The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-05

/ Thus the SEED VIII De teSted, eh' -
] test has been completed. By the expsrI,n '
station the propagation Of the useiui '"
. rieties and the rejection OF the Vaiueiess
may safely be left TO the common sense
! OF the people.
Tho CIriI Service Law.
The continued intelligent execution Oh the
| civil service law. and the increasing APP
| proval OF the people OF its operations
| are most gratifying. The recent extension
OF It's limitations and regulations 10 me
employees at free-delivery postoffces' when
have been honestly and promptly assisted
by the commissioner. with the nearly CO
| operation Of the Postmaster-Geperal, Is
an immensely important advance I'm the
usefulness OF the system. ! am, II possible,
more than ever convinced or the meal
culable benefits conferred by the civil SER
vice law, not only In its effect upon the
public service. but also, what is even more
important. In its effect in elevatinS the
tone OF political life generally.
The course OF civil service reform In this
country instructiveiy and Interestingly IL
lustrates how strong a hold "a movement
gains upon our people which has underly-
ing 1t a sentiment OF justice and right.
and which, at the same time. promises bet
ter administration Of their government.
The law embodyng this reform found its
OF the popular sentiment existing in its
favor than for any love for the reform
ltselI on the part Of legislators. and il
mas hVed and grown and iiOurished In
spite OF the covert as well as open hos
unity OF spoilsmen. There ought not TO be
such condition IN any department that
clerks hired 10 work there can be spared
10 habitually work at another place. and
uoes not accord with a sensible view Of
clVl service reform that persons should
be employed on the theory that their labor
Is necessary In one department, when. in
point or fact, their services are devoted
to entirely different work I'm another de-
partment. l earnestly urge that the clerks
necessary to carry on the work of the
commission be regularly put upon its ros-
ter and that the system OF obiging
the commissioners TO rely upon the ser
vices OF clerks belonging TO other depart
menis be discontinued
This ought not 10 increase the expense
10 the government. while it would GER
talnly he more consistent and add greatly
TO the efficiency OF the commission
Economy Espeud' r.
Economy in public expenditure is a
duty that cannot be innocently neglected
by those entrusted with The control OF
money drawn from the people for public
NNNs* - must De fbhitHNtt tnHt our
apparently endless resources. the famil-
iarity Of our people with immense accu-
mutations Of wealth the growing senu-
ment among them that the expenditure
OF public money should in some manner
be 10 their immediate and personal ad-
vantage, the indirect and almost s;ealthy
manner in which a large part of our tax
es are eXacted and a degeneratcd sense
of official accountability have led 10 grow
ing extravaganza IN governmental appro-
priations At this time when a depleted
public treasury confronts us. when many
OF our people are engaged in a hard
struggle for the necessaries of life, and
when enforced economy is pressing on the
great mass Of our countrymen. / desire
10 urge with all the earnestness AZ my
command that congressional legislation
be so limited by strict economy as to
exhibit an appreciation Of the condition
OF the treasury, and a sympathy with
the straigtened circumstances Of our fell
low citizens. The duty Of public economy
is also of immense importance I'm its |
intimate and necessary relation to the |
task now IN hand OF providing revenue |
10 meet government expenditures and yet |
reducing the peoples burden of taxation.
a.E RIM
After a hard struggle, tariff reform IS |
directly before US. Nothing so import |
ant claims our attention. and nothing so /
clearly presents itself as both an oppOrtu- |
nifty and duty; an opportunity 10 de- |
serve the gratitude Of our fellow citizens, |
and a duty imposed upon us by our Off |
repeated professions and by the emphatic |
mandate Of the people. After full dis |
cussion our codntrymen have spoken in |
favor Of this reform. and they have con- |
flded the work Of its accomplishment 20 /
the hands Of those who are solemnly |
pledged 10 IT, If there is anything i'm !
the theory Of representation in public /
places of the people and their desires, /
II public officers are really the servants |
Of the people, and if political promises
and professions have any binding force. |
our failure TO give the relief so long |
awaited Will be sheer recusancy. Moth
ing should intervene 10 distract our at
tentiOn or disturb our effort until this re-
form is accomplished by wise and careful
legislation. While we should staunchly ad-
here to the principle that only the neces-
sity Of revenue justlies the imposition OF
tariff duties and other Federal taxation.
and that they should be limited by strict
economy, we cannot close our eyes TO
the fact that conditions have grown up
among US which in justice and fairness
call for discriminating care I'm the distri-
button of such duties and taxation as
the emergencies Of our government ac-
tually demand. Manifestiy, if we are
to aid the people through tariff reform,
one of its most obvious features should
be a reduction in present tariff charges
upon the necessaries Of life. The benefits
of such a reduction would be palpaDle
and substantial seen and felt by thous-
ands who would be better fed and bet
ter clothed and better sheltered. These
gifts should be the willing benefacuons
OF a government whose highest function
is the promotion Of the welfare Of the
people. Not less closely related TO our
peoples prosperity and well-being is the
removal Of restrictions upon the importa-
ton Of the raw materials necessary 10
our manufactures. The world should be
open TO our national ingenuity and enter
prise.
Suspension OF Work Follows.
This cannot be while Federal legislation
through the imposition of high tariff Tor
bids 10 American manufacturers as cheap
materials rs those used by their COM
Dettors 1t is quite obvious that the en-
lancement Of the price OF our manulac-
ured products resulting from this policy
not only confines the market Tor those
PRODUCTS within our own borders 20 the
iirect disadvantage Of our manufacturers,
)ut also increases their cost 10 our citi-
tens. The interests OF labor are certainly
hough indirectly involved in this feature |
II our tariff system. The sharp COM
petition and active struggle among our
to supply the limited de-
nand for their goods soon I'll the narrow
market TO which they are confined; then
olows a suspension OF work in mills
mi factories, a discharge Of employees,
md distress in the homes OF our work