Warren sheaf., 1896-12-10

q
gage lien. In consequence Of those pro-
ceedings and increasing complications,
added to the default occurring on the 1st
day of January, 1897, condition will be
presented at that date, SO far as this COM
pany Is concerned, that must emphasize
the mandate OF the act Of 1887 and give to
imperative aspect. Therefore, unless con-
t gress shall otherwise. direct or shall have
previously determined upon different So
luton Of the problem. there will hardly ap-
pear to exist any reason for delaying be-
yond the date Of the default above mem
I toned such executive action as will prom
ise to subserve the public interests and
save the government from the loss threat
ened by further inaction
Department Of Agriculture.
The department Of agriculture is 80 IN
timately related to the welfare Of our peo-
pie and the prosperity Of our nation that
it should constantly receive the care and
small beginnings it has grown to be the
center Of agricultural intelligence and the
source Of aid and encouragement to agri-
cultural efforts. Large sums of money are
annually appropriated for the maintenance
o. this department. and it must be con-
fessed d. that a7 the legislation relating to it
est of practical farming or properly
guarded against waste. and extravagance.
appropriated fairly and sensibly to help
those who. actually till the soil no ex-
penditure has been more profitably made
or more generally approved by the peo-
pie.
Shows Great Saving.
From the report of the secretary it ap-
financial management he has annually
saved large sum from his appropria tions.
aSsregatlng during his incumhency and up
to the close of the present fiscal year near
ly one-ffth Of the entire amount appro-
priated. These results have been accom-
pGshed by conscientious study of the
for economy as the genuine farmer ought
to appreciate, Supplementary by rigid ad-
herence to civil service methods in depart
ment which should be conducted in the in
terest of agriculture instead Of partisan
Value of Farm Products.
The secretary reports that the value OF
oUr exports of farm products during the
last fiscal year amounted to $4,000 900,
11 Ts
ment is not the less welcome because OF
the fact that, Notwithstanding such in
uraI to- our total Of all
descriptions fell off during the year. The
benefits Of an increase in agricultural ex-
proportion to our total exports is the more
gratifying when consider that 1t is OW-
ing to the fact that such total exports for
, the year increased more than S15,oCO0o0.
Opposed to Free Seeds.
In my opinion the gratuitous distribu-
F., tion of seeds by the department as at pres
ent conducted ought to be discontinued
No one can read the statement Of the sec
retary or this subject and doubt the ex-
travagance and Questionable results OF
this practice.
The civil Service.
The progress made in civil service re-
form furnishes a cause for the utmost con-
gratulations. It has survived the doubts
of its friends as well as the rancor of its
place among the agencies destined to
cleanse our politics and to improve, econ
are now in the competitive classified serv..
ice upward of g., 600 places. More than half
Of those have been included from time to
time since March 4, 1893. most radical
and sweeping extension was made by ex-
ecutive order dated the 9th day of May,
1896. And if foqrth-class postmasterships
are not included in the statement, it may
be said that practically all positions con-
templated by the civil-service law are not
CLASSIFIED. Abundant reasons exist for
including these postmasterships, based up
on economy, improved service and the
peace and quiet of neighborhoods. II,
present. 1 earnestly hope that congress
will, WITHOUT increasing post office appro-
priations, so adjust them as to permit in
proper cases a consolidation Of these post
offices, to the end that through this proc
ess the result desired may to a limited ex-
tent be accomplished.
Must Not Be Offensive Partisans.
The civil service rules, as amended during
the last year, provide for sensible and
uniform method of promotion, baslng ELI
glbility to better positions; upon demon
absence Of fixed rules on this subject has
been an infrmlIy III the system more and
more apparent as its Other benents have
of civil service methods in their business
aspects are @ too Wen understood to require
argument: Their application has become
a necessity to the executive work Of the
government. But those VINO gain positions
through the operation of these nlethous
should be made to understand that the non
partisan scheme through which they re-
ceiVe their appointments demands from
them, by way OF reciprocity, nonparrsan
every administrator and cheerful fdeil1v
to every chief. While they should be en-
couraged to decenrIy exercise their rights
of citizenship and to support through ineir
suffrages the political beliefs they honest
ly profess, the noisy, peSIilent and partisan
employe who loves political turmoil and
contention, or who renders lax and grudg-
ing service to the administration not rep
resenting his political views, should be
promptly ana fearlessly dealt with in such
who may be likewise disposed.
Interstate Commerce.
The interstate commerce commission has
during the last year supplied abundant evl-
dence Of its usefulness and the importanc.
of the work committed to it's CHARGE Pub
lie transportation is a universal necessity
and the question of just and reasona bic
portance, 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 la "
passed for the purpose Of regulating these
charges are everywhere conceded, and there
appears to be no question that the policy
thus entered upon has permanent place
in our legislation.
Operations of the Tariff Law.
I desire to recur to the statements: else
where made concerning the governments
receipts and expenditures fer the purpose
Of venturing upon some suggestions touch
ing our present tariff law and it's opera
ton. This statute took effect on the 2Sth
day of August, 1894. Whatever may be its
shortcomings as complete measure of
tariff reform, it must be conceded that it
exchange of commodities between. US and
other countries and thus furnished
wider market for our products and manu-