Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-12-19

preciated. The advantages OF civil SER
vice methods In their business aspects
are too well understood to require ar
gument. Their application has become
a necessity to the executive work or the
government. But those who gain posi-
lions through the operation of these
methods should be mad to understand
that the non-partlsan scheme through
which they receive their appointments
demands from them, by way OF reel
procity, non-partisan and faithful per-
Torrance Of duty under every admin
istration and cheerful fidelity to every
chief. While they should be encour-
| aged to decentiy exercise their rights a
citizenship and to support through their
SURFACES the political beliefs they hon
estly profess, the noisy, pestilent n
partisan employe, h loves political
turmoil and contention, or who rem
ders lax and srudging service to an ad-
ministration not representing his pollt-
zeal views, should be promptly and
fearlessly dealt with in such a way as
to furnish a warning 10 others who may
be likewise disposed.
The annual report OF the commissions
ers will be duly transmitted, ana i com
mend the important matter they nave
in charge TO the careful consideration
Of the congress.
Interstate Commerce Commission
The interstate commission
has during the last year supplied
abundant evidence of it's usefulness and
the importance of the work committed
to it's charge.
Public transportation Is a universal
necessity and the question of just and
reasonable charges therefor has be-
come a thing OF vital importance. not
only to shippers and carriers, but also
to the vast multitude OF producers and
consumers. The justice and equity of
the principles embodied in the existing
law, passed for the purpose Of regulat-
ing these charges, are everywhere n
coded, and there appears to be no ques-
ton that the policy thus entered upon
has a permanent place in our legisla-
ture. as the present statute when en-
acted was, in the nature OF the case,
more or less tentative n experimental
it was hardly expected to supply a
complete and adequate system. While
it's wholesome efforts are manifest ana
have amply justified its enactment, 1t
Is evident that all desired reforms IN
TRANSPORTATION methods have not been
fully accomplished.
In view of the judicial Interpretation
which some provisions OF his statute
have been received and the defects dis
closed by the efforts made Tor Its en-
forcement, it's revision and amendment
appear to be essential to the end that
II may more effectually reach the evils
designed to be corrected. l hope the
recommendations Of the commission
upon this subject will be promptly n
favorably considered by the congress
The Tariff Law.
dosire 10 rccur to statements elsewhere
made concerning the governments re-
ccipts and expenditures for the purpose OF
y%enturjng upon some suggestions touch
ing our present tariff law and it's operation.
This statute took effect on the 2Sth day
of August, 1894. Whatever may be ITS
shortcomings as a complete measure OF
tariff reform, it must be conceded that IL
mas opened the way to a freer and greater
exchange of commodities between us and
other countries and thus furnished a
wider markets for our product and man.
ufacturing. The only entire fiscal year
during which this law has been In force
ended on the 30th day of June, 1896. In
that year our imports increased over those
Of the previous year more than Sc, 100000
while the value OF the domestic products
we exported and which found markets
abroad was nearly O.VW.VW more thah
during the preceding year.
5 Those who insist that the cost TO oui
! 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 well as those who
4 claim thai tariff charges may be laid upon
: government revenue, and with the addI
= tional purpose OF so increasing their price
. in our markets as TO give American manu-
: facturers and producers better and more
profitable opportunities, must agree tina
our tariff laws are only primarily justified
= as sources of revenue to enable the gov
5 m TO meet the necessary expenses
OF its maintenance. Considered as to It's
sufficiency in this aspect, the present law
can by no means fall under just condem-
nation. During the only complete fiscal
: year of its operation 1t has yielded nearly
$S,Oc0.000 more revenue than was received
from tariff duties in the preceding year.
There was never the less a deficit between
'f% vi al I l
more than $25. O00,0 900.
The situation was such in December.
seven months before the close of the fiscal
year, that the secretary Of the treasury
foreto.d a deficiency of 81, 900, 900. The
great and increasing apprehension In busi-
! ness circles and the depression I'm all ac-
tivitles intervening since that time result
Ing from causes perfectly well understood
, and entirely disconnected with our tariff
, law or its operation, seriously checked the
imports we would otherwise have received
and readily account for the difference be-
tween TINS estimate OF the secretary and
the actuai dehciency as We. as for a con-
tinued deficit. Indeed, 1t must be confessed
that we could hardly nave had a more un-
favorable period than the last two years
FOR the collection of a tariff revenue. We
cannot reasonably hope that our recunera-
tion from this business depression Will he
sudden. but 1t has already set in with a
promise or acceleration and continuance
1 De.ieve our present tariff law, IL allowed
a air opportunity. will in the near future
yield a revenue which, with REASONABLE
economical expenditures, will overcome all
oenciencies. In the meantime no de-
hciency that has occurred or may occur
heeu excite or disturb u.s.. To meet any
100 3e'ei' We nave IN the treasury, in
$500" ~ d soiu reserve, 100, 0Uo. O1. a
surplus OF more than 1928, 900, 900 applica bIe
10 the paymen of tho expenses of the
government and which must, unless ex-
pended for that purpose, emain a useless
BOARD, or. If not extravagantiy wasted
must IN any event be perverted from the
purpose or Its exaction from our neon,o
Ihe payment. therefore, of any d~efciencv
IN the revenue from this fund is no,h;n.
more IMAM Its proper and legitimate usc
Inc government thus applying a SIR.
] fortunately IA Ats TREASURY RI ~.
payment Of expenses not met by It's Cur
emf revenues, Is not at all to be likenea
TO a man living beyond his income ana
mus mourning debt or e~ncroachine -,
MS principal. With indiyiduaIs a.
Is the chief object OF struggle n EFFORT
me application of an accumulated fund
by the government to the payment Of
It's running expenses is a duty.
An individual living beyond his in
come and embarrassing himself with
deb or drawing upon his accumulat ted
fund of principal Is either unfortunat re-
or ~improvident. The distinction is be-
tween a government charged with the
duty OF expending for the people and
for roper purposes all the money II re-
ceives from any source and the individ-
ual who Ii expected to manifest a nat
ural desire to avoid deb or To accump