The Portland daily press., 1896-12-08

ing extension was made by executive or
aer dated the 9th day of May, 1926.
ana II fourth class misunderstanding
are not included in the statement it may
20 SAID that practically all positions con-
Iemplated by the civil service law are
now classified. Abundant reasons exist
LOT including these postmastersblps,
oaseu upon economy, improved service
anu the peace and quiet of nelghpo
moods. II, however, obstacles prevent
suon ac5lon at present. L earnesly nous
that Congress will, without increasing
post office appropriations. SO adjust them
as TO permit in proper cases consol ~ !.
ton of these postotfioes, to the end That
through this process the result desired
may. to a limited extent be accomplished.
The civil service rules as amended our
ing the last year provide for sehsiple
| anu uniform method of promotlon, pas-
ing eligibility to better POSITIONS upon
| demonstrated efficiency and falthIulness.
| The absence of fixed rules on this supJecI
has been an infirmlty In the system more
and more apparent as ITS other penehGs
have been better appreciated. Inc az
| yantages of civil service methods ID tneir
business aspect are too Well unuersuoou
to require argument Their application
| has become necessary to the e1ecuOiVe
work of the gov eminent. But those VINO
l
| these methods should be made to under
stand that the non-partlsan scneIne
| through which they receive their appoint
| ments demands from them by way OIL re-
oIprooity non partisan and faithful per-
| Torrance OF duty under every aulninis-
| tration and cheerful fidelity to every chief.
| While they should be encouraged Go de-
| Gently assert their rights OF citizenship
and to support through their suhrages
the political beliefs they honestly pro-
| fess. noisy partisan employe VINO loves
political turmoil and contention, or VINO
| renders lax and grudglng service 10 an
administration not representing MS poll
itoal views, should be promptly ana lear
lessly dealt with in such way as TO
furnish a warning to others who may be
likewise disposed.
The annual report of the commissioners
will ne duly transmitted, and commend
the important matter they have in charge
to the careful consideration of the Con-
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The interstate commerce commission
has, during the last year, supplied
abundant evidence of its usefulness and
the Importance Of the work committed to
Its charge. Public transportation is a
universal necessity. and the question or
lust and reasonable charges therefor has
become of vital Importance not only to
shippers and carriers. but also to the vast
multitude of producers an consumers.
The Justice and equity of the principles
embodied in the existing law passed for
the purpose of regulating these charges
are everywhere conceded. And there ap-
pears to be no question that the policy.
thus entered upon, has permanent place
in our legislation.
AS the present statute when enacted
was, III the nature of the case, more or
lose tentative and ayOariUnAnf8I. it was
hardly expected to supply q complete
ana adequate system. While Its whole
some effscUs are manifest and have am
ply justified its enactment, it is evident
that all desired reforms in transportation
method have not been fully accomplished.
In view of the judicial Interpretation
which some provisions of this statute
have received and the defects disclosed by
the efforts made for it's enforcement. its
revision and amendment appear to ce eS-
ntial to the end that it may more effeo-
Jually reach the evils designed to be cor
rected hope the recommendations ofsthe
commission upon this subject will be
promptly and favorably considered by the
Congress.
THE TARIFF.
I desire to recur to the statements
elsewhere made concerning the gov
ernment's receipts end expenditures for
the purpose of venturing upon some sug-
gestions touching our present tartH law
and it's operation. This statute took
effect on the 2Stn day of August, 1894.
Whatever may be it's shortcomings as
a complete measure of tariff reform it must
be conceded that it mas opened the way to
freer and greater exchange of commodi-
ties between this and other countries and
thus furnished a wider market Tor our
productions and manufactures. The only
entire fiscal year during which this law
has been in force ended on the 9Th day OF
June, 1896. In that year our imports in
creased over those of the previous year
more than So, 800, 600 while the value of
the domestic products we exported and
which found markets abroad was nearly
$40, 600, 900 more than during the proceed
ing year.
Those who insist that the cost to our
people of articles coming to them from
abroad for their needful use should only
be increased through tariff charges to an
extent necessary to meet the expenses OF
the government as we'll those who claim
that tariff charges may be laid upon such
articles beyond the necessities OF gov
eminent revenue and with the addition
al purpose Of SO increasing their price in
our market as to give American manufac-
turers and producers better and more
profitable opportunities, must agree that
our tariff laws are only primarily justl-
fled as sources of revenue to enable the
government to meet the necessary ex
penses of it's maintenance. Considered as
to its sutficiency in this respect. the pres
ent law can by no means fall under just
condemnation. During the only complete
fiscal year of it's operation 1t has yielded
nearly rs. 600, 900 more revenue than was
received from tariff duties in the proceed
ing year. There was, nevertheless. de-
felt between our receipts and expendi-
lures of little more than S25, 900, 900
This, however. was not unexpected.
The situation WAS such in December
last, seven months before the close OF the
fiscal year, that the Secretary of the
Treasury foretold g deficiency of ST. 0O0,-
600. Che great and increasing apprehen-
sion and timidity in business circles and
the depression in all activities interven-
ing since that time, resulting from causes
perfectly we'll understood and entirely
discontinued with our tariff law or its
operation, seriously checked the imports
we would have otherwise received. and
readily account for the difference between
this estimate of the Secretary and the &C.
tual deficiency, as we'll as for contin-
ued deficit. Indeed it must be confessed
thai we could hardly have had more un-
favorable period than the last two years
for the collection OF tariff revenue we