Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-12-17

courts and the division OF their common
lands in severalty and aiding In the settle
ment Of the troublesome quei lion nf tribal
| membership The reception of their first
proileIS OF negotons was not encouraging;
| but through patience and such conduct on
their paet as demonstrated that their inten-
tlons.wi@ friendly and In tie interest Of
the best prospect Of success has sbecome
more pr Amlsing The efforts should be to
save the Indians from the consequences of
their own mistakes and improNldencea and
to secure TO the real indian h's rights az
against intrudera and professed friends WHO
HroAt by his retrogression.
A change Is also needed TO pro ect life and
property through the operations Of courts
conducted according to strict justice and
strong enough TO enforce their mandates,
VS. sincere friend OF the Indian am cx-
ceedingly anxious that these reforms should
be accomplished with the consent and aid of
the tribes and that no necessity may be pre-
scented for radical or drastic legislation.
hope, therefore, that the commission now
conducting negotiations will soon be able to
report that progress has been made toward
friendly adjustment of existing dinicul-
lies.
PACIFIC RAILROADS.
on January IL, 1897 with the amount
already matured more than Sl3,000,000 Of
the principal of the subsidiary bond issued
by the United States In aid Of the construc-
ton Of the Union Pacific railway including
Its Kansas line, and more than S6, 000,0 900 of
like bonds issued In aid of the Central Pa
cifc railroad, including those issued to the
Western Railway company will have fallen
due and been paid or must on that day be
paid by the government Without any ref
erence to the application of the sinking fund
aow In the treasury this will create such a
~ Al mi a 10
the government as Will give 1t the right to
1t once institute proceedings to foreclosc Its
mortgage lien. In addition to this Indebted
ness which will be due January 1, 1897
there will mature between that date and
January /, 1899 the remaining principal of
such subsidy bonds which must also be met
by the government These amount to more
than S20,000,000 on account of the Union
Pacific lines and exceeds S21, 100000 on ac-
count of the Central Pacific lines,
In the case of the Union Pacific company,
the situation has become especially urgent
Proceedings have been instituted to fore
close a first mortgage upon those aided parts
Of the main lines upon which the Govern
ment holds second and subordinate mort
gage lien In consequence of these prRaeed-
ings and increasing complications, adued to
the default occurring on the first day of
January, 1897, condition will be presented
at that date so far as this company is con-
cerned that mast emphasize the mandate of
the act of 1887 and give to executive duty
under its provisions q more imperative
aspect
Unless Congress shall otherwise direct or
shall have previously determined upon a
different solution OF the problem there will
hardly appear to exist any reason for delay
ing beyond the date Of the default above
mentioned such executive action as will
promise to subserve the public interests and
save the government from the loss threat
ened by further inaction.
OFFENSIVE PARTIsANsHIP
The progress made IN civil service reform
furnishes cause for the utmost congratu-
lation, 1t has survived the doubts Of It's
friends as well as the rancor oflits enemies;
and has gained permanent place among
the agencies destined to cleanse our politics
and improve, economize and elevate the
public service. There are now in the COM
petitive classified service upwards of $4,000
places, More than half of these have been
included from time to time since March 4,
! 1893, A most radical and sweeping extern
sion was made by executive order dated the
9th day of May, 1896. And II fourth class
postmasterships are not included In the
statement II may be said that practically
all positions contemplated by the civil SER
vice law are now classified. Abundant rea-
sons exist for including these postmaster
ships based upon economy, improved SER
vice and the peace and quiet Of neighbor-
hoods. H. however obstacles prevent such
action AZ present earnestly hope that con-
GIess will, without increasing postoiice app
preparations so adjust them as to permit in
proper cases consolidation of these
postonlces to the end that through this pro-
cess tho result desired may to limited ex
tent be accomplished.
The civil service rules as amended during
the last year provides for a sensible and
uniform method of promotion, basing elig-
ibllity to better positions upon demon
strated efficiency and faithfulDess The
absence of fixed rules on this subject has
been an ln1rmity in the system more and
more apparent Its other benefits have been
better appreciated. The advantage of civil
service methods In their business aspects
are too well understood to require argu-
ment Their application has become a me-
cessity to the executive work of the govern
ment But those who gain through the
operation of these methods should be made
to understand that the nOn-partisan scheme
through which they receive their appoint
ments demands from them, by way Of re-
ciprocty, non-partlsan and faithful per-
formance of duty under every adminlstra-
ton, and cheerful fidelity to every chief.
Wnlle they should ne encouraged 10 de-
Gently exercise their rights Of citizenship
and to support through their SURFACES the
political beliefs they honestly profess the
noisy, persistent and partisan employc, who
loves political turmoil and contention, or
who renders lax and grudging service to an
administration not representing his political
views, should be promptly and fearlessly
dealt with In such way as to furnish a
warning to others who may be likewise dis
posed.
THE TARIFF LAW.
desire to recur to the statements else
where made concerning the governments
receipts and expenditures for the purpose
OF venturing upon some suggestions touch
ing our present tariff law and its operation.
This statute took effect on the 29th day OF
August, 1894. Whatever may be Its short.
comlngs as a complete measure of tariff
reform. 1t must be conceded that 1t has
opened the way to freer and greater ex-
change of commodities between us and other
countries, and thus furnished wider mar
ket for our products and manufactures
The only entire year during which this
law has been In force ended on the Both day
of June, 1896. In that year our imports In
creased over those Of the previous year
more than s6, 100000, while the value Of the
domestic products we exported and which
found markets abroad was nearly S70,00O,a
900 more than during the preceding year.
Those who insist that the cost to our PEG.
pie of articles coming to them from abroad
for their needful use should only be In
creased through tariff changes to an extent
necessary to meet the expenses of the gov
eminent, as well as those who claim that
49,. Nnta