoint
it is not true that incumbencyl
is a conclusive argument for a continuance int
Office. Impartialty, moderation, fidelity tos
public duty, and good attainment in the dis
charge of 1t must be added before the argumenh
is complete. When those holding adninistra-i
tive Offices so conduct themselves as to COM
vince lust political opponents that no party,
consideration or bias affect in any way the dis
charge OF their public duties, can mora,
easily stay the demand for removals.
REWARD OF FATHFuLNxss.
am satisfied that both in and out of the,
classified service great benefit would accruod
from the adoption of some system by which thas
officer would receive the distinction and benefits
that in all private employments come from ext
ceptonal faithfulness and efficiency in the per-
formance of duty. l have suggested to tho
heads of the executive departments that they,
consider whether a record might not be kept I'M
each bureau Of all those elements that are COW
cred by the terms 'faithfulness" and "efi-'
cheney" and rating made showing the rela-
rating to be regarded as test OF merit in max
ing promotions.
I have also suggested to the Postmaster
General that he adopt some plan by which he
can, upon the basis Of the reports to the depart
ment and OF frequent inspections. indicate the
relative merit of the postmasters of each class.
They will be appropriately indicated in the
official re gster and in the report Of the depart
ment. That a great stimulus would thus be
given to the whole service / do not doubt, and
such a record would be the best defense against
IL ~ rzKw4 <seIt