The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-08

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Therefore. unless Congress shall 9th,
crwisc direct, or slinll have previously
determined upon u different solution y
the problem. there VIII hardly appeal
to exist any rcnSOn for delaying b.
You'd the date Ot the default above
mentioned such executive action as vii
promise to subscrvO tho public inter,
csts and save the government from
III" loss threatened by further inac,
ton.
Agricultural Department.
The department Of agriculture Is II
Intimately related TO the welfare Of Oul
people and the prosperity OF II Eutlor
that It should certainly receive th'
care ana encouragement OF the govern.
mcnt.
From small beginnings. It has grown
Ia he the centre OF agricultural ln,clll,
Ecnco and the source OF aid and en-
c0urIgcmcnt to agricultural efforts
Large sums OF money ARE annually ap,
nropriatvd for the maintenance OF THU
department. and II must 10 confessed
that the legislation relating to Il hu,
not always been directly In the lMtprcs.
Of practical farming or properly guard.
cd against waste and CNtrlVagdHCc, 81
far, however, as public money has beer
appropriated fairly and scnsibly to lClT
thOac who actually I'LL the soil. no cN.
pcndituSc has been more probably
made or more generally approved by
the people.
Under the present management Of the
department It's usefulness has becu on.
HANGED in every direction, and at the
am time strict economy has been on.
forced to the utmost extent permitted
by congressional action, From thu 10.
port Of the secretary Il appears that
through careful and prudent inancla!
management he has annually saved 4
large sum from his appropriations. ag.
GrcIatinE during his incumbcnCy and
UP 10 the close OF the present fiscal
year nearly Onc-Nfh OF the entire
amount appropriated. These results
have been accomplished by u con.
scicntiOus study OF the real needs Of tn,
farmer and such Il regard for economy
ny the genuine farmer ought 10 apprr.
ciate. supplemented by II rigid adhcr.
cnCc to clvil service methods In Il de.
plrtmcnt which should be conducted In
thu interest OF agriculture instead Of
partisan politics. The secretary reports
that the value OF our exports OF farm
products during the last fiscal year
amounted to $4,000 900. an Increase OF
$lI. 00O,0 600 over those OF the year lmmc-
diately preceding. This statement Is not
| the less welcome, because " the fac:
that. Notwithstanding such increased tn
proportion Of exported agricultural pro-
ducts to our total exports OF all dCscrip-
iits OF an Increase in agricultural CX-
ports being insured. the decrease In
Its proportion to our total exports Is
the more gratifying when We consider
that It Is owing TO the fact that such
total exports for tn: year Increased
more thnu S15,O00,QOO.
The large and increasing expectation
Of our agricultural products suggests
the great usefulness OF tho ]orEanIZa-
don lately established In the depart
ment for the purpose OF giving to those
engaged II farming pursuits reliable In
formation concerning the condition,
needs and advantages OF different for
Cicn markets. InIs:nuCh as the success
Of the farmer depends upon the nd
vautiEtouS sale OF his products. and
lnasmuch as foreign markets must
largely be the destination OF such pro-
duCtsr II IS quite apparent that n
knowledge Of the conditions and wants
that affect those markets ought to re-
suit in sowing more I~ntclliEcntly and
r-apinS with q better promise OF pro-
fit. Such information points out th>
NlA 10 Il III NltIlA .bEfsiSl III Ailt So
lection and cultivation OF crops and 10
n release from the bondage OF unrcas-
| oning monotony OF production 4 gluticd
and depressed market. In my opinion.
| the gratu!t0uS distribution OF seeds by
the department rs at present conducted
ought TO be discontinued. No one can
read the statement of the secretary on
this subject and doubt the cxtraya-
gance and questionable results OF this
| practice. Tn. prOfessed friends OF the
farmer. and certainly the farmers
| themselves, are naturally expected 10
he willing 90 rid a department devoted
10 the promotion OF farming interests.
OF q feature, which tends 50 much 10
Its disCTHdit.
The weather bcrcau. now attached 10
the department OF agriculture. has con-
tInued to extend It's sphere OF useful
ness. and by uninterrupted government
In the accuracy OF ita forecasts has
greatly Increased Its efficiency as an aid
and protection TO oil whose occupations
are related 10 weather conditions.
Omitting further reference to the Cp-
erations OF the department, | commend
the seCrctary's report and the sugEcs-
tions IL contains to the careful con
s~ideratlon OF the Congress.
Civil Service Reform.
The progress made in civil service re-
form furnishes II cause for the utmost
| congratulatIoR. II has survived the
doubts OF Its friends ny well as the
rancor of its enemies, and has gained
L permanent place among the agencies
destined To cleanse u politics and TO
improve. "cOnomizc n elevate the pub
| II Nh. 49,. noe, L., thA ,,nv,
pctltive classes upward Of eighty-four
thousand places. More h half Of
these have been included from time TO
time since March 1. 1893. A most rad
ical and sweeping extension was made
by executive order dated the 9th day
OF Mny, 1896. and II fourth class post
mastCrshipS are not included In the
statement, II may be said that practi-
Cally all positions contemplated by the
civil service law are now classified.
Abundant reasons exist for Including
these misunderstanding, based upon econ
omy, improved service and the peace
and quiet OF nelghburhOOdE. II. how
ever, obstacles prevent such action ut
present. earnestly hope TINT Congress
will. without Increasing postOillcc APP
preparations. so adjust them ms to per-
nit In proper cases Il consolidation of
| these postuilicrs. to tn" end that through
this process the result desired may TO
IL limited extent b. accomplished.
The civil service rules az amended
during thclast year.prOvidc for u sensl-
bic and uniform method of promotion
during eligibility 10 better positions
upun demonstrated efficiency and faith
fuln"ss. The absence OF fixed rules on
this subject has been nm infirmity In
the system more and moro apparent
na Its other benefits have been better
appreciated. TIL" advantages OF civil
service methods in thicr business AS