Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-05

! preston is seenin the deficiency OF SIS,
600, 600 in the revenues OF the Post Office
Department, the fDanelsl condition Of
which always keeps abreast Of the
financial condition Of the country. The
President holds out small hopes to Dem
ocratic aspirants for post Office appoint
ments in his discussion OF civil service
reform in connection with this depart
ment. lie quotes the Postmaster Gen
erals declaration that it would be i'm
/ possible to conduct this most important
department Of the Government without
strict observance Of the civil service
rules, and the elimination OF politics in
the selection of employees. That this is
true to a great extent OF the working
force Of the department few will dispute.
1t is true Of every other department Of
the government. But In positions where
one man will serve as well as another so
long as he possesses the necessary exec
utive ability and wherein be is able to
WELD considerable political influence,
we fail to sac why a Democratic Presi-
dent or Postmaster General should re-
tain a Republican appointee.
That the President is undoubtedly
right in the general policy of civil SER
vice reform, which he has faithfully and
fearlessly followed, there is no dispute;
but it is as impossible to entirely elimi-
nate politics from appointments as it is
to keep it out OF elections. The
reform may be desirable, but the
political party that attempts to
carry it out by wholesale and
indiscriminately, runs excellent chances
of not leaving enough Of its organiza-
tiOn to continue the good work after
the next election, and an attempt at re-
form that throws the advantage into
the hands of the enemy Of that reform
is worse than no reform at all. The ad-
ministratlon is right in the general
premises, but it attempts to accomplish
too much all az once. Mr.. CLEVELAND
has twice beaten the record for honest
observance Of the civil service re-
form laws. The question is whether
the Democratic organization can stand
more Of such wholesale reform at the
expense of party organzation-the
greatest essential to party success.
Mr.. CLEVELAND next takes up the
subject Of psnsiops and in his brief re-
view Of it presents the matter so forci-
bly, that there is no room left for arEu-
ment. He is unable to understand why
frauds against the pension system
should not be exposed and
corrected and he declares that
"every name frauduIently put upon
these rolls is a wicked imposition upon
the kindly sentiment in which pensions |
have their origin; every fraudulent pen
siOner has become a bad citizen; every |
false oath in support Of pension has |
made perjury more common; and false |
and undeserying pensioners rob the peo-
pie not only of their money, but of the
patriotic sentiment which the survivors
Of a war fought for the preser-
walton Of the Union ought TO inspire"
The Presidents discussion Of the
tariff, Of tariff reform and of the Will
--- ,'''. s---.or..- 800 r'-.-
ect as briefly and clearly as it does
thoroughly and convincingly. 1t is
masterpiece of argument 10 behalf Of
the working people, the consumers and
The industries Of the United States that
can not fail to carry conviction to the
heart Of every honest and patriotic
American.
The Wilson bill has the Presidents
thorough endorsement and approval
As be points out because of the
deficiency in the Treasury and existing
conditions. which are the outcome Of a
quarter Of century Of abuse OF the
taxing power, tariff reform cannot be |
carried out to the full at this time, be-
cause OF these reasons; hence theWILsoN
bill as a rule, reduces duties on manufac-
lures only in proportion to the reduction
I'm the taxes on raw materials, a policy
which will benefit the producers OF
both. as we'll as the American people
and greatly enlarge the foreign markets
which have become absolutely necessary
~. .b, s,oosss of American industry.