Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-12-17

and directing further digersineauon Of crops,
In detecting and Graduating diseases Of domes-
tic animals, ana more than ali. n the close
and informal contact which it has established
and maintained with the farmers and stock
raiscrs Of the whole country Every request
for information has had prompt attention and
every subject merited consideration. The sci
entihc corps OF the department IS q a high
order and is pushing It's Investigations with
method and enthusiasm.
Meat Inspection.
The inspection by this department Of cattle
and pork products intended for shipment
abroad has been the basis of the success which
has attended our efforts To secure the removal
Of the restrictions maintained by the European
governments. For ten years protests and Pc
titions upon this subject from the packers aud
stock raisers of the United States have been
directed against these restrictions. which so
seriously limited our markets and curtaied the
profits OF the farm. 1t is a source Of general
congratulation that success has at last been
attained for the effect OF enlarged
foreign market for these meats will be
felt not only by the farmer, but in our pub
lie finances and in every branch Of trade
Our Great Grain Crop.
The grain crop OF this year was the largest
in our history, 50 per cent greater than that Of
last year, and yet the new markets that have
been opened and the large demand resulting
from short crops in Europe have sustained
prices TO such an extent that the enormous
surplus OF meats and breadstufs will be mar
keted at good prices. bringing relief and pros
perity 10 industry that was much de-
pressed. The value Of the grain crop OF the
United States is estimated By the secretary to
be this year s5000O0,0O0 more than last; OF
meats, Sl50O0,0OO more, and OF all products OF
the farm $3.50 10000 more. 10 is not iuappro-
pirate, think, here TO suggest that our salts.
faction in the contemplation OF this marvellous
addition to the national wealth is unclouded
by any suspicion OF the currency by which il is
measured and In which the farmer is paid for
the product Of his fields.
u-Ia st;.-fI s-.,.sa.
The report OF the civil service commission
should receive the careful attention of the OPP
pOnents as we'll as the friends Of this reform
The commission invites personal inspection
OF senators and representatives OF its records
and methods, ana every fair critic will feel
that such an examination should precede judg-
ment Of condemnation either of the system or
It's administration. IL IS not claimed that
either Is perfect but I believe that
the law has been executed with impair
TALLY. and that the system is incomparably
better and fairer than that OF appointments
upon favor = have during the year extended
the classified service to include superintend-
ents, teachers matrons and physicians in the
Indian service. This branch of the service is
largely related to educational and philanthro-
pic work and will obviously be the better for
the change. The heads Of the several execu-
tive departments have been directed to es-
tabish at once an efficient record as
the basis OF u comparative rating OF
the clerks within the classified service with a
view to placing promotions therein upon the
basis OF merit
Safety Appliances for Railways.
1 have twice before urgently called the atten-
ton OF congress TO the necessity Of legislation
for the protection of the lives OF railroad en-
ployes, but nothing has yet been done.
Presidential Electors.
The method OF appointment by the states Of
electors ot president and vice president has
recently attracted renewed interest by reason
OF departure by the state Of Michigan from
the method which had become uniform IN all
been used by the different states and even by
the same state. In some the choice was made
by the legislature, in others electors were
chosen by districts, but more generally ny this
voters OF the whole state upon a general ticket
The movement toward the adoption of the
last named method had an early be-
the states, until in 1892 there remained but
single state south Carolina that had
not adopted IL. That state, until the civil war.
continued TO choose Is electors by vote OF
the legislature, but after the war changed its
method and contormed 10 the practice OF tho
other states. For nearly sixty years all the
statessaye one have appointed their electors
by a popular vote upon a general ticket, and
for nearly thirty years this method was uni.
versal, After full test Of other methods, with
out important division or dissent in any state,
and without any purpose Of party advantage
as We must believe but solely upon the
siderations that uniformity was desirable
and that a general election In territorial divi-
sions NOT subject to change was most consist
ent with the popular character Of our institu-
lions, DeSt preserved the equality OF the voters,
and perfectly removed the choice Of president
from the baneful influence Of the gerry
mander," the practice Of all the states vas
brought into harmony. That this concurrence
should now be broken is, l think, an unIor.
tunate and even threatening episode, and one
that may well suggest whether states that still
give their approval to the old and prevailing
method ought not to secure, by a constitutional
amendment "a practice which has the approval
OF all
The recent Michigan legislation provides for
choosing what are popularity known as the con-
gressional electors for president by congress
sional districts, and the two senatorial electors
by districts created for that purpose. This leg
islatton was OF course, accompanied by a new
congressional apportjonment and the two stat
utes bring the electoral vote Of the state under
the influence OF the "gerrymander." These
gerrymanders for congressional purposes are
In most cases buttresSed by gerrymander OF
the legislative districts, thus making il impos.
sible for majority Of the legal voters OF the
state To correct the apportonmeut and eQualize
the congressional districts. A minority rule is
established that only political CONFUSION can
overthrow
An election implies body Of electors having
prescribed On iiucatlans, each one 81 whom
has an equal value and Influence in determin-
ing the result So when the constitution pro,
vldes that each state shall appoint telecN,
in SuCh manner as the legislature thereof
may direct "a number of electors. etc =" an