The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-07

1898, and the secretary recommends
that the remaining $35, 900 of estimate
be confined strictly to the purchase OF
new and improved varieties of seed,
and that these be distributed through
experiment stations. Thus the seed
will be tested and after the test has
been completed by the experiment
stations the propagation of the useful
varieties and the rejection OF the val
ueless may safely be left to the com
mon senee of thespeople.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The continued intelligent execution
of the civil service law and the increas-
ing approval by the people
OF its operation are most
gratifying. The recent extension of
its limitation and regulations to en-
ployees at free delivery postoffices
which has been honestly and promptly
accomplished by the commission with
the hearty cooperation of the post
master general, is an immensely I'M
portant advance in the usefulness of
the system. | am, if possible, more
than ever convinced of the incalcula.
BILE benefits conferred by civil service
law, not only 10 it's effect upon public
service, but also what is even more
important in its effect in elevating the
tone of political life generally.
The course of civil service reform in
this country is instructive and inter
esting, and illustrates how strong a
hold movement gains upon people
which has underlying sentiment OF
justice and right and what at the
same time promises better admins
tration of their government The law
embodying this reform found lis way
to our statute books more from fear
of the popular sentiment existing in
it's favor than from any love for the
reform itself on the part of legisla
lures, and it has lived and grown and
flourished in spite of the covert as
we'll as open hostility of spoilsmen
and not outstanding the querulous
impracticability of many self consti-
tuted guardians. Beneath all the va
carries and sublimated theories which
are attracted TO it there underlies
this reform sturdy common sense
principle not only suited to this nun
dane sphere, but whose application
our people are more and more recog-
nizing to be absolutely ESSENTIAL to the
most successful operation of their
government if not to its perpetuity.
II seems to me to be entirely incou-
sistent with the character of this re-
form as we'll as with it's best enforce.
ments to oblige the commission to rely
for clerical assistance upon clerks de.
tailed from other departments There
ought not to be such a condition in
any department that the clerks
hired to do work there can be
spared to habitually work at another
place, and it does not accord with the
sensible view of civil service reform
that persons should be employee on
the thought that their labor is neces
sary in one department, when, in
point of fact, their services are devoted
to an entirely different work in an
other department. | earnestly urge
that the clerks necessary to carry on
the work of the commission be regu-
arly put on its roster and that the
system of obliging the commissioners
to rely upon the services of clerks be.
longing to other departments be dis
continued. This ought not to increase
expense to the government while it
would certainly be more consistent
and add greatly to the efficiency of the
commission. Economy in public ex-
penditure is duty that CAN
not innocently be neglected by
those intrusted with the control
of money drawn from the public for
public use. 1t must be confessed that
our apparently endless resources, the
familiarity OF our people with i'm
mense accumulations1 of wealth, the
growing sentiment among them that
the expenditure of public money
should in some manner be to their i'm
mediate and personal advantage, the
indirect and almost stealthy manner
in which large part of our taxes are
exacted and d degenerated sense OF
, official accountability, have led to
growing extravaganza in government
, appropriations.
At this time, when depleted public
: treasury confronts us, when many OF
our people are engaged in a hard
struggle for the neccessaries' of life,
and when forced economy is press
ing upon the great mass q
our countrymen, desire tC
urge with all the earnestness at my
! command that congressional legisla
ton be so limited by strict economy IS
> !, to exhibit an appreciation of the con
, dition of the treasury and a sympathy
q with the Strengthened circumstances
of our fellow citizens. The duty o
> public economy is also of immense i'm
! portance in its intimate and necessary
= relation to the task now in hand @
y providing revenue to meet govern
: ment expenditures, and yet reducing
. the peoples burden of federal tax.
, alton.
=. TARIFF REFORM.
|. After hard struggle tariff reform il
:, directly before us. Nothing so i'm
; portant claims our attention an(
q nothing so clearly presents itself a
. both an opportunity and a duty; al
opportunity to deserve the gratitud,
y of our fellow citizens and a duty i'm
y posed upon us by our oft repeated
. professions and by the emphatic man
date of the people. After full discus
>, sion our countrymen have spoken il
- favor of this reform and they hav
, confided the work of it's accomplish
!. ment to the hands of those who ar
n solemnly pledged to it. If there j
II anything in the theory of a repre-
- sentation in public places c
h the people and their de
II eirao ,uhlio ofSoaro raoll