The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-12-12

The civil service commission invites a per-
sonal inspection by senators and represent
atiyes Of its records and methods. II Is not
claimed that the system or its ndministrntiop
ls perfect but ! believe that the law Is being
executed with impartiality and that the sys-
tenn II incompHrably better and fairer than
that OF appointments upon favor. 4 have dur
lng the year extended the classified service TO
Include snperintendonts, teachers, matrons
and physicians in the Indian service
The heads of the several executive depart
ments have been directed 10 establish at once
an efficiency record as tho basis uf "a compara-
tive rating of the clerks within the classided
service with a view 10 placing promotions
therein upon the basis OF merit.
i recommend that the appropriations for the
civil service commission be made adequate 10
the increased work of the next fiscal year.
A Protest Against the Gerrymander.
The method Of appointment by tho states Of
electors OF president and vice president bns re-
Gently attracted renewed interest by reason OF
departure Of the state Of Michigan from the
method which had become uniform IN all the
used by the different states aud even BY tho
same state.
South Carolina, until the civil war, continued
20 choose its electors by vote Of the legisla-
lure, but after the war changed It's method and
eontormed 70 the practice Of the other states
After full test Of other methods, without
important division or dissent an any state and
hlthout any purpose OF party advantage, as
We must believe, but solely upon the oonsid,
erallona that uniformity Was desirable and
that general election IA territorial divisions
not subject 20 change was most consistent
win the popular character or our institutions.
best preserved the equality OF the voters aud
perfectly removed the choice Of president from
the baueful tnnusncA OF the "gerrymander.n
the practice OF all The states was brought into
harmony.
That this concurrence should now be broken
ls, think, an unfortunate and even q threat
enlng episode, and one that may we'll suggest
whether the states that still give their approval
20 the old and prevailing method ought not 10
secure, by constitutional Amendment "a prac-
tce which has had the approval OF all The
recent Michigan legislation was OF course ac-
eompanied by q new congressional nuportion-
ment and the two statutes bring the electoral
vote OF the state under the influence OF the
'Eerrymander"
These gerrymauders for Congressional pur-
poses are IN most cases butTcssed by a gerry
inhnder OF the legislative districts thus max
lng y impossible Tor a majority 9 tho legal
Nulefa OF the state 20 correct the appointment
ana eAunuLe the congressional districts.
minority rule Is established that only a puliti-
gal oonFulaion can overthrow. I have recent
ly been advised that On one county Of "a certain
state three districts for the election OF mem-
pels OF ihc legislature nre constituted a. ful-
lows; one has ul 900 population. one lIffN aud
one lnuln, while iu another county. detached.
uuucuuliguou sections have been united t0
make a legislative district.
NoW au eVil atari haa bcer The a.