Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-12-18

Civil Service.


The nrorress made In Civil Service RoIorm
furnishes cause for the utmost congratul"-
tlon. 1t has survived the doubts OF its
friends as well as the rancor Of its cnomies,
and has gained permanent place among
| the agencies destined to cle 4nse our politics
and 10 improve, eoocomize and elevate the
| public service.
The Civil Service rules as amended during
the last year provide for q sensible and uni
| form method or promotion, Dasing ellglplilty
| to better positions upon demonstrated ellcI-
ENJOY and faithfulne5s. The absence OF Ilxel
rules on this subject has been an lnnrnity
| In the system more and moro apparent as us
other benefits have been better appreciated
The Matter of Tariff.
Concerning the tariff the President says
that "our tariff laws are only primarily lqs-
| titled as sources of revenue to enable the
| Government to meet the necessary expenses
| OF its maintenance" and adds; II believe
| our present tariff law, II allowed far op-
portunity, will In the near future yleld =
revenue which, with reasonably economical
expenditures, will overcome all deficiencies.
in the meantime no deficit that has occurred
or may occur need excite or disturb US. 10
meet any such dedcit we have in the treasury
in addition to a gold reserve OF S1OO, ,OO0, 0O0,
q surplus OF more than S128, 900, 900 applica-
| Government, and which must. unless ex-
pended for that purpose, remain useless
hoard, or, il not extravagantly wasted must
in any event be perverted from the purpose
Of its exaction from our people. The pry-
ment. therefore, Of any deficiency in the
revenue from this fund is nothing more than
It's proper and legitimate use. The Govern
ment thus applying surplus fortunately in
its Treasury to the payment OF expenses NOT
met by Its current revenues, is not ut all to
be liksned to a man living beyond his In
some and thss mourning debt or encroachtng
on his principal.
ut is net one OF the functions OF our Gov
ernment to accumulate and make additions
to fund not needed for immediate expsndi-
ture. With individuals it is the chief object
of struggle and effort. The application OF
m accumulated fund by the Government to
the payment OF It's running expenses is
duty. An individual living beyond his in
come and embarrassing himself with debt,
or drawing upon his accumulated iund OF
principal, is either unfortunate or improvi-
dent. The distinction is between govern
ment charged with the duty OF expending
for the benefit of the people and for
proper purposes all the money il receives
from any source and the individual who
Is expected to manifest natural desire to
avoid debt or to accumulate as much as pos
Bble and to live within the income derived
from such accumulations, to the end that
they may be increased or at least remain un-
impaired for the future use aud enjoyment
Of himself or the objects OF his love and affec-
tlon who may survive him.
"It Is imrneasurably better to appropriate
our surplus to the payment Of justiaable ex-
pensss than to allow 1t to become an invita-
hon to reckless appropriations and extrava'
CANT expenditures.
"I suppose 1t will not be denied that under
the present law our people obtain the neces-
saries OF a comfortable existence at a ohsap-
er rate than formerly. This is a matter OF
supreme importance. since it Is the palpabls
duty OF every just Government to make the
burdens Of taxation as light rs possible. The
people should not be required to relinquish
this privilege of cheaper living except under
the stress OF their Governments necessity
made plainly manifest"
Reform In Finance.
Upon the question of reforming the finance
system OF ths country the President says:
1 am more convinced than ever that We
can have no assured financial peace ana
safety until the Government currency obll-
cations upon which gold may be demanded
from the Treasury are withdrawn from
circulation and cancelled. This might be
done, as has been heretofore recommended,
by their exchange for long-term bonds boar
Ing a low rate Of interest or by their re-
demption with the proceeds of such bonds.
Even II only the United States notes known as
greenbacks were thus retired, 1t Is probable
that tho Treasury notes issuel in payment
OF silver purchases und the act OF J1ly
Ii, 1899, now paid In gold when demanded,
would not create much disturbance, as they
might, from time to time, when received Ia
4 Tra hxyr lam 1tiO In Ot ar
wise be gradually and prudently replaced
by silver coin
This plan OF issuing bonds for the purpose
of redemption certainly appears to bs the
most effective aud rect path to the needed
reform. In default of this, however, it
would be step in the right direction If cur
rsncy obligations redeemable in gold. when
ever 80 redeemed, should be Cancelled In
stead Of being reissued. This operation
would be q slow remedy, but 1t would i'm
prove present conditions.
National banks should redeem their own
notes. They should be- allowed to issue cir
culation to the par value Of bonds deposited
as security for its redemption, and the tax
on their circulation should be reduced to
one-fourth Of per cent.
In considering projects for the retirement
Of United States notes and Treasury notes
issued under the law Of 1890, l am OF the
opinion that we have placed too much stress
upon the danger of contracting the cur
rency and have calculated too littlo upon
the gold that would be added to our circula-
tion ii invited to US by better AMI safer nnan-
clal methods. 1t Is not so much contrae-
tion Of cur currency that should be avoided |
az its unequal distribution.
This might be obvlated, and any fear OF |
harmful friction at the same time removed, |
by allowing the organization OF smaller |
banks and in less populous communities than |
are now permitted, and also authorizing |
existing banks to establish branches In small |
communities under proper restrictions.
The entire case may be presented by the
statement that the day of sensible and sound |
financial methods will not dawn upon US
until our Government abandonS the BANK
ing business and the accumulation OF fun Is, |
and confines its monetary operation to the
receipt OF the money contributed by the |
people for its support, and to the expcnd-
ilure Of such money for the peoples benefit.
Our business interests and all good citi.
zens long for rest from feverish agitation,
and the inauguration by the Government OF
a reformed financial policy which will en-
courage enterprise and make certain the re-
wards OF labor and industry.
"Trusts and Monopo'ies."
Another topic in which our people right
fully take deep interest may be here briefly |
considered. Irefer to the existence of trusts !
and other huge aggregations OF capita, the
object of which Is to secure the monopoly or |
some particular branch of trade, industry, or |
commerce and to stitie wholesome competi- |
ton. When these are defended it is usually |
on the ground that though they increase pro |
fits they also reduce prices and thus may BEN |
eft the public. It must be remembered, how
ever, that reduction of prices to the people |
is not one of the real objects of these organic