Mower County transcript., 1891-12-16

hons upon the mportatiun Of our rro.
ducts into Europe LOST us a market foy
$sO, wv, COO worth ct these products an
nually. 81
The grain crop this year was the lsrg-
est N our history, 80 per cent. greater
than that Of last year, and yet the new
markets that have been opened and the,
Larger demand resulting from short
crops IN Europe have sustained prices to
such an extent that the enormous sur
plus OF meats and breadstuffs will be
marketed at good prices, bringing relief
and prosperity to an industry that was
much depressed. The value of the grain
crop OF the United States is estimated
BY the secretary to be this year Eve
hundred million dollars more than last;
OF meats. one hundred and fifty mill
ions more, and of all products of the
farm, seven hundred millions more.
Civil Service Reviewed.
The report Of the civil service com
MISSION should receive the careful at
tentlon Of the opponents, as well as the
friends OF this reform. The commission
invites personal inspection by senators
and representatives of its records and
methods: and every fair critic will feel
that such an examination should pre-
cede Judgment of condemnation,
either OF the system or its administra-
ton. It is not claimed that either is per-
feet, but believe that the law is being
executed with impartiality, and that the
system is incomparably better and fairer
than that of appointments upon favor.
l have during the year extended the
classified service to include super
lntendents, teachers, matrons and physi-
clans in the Indian service. This
branch of the service is largely related
to educational and philanthropic work
and will obviously be the better for the
change.
The heads of the several executive de-
partments have been directed to estab-
lish at once an efficiency record as the
basis of Il comparative rating Of the
clerks within the classified service, with
a view to placing promotion therein
upon the basis Of merit. I am confident
that such a record, fairly kept
and open to the inspection of
these interested, will powerfully slim
ulate the work of the departments and
will be accepted by all as placing the
troublesome matter of promotions upon
a just basis.
recommend that the appropriations
for the civil service commission be made
adequate to the increased work OF the
next fiscal year.
For IsailrDad employees.
l have twice before urgently called
attention Of congress to the necessity of
legislation for the protection of the
lives Of railroad employees, but nothing
has yet been done During the year
ending June 80, 1890, 36y brakemen
were killed and 7,841 manned while en-
gagged in coupling cars. The total num-
Der Of railroad employees killed during
the year was 2,451, and the number in
jured q, 800. This is cruel and large
ly a needless sacrifice. The govern
ment is spending nearly one million
dollars annually to save the lives of
shipwrecked seaman; every steam vessel
is rigidly inspected and required to
adopt the most approved safety appli-
ances. All this is good, but how Shall
we excuse the lack Of interest and effort
in behalf of this army of brave young
men who in our land commerce are be-
ing sacrificed every year by the
continued use of antiquated
and dangerous appliances. A law re-
quiring Of every railroad engaged in in
terstate commerce the equipment each
year of given per cent of it's freight
cars with automatic couplers and air
brakes and couplers to be used, and
would very soon and very greatly reduce
the present fearful death rate among
railroad employees.
For Ballot Reform.
The method of appointment by the
states of electors Of president and vice
president has recently attracted re-
newed interest by reason of a departure
by the State of Michigan from the
method which had become uniform in
all the states. The recent Michigan leg
islation provides for choosing what are
popularity known as the congressional
electors for president by congressional
districts, and the two senatorial electors
by districts by electors created for that
purpose. This legislation was, of course,
accompanied by new congressional ap-
portionment. It is not my purpose to
discuss the question whether choice bv
the legislature or by the voters of equal
single districts is a choice by the state,
but only to recommend such regulation
of this movement by constitutional
amendment as will secure uniformity
and prevent that disgraceful partisan
jugglery to which such a liberty of
choice, if it exists, offers temptation.
Nothing just now is more important
than to provide every guaranty for the
absolutely fair and free choice by an
equal suffrage, within the respective
states Of all members of the national
government, whether that suffrage is
applied directly, as in the choice
Of members of the house Of
representatives, or Indirectly, as in the
choice of senators and electors of presi-
dent: Respect for public officers and
obedience to law will not cease to be the
characteristics of our people until our
elections cease to declare the will of
majorities fairly ascertained, without
fraud, suppression or gerrymander. If
were called upon to declare wherein
our chief national danger lies, should
say without hesitation, in the overthrow
Of majority control by the suppression
or perversion of the popular suffrage.
An attempt was made in the last con-
gress to bring to bear the constitutional
powers of the general government for
the conviction of frauds against the suf-
frage. It is important to know whether
the opposision to such measures is really
rested in particular features supposed
to be Objectionable or includes any pro-