The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-10

abroad has been the basis Of the success
which has attended our efforts 4
secure the removal of the restric.
tlons maintained by European governments
For ten years protests and petitions upoT
this subject from the packers and stock rails
ers OF the United States have been directed
against these restrictions, which so seriously
Limited our markets and curtailed the profit:
or the farm. 1t is O source OF general con.
graduation that success has at last been at
tanned. for the effects OF an enlarged foreign
market for these meats will be felt not only
by the farmers but our public finances and
In every branch of trade. Itis particularly
fortunate that the increased demand for
FOOD products resulting from the
removal Of restrictions on our meats and
from the reciprocal trade arrangements "a
which have referred should have come al
time when the agricultural surplus is SO
large. Without the help thus derived lower
prices would have prevailed. Toe Secre-
tary OF Agriculture estimates that the re-
strictions upon he importation of our pork
products into Europe lost US a market for
S2O.OO1.O0O worth Of these products annu-
ally. The grain crop of this year was the
largest In our history. 80 per cent greater
than that Of last year, aad yet the new
markets that have been opened and the
larger demand resulting from short crops
in Europe have sustained prices TO such an
and hreadstuffs 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 Unite /
states Is estimated by the secretary TO be
this year $500, 100000 more than last: of
meats, $4,000, 900 more and of all products
Of the farm 800, 900, 900 more. 1t is not in
appropriate, l think, here to suggest that our
satisfaction in the contemplation of this
FuarEplNnG addition n the M o1 ;e
unclouded by any suspicion Of the currency
by which it is measured and in which the
farmer is paid for the product of his fields.
Civil Service Reform.
The report of the civil service commits
sion should receive the careful considera-
ton of the opponents as we'll as the friends
of this reform. The commission invites a
personal inspection by the senators and
representatives of its record and methods,
and every fair critic will feel
such an examination should preoede a iudg-
ment of condemnation. either of the system
or its administration. 1t is not claimed that
either is perfect, but l believe the law is
being executed with impartiality and that
the system is incomparably fairer ard better
than that OF appointments by favor. l have
during the year extended the classified
service to include superintendents.
teachers, matrons and physicians in the
Indian service. This branch of the service
is largely related to educational and philan-
thropical work, and will obviously be the
better for the change. The heads of the
several executive departments have been
directed to establish at once an efficiency
record as the basis of comparative rating
OF the clerks within the classified service
with view to placing promotions therein
upon the basis of merit am confident
that such record fairly kept and open to
the inspection Of those interested will DOW
erfully stimulate the work Of the depart
ments and will be accepted by all
as placing the troublesome matter
OF promotions upon a Just basis.
recommend that the appropriation for the
civil service commission be made adequate
to the increased work of the next fiscal
year.
PROTECTION FOR RAILROAD EMPLOYEES,
have twice before urgently called the
attention of congress to the necessity of
legislation for the protection of the lives
Of railroad employees. but nothing has vet
been done. During the year ending June
80, 1890, 1863 b akemen were killed and 7,S4I
manned while engaged in coupling cars.
The total number of railroad employees
killed during the year was 2,451 and the
number injured 22,39O. This is
cruel and largely a needless sac.
rifce. The government is spending
1000 900 annually TO save the lives OF
shipwrecked seanen; every steam vessel is
rigidly inspected and required to adopt the
most approved safety appliances. 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 COM
merce are being sacrificed every year by
the continued use Of Anticipated and dan
gerous appliances. A law requiring OF
every railroad engaged in interstate COM
merce the equipment each year Of given
percentage its freight cars with automatic
couplers aud airbrakes would compel an
agreement between the roads as to the kind
OF brakes and couplers TO be used, and would
very soon and very greatly reduce the pres
emit fearful death rate among railroad EN-,
ployes.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
The method Of appointment by the states
of electors of President and Vice President
has recently attracted renewed interest by
reason OF departure blythe state of Michi-
gan from the method which had become
uniform in all the states. Prior to 1882
various methods had been used by the diff
ferent states and even by the same state
In some the choice was made by the legisla
ture, III Others electors were chosen by dis.
tricts, but more generally by the voters Of
the whole state upon general ticket. The
movement toward the adoption of the last
named method had an early beginning and
went steadily forward among the states un.
til in 1882 there remained but e single state
South Carolina, that had not adopted it.
That state, until the civil war, continued &c
choose Its electors by vote Of the legisla,
ture, but after the war changed its methods
and c1nformed to the practice of the other
states. For nearly sixty years all the states,
save one have appointed their electors by a
popular vots upon general ticket. and for
nearly thirty years this method was univer-
sal. After full test of other methods withou
important division or dissent in any state
and without any purpose OF party ad
vantage. as we must believe, but solely upoI
considerations that uniformity was desirable
and that general election in territorial
divisions not subject to change was mos
CONSISTENT with the popular character Of oul
institutions, best preserved the equality o.
the voters and perfectly removed the choice
of Pre3ident from the baneful influence Of
the "gerrymander," the practice of all thu
this concurrence should now be broken is
think, an unfortunate and ever
threatening episode, and tina
may well suggest whether the states tina
still give their approval to the old prevail
ing method ought not to secure by consti
tutional amendment practice which hG
had the approval Of all. The recent Mich
gan legislation provides for choosing wha
are popularity known as the congressional
electors for President by congressional dis.
tricts, and the two senatorial electors by
districts created for that purpose. ThiI