The herald., 1894-12-04

4
statistioan's work, and the natural and
acquired fneness necessary to its suc-
cessful prosecution, the seer etary OF ag-
riculture expresses the opinion that
every person employed in gathering
statistics under the chief of that division,
| should De admitted to that service only
after q thorough. exhaustive and suc-
cessful examins alton at the hands OF the
| United States civil service commission.
| This has led him to call for such exam
| inatiou of candidates for the position OF
assistant staticians and also OF candi.
dates for chiefs OF section in that divi-
sion.
The work done by the department. OF
agriculture is very euperfcially
dealt with in this communication, and
l commend the report of the secretary
and the very important interests with
| which it deals to the careful attention
OF the congress.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The advantages to the public service
OF an adherence to the principle Of civil
service reierm are constantly more ap-
parent, and nothing is SO encouraging g
to those in official life, who honestly de-
sire good government, as the increasing z
appreciation Of our people of these ad-
vantages. The vast majority OF the vo-
tors of the land are ready to insist
that the time and attention of
those they select to perform for
their important public duties should
not bs distracted by doing out minor
Offices, and they are growing to be
unanimous in regarding party orgsniza-
tion as mething that should be used
in establishing party principles, in
stead of directing the distribu-
tion of public places OF rewards of
partisan activity. Numerous additional
| Offices and places have lately been
brought within the civil service rules
and regulations, and some others will
probably coon be included. The report
| of the CON missioners will be submitted
to the congress, and | invite careful at
tention to the recommendations it con-
tains.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
l am entirely convinced that we ought
not to be longer without q national
board Of health or national health
officer, charged with no other duties
than such 40 pertain to the protection oi
our country from invasion by pestilence
and disease. This would involve the es.
tablishment BY such board OF oficers
of proper quarantine, precautions OF
the necs ssary aid and counsel to local
authorities on the subject; prompt ad.
vice and assistance to local boards oi
health, or health officers in the suppress.
sion of contagious diseasss, and in eases
whore there are no such local boards
or officers. the immediate direction by
the national board or officer of meas.
ures OF suppression constant and au'
thentic information concerning the
health of foreign countries, and ell parts
OF our own country, as related to con-
tagious diseases and consideration oil
regulations to be enforced in for.
eign ports to prevent the in
PRODUCTION OF eontagion into
our cities, and the measures which
should be adopted to SECURE their en-.
forosment. There seems to be at this
time q decided inclination to discuss
measures OF protection sgainst con-
tagious diseases in an international
adopting means OF mutual assistance
The creation of such q national health
establishment would greatly aid oul
standing in such conferences and i'm
prove our opportunities to avail our
selves of their benefits. / earnestly
recommend the Inauguration Of q ma.
tional board OF health or similar nationa
fundamentally, believing the same Il
be needed precaution against contag-
ious diseases and in the interest of thu
safety and health of our people,
THE STRIKE COMMISSION.
By virtue Of a statute of the United
States passed in 1888. appointed in
July laet Hon. John ID. Herman of the
state of New York and Hon. Nicholas E.
Worthin gton, of the etate of Illinois te
form with Hon. Carol ID. Wright, com.
missioner of labor, who was designated
by said statute, "a commission for the
careful inquiry into the causes OF the
controversies between rsilrosdt
and their employees which had resulted
in an extensive and destructive strike,
accompanied by much violence and
dangerous disturbance, with consider
able loss of life and great destruction oi
property. The report of the commits
sioners has been submitted and will be
transmitted to congress-, with the evil
dence taken upon their investigation
Their work was we'll done and theiI
standing and intelligence give assurance
that the report and suggestions they
| MhAo hIo " oItuy oICAIoAui CuAniuoIhtiou
TARIFF LEGISLATION f
The tariff act passed at the last aes
sion Of congress needs important amend
ments, If it is to be executed effectively
and with certainty, in addition to auct
necessary amdendments as will no
change rates OF duty, and l am still very
decidedly in favor of putting coal anC
iron upon the free list. So far as tht
sugar schedule is concerned, would b,
glad under existing aggravations t.
duty in favor Of refined sugar stricker
out of eur tariff law. II, with all th'
favor now accorded the sugar refining
interest in our tariff laws, it still Ian
guishss to the extent of closing rsfiner'
les and thousands of discharged work
men, it would seem to present a hope
less case for reasonable legislative aid
Whatever else 10 done or omitted,
earnestly repeat here my recommends
ton have made in another portion o
this communication that the additiona
duty Of one-tenth of cent per poune
laid upon sugar imported from countries
paying bounty on its export, be abro'
gated. 1t seems to me that exceedingly
important considerations point to the
propriety of this amendment.
With the advent of q new tariff pol
icy, not only calculated to relieve the
consumers Of our land in the cost ol
their daily life, but invite a better de-
velopment of American thrift and create
for us closer and more profitable COM