The herald., 1893-12-04

of seed, and yet this indiscriminate aud
wasteful distribution by legislation and
Legislators continues, answering no pur-
pose unless 1t be to remind constituents
that their representatives are willing to
remember them with gratitude st public
cost.
Under the sanction OF existing legis-
lation there were sent out from the ag-
ricultural department during the last
fiscal year enough Of cabbage seed to
plant 10, 200 acres of land, sufficient
quantity OF beans to plant 1000 acres,
beet seed enough to plant 2500 acres,
sweet corn enough to plant 1900 acres,
sufficient cucumber seed to cover 2035
acres with vines, and enough musk
melon and water melon seeds to plant
2675 acres. The total quantity of flower
and vegetable seeds thus distributed
was contained in more thar nine million
packages and they were sufficient, II
planted, to cover so, sos acres Of land.
In view of these facts this formidable
expenditure. without legitimate returns
of benefit, ought to be abolished. An
ticipating q contamination 30 manifestly
in the interest Of good administration
more than 100000 has been stricken
from the estimate made to cover this
object for the year ending June 20, 1896 I,
and the secretary recommends that the
remaining $4,000 of the estimate be
confined strictly to the purchase Of new
and improved varieties of seeds, and
that these be distributed through ex-
pertinent stations. Thus the seed will
be tested and after the test has been
completed by the experiment station,
the propagation OF useless varieties and
the rejection of the valueless may
safely be- left to the common sense Of
the people.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The continued intelligent execution Of
the civil service law and the increasing
approval by the people of it's operation.
are most gratifying. The extensions of
its limitations and regulations to the
employees at free-delivery postofices,
has been honestly and promptly accom-
plished by the commission, with the
hearty cooperation of the postmaster
general, is an immensely important ad-
vance in the usefulness of the system.
l am, il possible, more than ever con.
vinced of the incalculable benefits con-
ferred by the civil service law, not only
in its effect upon the public service but
also what 10 even more important. in its
effect in elevating the tone Of political
life generally.
The course of civil service reform in
this country instructively and interest
ingly illustrates how strong = hold the
movement gains upon our people which
has underlying 1t . sentiment of justice
and right, and which 1T the same time
promises better administration OF their
~. l.. Nd led -
reform found its way to our statute book
more from fear OF the popular sentiment
existing in it's favor than from any love
for the reform itself on the part
of legislators, and has lived and
grown and fourished in spite
OF the covert and open hostility
querulous impracticsbility of many self
constituted guardians. Beneath all the
vagsries and sublimed theories which
are attached to it, there underlies this
reform q sturdy. common-sense princi-
pie not only suited to this sphere, but
whose application our people have more
and more recognized to be absolutely
essential to the most successful opera
tion of the government, If not to its
pelpetuity.
sistent with the character OF this re-
form, as we'll as with its enforcement,
to oblige the commission to rely for
from other departments. There ought
mot to be- such q condition in any de-
nartment that clerks hired to do the
work there can be spared to habitually
work at another place, and 1t does
not accord with q sensible view
of civil service reform that persons
should be employed on the theory
that their labor is necessary in one
department, when in point Of fact theil
services are devoted to entirely different
work in another department. ear
nestly urge that the clerks necessary tc
carry on the work Of the commission bt
regularly put upon its roster, and tha
the system OF obliging the commission
ers to rely upon the services OF clerk
belonging to other departments be dis
continued. This ought not increase thu
expense of the government, while i
would certainly be more consistent ant
add greatly to the efficiency OF the com
mission.
PLEA FOR ECONOMY.
Economy in public expenditure is
duty that cannot innocently be neg
lected by those intrusted with the cor
troll of money drawn from the peopl
for public uses. 1t jmust be confssse
that our apparently endless resources
the familiarity OF our people with in
mense accumulations OF wealth, tn
growing sentiment among them thi
the expenditure OF money should be
some manner to their immediate an
personal advantage, the indirect An
almost stealthy manner in which
large part OF our taxes 10 exacted. and
: deeenerated sense of official accounts
, bility. have led to growing extravagan'
in governmental appropriations.
, At this time, whom q depleted publ
! treasury confronts US, many OF our pei
i pie are engaged in q hard struggle f
= the necessaries of life, and wht
! enforced economy is pressing upon Il
. great mass of our countrymen, desi
to urge with all the earnestness at
a command that congressional legislati'
. be 90 limited by strict economy as
= exhibit an appreciation OF the conditi'
4 of the treasury and sympathy with T.
strained circumstances OF our fello'
. citizens.
;. The duty of public economy is also
!. immense importance in its intimate al
|, necessary relation to the task now
o baud of providing revenue to meet t
: government expenditures, a1d yet I
ducing the peoples burden OF fede
d taxation.
Q TARIFF REFORM ON DECK.