Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-05

HnGs which ar> comuon w ~, VIZ 49,.
and Territories. and eVeiyw'rfe cssay
ch,.,nsnle AT low prices In each state
s.,s ,,~rrgtoy-r an agricultural experiment.
ssa,,on hos been established. These sta
&C.. he their very character and name,
49, ,he propcr agencies TO experiment
IL, aaa test new varities OF seeds. and
-, ,h,s ,ndiNcriminate and wastefui dis
,,,huiion by legislation and legislators con-
SHINES. answering no purpose unless II ne
10 rcn,nd their constituents tD1t tncn
,arr.scntatlveS are willing TO remember
mem with gratuitiea at public cost
5.aAer the sanction OF existing legis-
,.,,"n there was sent ont from the Agri-
s',,,nral Department during the last rs
saI year enough OF cabbage seed TO plant
"a ~ acres Of land, a sufficient quantlty
of beans to plant 1900 acres: beet see1
cnough 20 plant $500 acres. sweet-corn
cough 90 plant 1850 acres: sufficient GU
,,,,obrr seed 10 cover 2.025 acres with
vines. and enough fnuskmelon and water.
melon seed TO plant 1873 acres. the toial
Quantity of flower and vegetable seeds
fhus distributed was contained IN more
than 9.0o00O packages, and theZ VIZ
sufficient, Il planted. TO cover 5000 acres
OF land.
In view OF these facts that enormous
expenditure without legitimate returns VI
benefit ought TO be abolished Anuclpat-
"a
interest OF good administration, more tlah
500 90 has been stricken from the
estimate made 20 cover taiS OBJECT TOT
the year ending June 391SS. ana ue sec
rotary recommends that the ftihAt'iiiS
So COO Of the estimate be conuneu NV'V"S
20 the purchase Of new and improves va
rieties Of seeds. and that these DE uiSl'I-
bnto0 through the experiment stationss
Thus the seed viii be tested anu ai'ci
tho test has been completed ny the eN-
pertinent stations. the propagation OF use
ful varieties and the rejection OF the value
less NAV safely lc LETT 20 the common
sense OF ihe people.
THE MERIT SYSTEM.
Tho continued intelligent execution o.
the civil-scryice law and the Increasing
approval by the people OF its opera'ioh
arc most gratifying. The recent extension
OF its limitations ana regulations 10 the
employees at lree-deiiYery post-onices
which las been honestly and promptly
assisted BY the commissioners. with the
hearty cooperation Of the POSTMASTER
General is an Immensely important al
vance in the usefulness Of the system
I am. n possible more than ever con-
WINGED a the incalculable benefits con-
ferTcd IS the civil-scrvice law not only
jn It's cfect upon the public service but
als1. what IS even more important m lts
GnFrf M EIfAbliE tllN ANAA- "a fNA-NtN'"f
life generally.
The course OF ciyil-scryice reform in this
country iustr7icuvely and Interestingly
illustrates how strong a hold a move
ment gains upon our people which has
underlying f. a sentiment of justice ana
right. and which. at the same time.
promises better administration or their
government. The law cmbo1ying this rc-
form found its way 10 our statute-bpoK
more from fear Of the popular sentiment
existing 300 i,s favor than from any love
for Tho reform itself ON the part Of leg
islators. and il has lived and grown ana
hoursheI in spite Of the covert
as well as open hostility Of spois-
men aud notwithstanding The
qucrulous impracticabihty Of many self
constituted guardians.
4 BIT OF SARCASM.
Renoath aU The vagaries and sublimatcd
theories which are attached 20 II, there
mI,rlIes this reform q sturdy common
sense Principle not only suited 10 this
mundane sphere but whose application
our people are more ana more recog-
nIziug o. te absolutely essential TO the
most sucrc-ef ul operation Of the govern
ment. 81 not 90 its perpctuiiy.
n seems 90 mo 10 Dc entirely incon-
slstcut with On. character of this reform.
as well as with il best enforcement. to
oniieo the commission 10 rely FOR clerical
assistance upon clerks detailed from other
departments
There ought not 10 Doe such condition
ln any department that clerks hired 70
work there can Doc spared 20 habtuaHy
work at another place, and II does not
accord with % sensible view Of civil-ser-
vice reform that persons should be en-
uiovcd ou the theory that their labor IS
necessary Boo one department when IN
point of fact their services are devoted
20 entirely different work In another de-
uartm,ut ! earnestly urge that the
clerks necessary tO carry on the work oi
the commission he regularly put upon IT'S
roster. ana that the system OF ohliging
the COMM toner's 20 rely upon the SER
vices of clerks belonging to other depart
mcnts be discontinued
This ought not 10 increase the expense
to the government. while il would GER
tainly bee more consistent and add greatly
70 the efficiency of the commission.
ECONOMY URGED.
Economy in public expenditure Is duty
that cannot innoccntly be- neglected by
those intrustcl with the control Of money
drawn from the people for public uses.
IT must be- confessed that our apparently
endless resources. the familiarity OF our
people with immense accumuauonS OF
wealth. the growing sentiment among
them that the expenditure of public
money should IN some manner be 10
4 their immediate and personal advantage
the indirect ara almost stealthy manner
in which "A large part Of our taxes are
exacted and dcgenerated sense or OH
cial accountability have led to growing
extravagancc in governmental approprla-
lions.
At this time when a depleted public
treasury Coutronts u.s. when many oil
our peoplc are engaged In a hard strns-
gle for the ncccssarics of life. and when
enforced economy IS pressing on the
Great mass OF our countrymen. desire
10 urge with an the carnestheSs al my
command that congressional legislation
be so limited by strict economy as TO eN-
bthit an apprcciation of the condition or
The Treasury and a sympathy win the
straiehtcned circumstances Of our fellow
citizens
TARIFF REFORM.
The duty Of public economy is also OF
Immense Importance in its intimate ana
necessary relation to the task now III
hand Of providing revenue to meet gov
eminent expenditures and Yet reducing
she people's burdens of taxation
After a hard struggle. tarin-reform II
directly before us Nothing 80 important
claims our attention and nothing so clear
IA presents itself as both an opportunity
and a duty-an opportunity TO deserve the
gratitude OF our fcllow-cilizens, ana a
duty impoaed upon us by our Oft-repeated
professions and by the emphatic mandate
of the pcople. After fun discussion, our
countrvmen have spoken In favor OF ms
reform. and they have conflded the work
OF its accomplishment 90 the hands OF
those who are solemnly pledged to H.
II there Is anything In the theory or
representation In public place Of the peo-
ale and their desires; II public oHceTs
are really the servants Of the people, and
A. POLITICAL promises and professions have
any binding force. our failure 70 give the
relief so long awaited Will he sheer
recreancy. Nothing should intervene 10
distract our attention or disturb our et-
fort until this reform Is accomplished Oy
wise and careful legislation.
TARIFF DISCRIMINATION.
while we should staunchly adhere to
the principle that only the necessity OF
revenue justifies tha imposition OF tari1
duties and other Federal taxation, ana
that they should be limited by strict
economy. we cannot close our eyes To the