The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-10
THE TIMEs-RTcHMoND Va THURSDAY DECEMBER 10 1891


pact N the enabling net could in my opinion
Dc binding or effective.
ALASKA
recommend that provision be made for
the Organization by q simple form OF town
government in Alaska with power to regulate
sucn matters ms are usually in the States
under municipal control
These local civil organizations will give better
protection In some matters than the present
skeleton territorial organization. Proper re-
s'rictlons rs to the power to levy taxes and to
create debt should be imposed.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRicULTURr.
If tho establishment of the Department Of
Agriculture was regarded by any one as q
mere concession 10 the unenlghtened demand
OK a worthy class OF people, that impression
mas been most efectually removed by the
great results already attained. Its home in
iiuence has been very great IN disseminating
agricultural and horticultural information. in
stimulating and directing further diver
sihcaton OF crops. in detecting and
eradicatiDg diseases Of domestic animals, and
more than all. in the close and informal con-
tact which il has established and maintains
with the farmers and stock-raisers OF the whole
country. Livery request FIR information has
had prompt attention aud every suggestion
merited consideration.
The scientific corps of the department IL Of
tons with method and enthusiasm. The in.
spection by this department OF cattle and
pork products intended for shipment abroad
las been the basis OF the success which has
attended our efforts IA secure the removal Of
the restrictions maintained by the European
governments.
rOr ten years protests and petitions upon
this subject from the packers vnd stock
Taisers OF tie United States have been dl-
rected against these Restrictions which so
seriously limited our markets and curtalled
the profits 4 the farm. 1t is source of
general cOngratuletion that success has at
cen attained or the ELECTS of an enlarged
foreign market FOR these meats Will be felt,
not only by tho tanners. but our public
finances and in every branch Of the trade.
1t Is particu.a ~ 10 tulate that ilcres cd de-
mand for food products resulting from the
removal OK restrictions on our meats and
ON the reciprocal trade Arrangements 10
winch have referred should have come AZ a
time when the rlcultural surplus Is so
large Without the help thus derived lover
prices would have prevailed. The Secretarr
OF Agriculture estimates that the restrictions
upon the importation o. our pork products
INTO Europe lost II market for Sz0.O1J,OJD
worth Ia products annually.
The grain crop of this year was the largest
IN our hist T SO per cent. greater than that
o. Last year, and yet the new markets that
have been opened and the larger demand re-
suiiIng from short crops In europe have sus
tanned prices 10 UGH an extent that the enOr
nous surplus of meats and breadstufis vii.
be marketed at good prices. bringing relief
and rios .erity to an industry that was much
depressed.
The value o. the grain crop of the United
states l. estimated by the Secretary TO be this
year five hundred million dollars moro than
last Of meats. one hundred and fifty mil
lions more. and OF al products o. the farm,
seven hundred millions more. II 10 not insp-
.rOpratc. think here 20 su gest that our
satisfaction IN tie contemplation of this mar
yelous addition 10 tue national wealth. Is I'M
clOuded by any su picIOn o. the currency By
which 1t Is measured and IN which the farmer
Is paid for tho product Of his fields
CIVIL s,ByIcE
The report of the Civil Service Commission
should receive lhe attention Oh the opponents
as well az the friends D. this reform. The
cOWlniss on luglLes a personal inspection by
senators and representatvesO is records and
met .Ods. and every lair critic will feel that
such an examination should precede a iudr-
ment o. condemnation, either Of the system
or Its administration. IL Is not elaine that
either Is perfect but believe tine law is be
lug executed with lmpartality and that the
system is lncOmparabv falrer and better
than that OF appointments b. favor.
! have during the year extended the
CLASSIFIED service 10 include superintendent.
teachers. mutrOns and physicians in the
indian service This branch oil the service is
largely related % educational and philan-
thropca. work. and Will obviously lie the
better Tor tie change. The heads of the sew
eral executive departments have been Iii
rectett 20 establi ut once an efficiency record
the OASIS of a comparative rating o. the
clerks within the classified service " Oh
view TO placing promotions therein upon the
bass OF merit. ! am confident that such
record fairly kept aid open 20 the inspection
o those interested Will powerfully stimulate
che work OF the departments and viii be nc
,epted by all as pia ing the troublesome
matter o. prom JtiOns upon lust bass.
/ recommend that the appropriation for
the Civil service Commission be made Gde-
uuats to the increased WORK of the next fiscal
year.
RAILROAD Es1PLOYEs.
fhaye twice before urgently called the atten-
ton OF Congress 80 the necessity OF legislation
Tor the protection o. the lives of railroad en-
plOyes. but nothing has yet been done. Dur
ing the year ending June 30. 1870. 81 brake
men were killed ana 7.o4l manned while en-
gagged IN coupling cars: the total number OF
railroad employees killed during the year was
,45l and tie number injured 22.3,O This Is
a cruel and largely needless sacrifice. the
Government Is spending nearly one
million dollars annually to save the lives OF
seamen. every steam vessel is
rigldiy inspected and 70 iuired 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 Of commerce
are being sacrificed every year nv the contin-
ued use of Anticipated and dangerous APP
planes. A law requiring of every railroad
engagedin interstate commerce an equipment
each year OF a. given per cent. of its fret Int
cars with automatic cOuplers and air brakes
would compel an agreement between the
roads as 10 the kind of brakes and cOuplers TO
be used. and would very soon and very great
ly reduce the present fearful death-rate
among railroad employees.
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
The method OF appointment by States of
electors of President and VIce-President has
recently attracted renewed interest by reas N
of a departure by the State OF Micbi an from
the method which had become uniform in all
the States Prior TO 1882 various methods
had been used by the different States aud
even by the same state. In some the choice
was made by the Legislature, in Others
electors were chosen by districts Tut
more generally by the voters of the
whole State upon general ticket The
towards the adoption Of the last
named method had an early beginning and
went steadily forward among tho States until
in 1882 there remained but a single State.
South Carolina. that had not adopted il.
That State until the war continued 10 choose
its electors by vote Of the Legislature. but
after the war changed its method and con
formed 20 the practice OF the other States.
For nearly sixty years. all the States save one
have appOinted their electors by a popular