davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

ThI progress made in civil service re-
fOrlI furnishes a cause for the utmost
congratulations. 1t has survived the
doubts of its friends as we'll as the rancor
cf its enemies and has gained II permanent
place among the agencies destined to
cleanse our politics and to improve, econo-
nli7c and elevate the public service There
are now in the competitive classified serv-
zee upward of $4,000 places More than
half of these have been included from
time to time since March 4, 1892.
The civil service rules as amended dur
ing the last year provide for sensible
and uniform method of promotion, bas-
ing eligibility TO better positions upon
demonstrated efficiency and faithfulnesS.
he absence cf fixed rules on this subject
has been an infirmity in the system more
Nand more apparent as its other benefits
have been better appreciated. The advan-
tages of civil service methods in their
business aspects are too well understood
to require argument Their application
has become necessity to the executive
work of the government. But those who
gain positions through the operation OF
these methods should be made to under
stand that the nonpartsan scheme through
which they receive their appointments de
m;r nds them by way of reciprocity nor
partisan and faithful performance o
duty under every administration. anC
cheerful fidelity to every chief while they
| should be encouraged t. dcrpntly exercise
| their rights Of citizenship and to supper
| through their suffragcs the political be
| liefs they honestly profess. the noisy, pes
| tilent and partisan employee who love
| political turmoil and contention, or wh'
renders lax and grud@'inG service TO Al
nGmtlti-tr;tion ne repre- srnting h ro'it
ital '. W., should he ron. ply and tcar
| lr>>ly dealt with in such way IA 10 fur
| uish IA warning 10 others who may be like
| vi 80 al iSnn~pl
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
WE CANNOT INTERFERE.

1t was at first proposed that belligerent
rights should be accorded to the insurg
ents-a proposition longer urged because
untimeiy, and in practical operation clear
" perilous and injurious 10 our Cwn IN
terests 1t has since been and is now
sometimes contended that the independ
ence of the insurgents should be recog
nized But imperfect and restricted a.
the Spanish government of the island NAV
tie no other exists therc-anleSs the will
Of the military officer in temporary com
nand of IA particular district can be.digni
fed as a species Of government. 1t is now
also suggested that the United state.
should buy the i>land-a suggestion pos
sibly worthy of consideration If there were
| any evidence Of IA desire or willingness on
the part OF spain to entertain such pro
posai. 1t is urged. finally that, all Other
methods failing, the existing internecint
| strife in Cuba should be terminated by Oul
| intervention, even at the cost OF n war be
tween the United States and Spain-a wal
which its advocates confidently prOphesy
could be neither large in its proportion.
NOR doubtful in it's issue
NThe correctness of this forecast need b
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.

On January |, 1897, with the amount al
ready mutured more than $4,000 600 of
the principal of the subsidy bonds issued
by the United states in aid of the con
structiOn of the Union Pacific railway in
Cluding its Kansas line and more than
81 @OO.OOo of like bonds issued in aid of the
Central Pacific railroad including those
issued to the Western Pacific railroad
company will have fallen due and been
paid or must on that day be paid by the
government Without any reference to
the application of the sinking fund now in
the treasury this will create such default
en- the part of these companies to the gov
crnment as to give it the right at once to
institute proceedings to foreclose its mort
gage lien. The consideration requiring
an adjustment of the government rela-
tions to the companies have been clearly
presented and the conclusion reached with
practical uniformity, that if these rela-
tions are not terminated they should be
revised upon basis securing their safe
cOntinuanccS.
Therefore, unless congress shall other
wise direct. or shall have previously de.
termined upon different solution of the
problem, there will hardly appear to ex
ist any reason for delaying beyond the
date of the default above mentioned Such
executive action as will promise to sub
serve the public interests, and save the
government from the loss threatened by
furt her action,
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
TIE PENSION ROll.

The diminutiCn CT Dur enormous pen.
sicu roll and the decrease Of pension ex,
penditure which have been 50 Often cCEf
den..y foretold still fail IN material real,
izat:on The number Of pensioners On tie
ro..s az the close Ct the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1896 was 970,67s This Is the
largest number ever reported The
amount paid exclusively fer the pensions
during the year was sl3a 2l4.76l 81. a
sight decrease from that of the prec eding
year, wh..e the total expenditures On &C
count Of pensions, including the cost Of
maintaining tie department and expen
ses attending pension distributor
amounted to sli2 ,2O6. $50 80, or within a
very small fraction of one third Of the en-
IRE expense Of supporting the govern
ment during the same year. The Lumbel
Of new pension certificates issued was 70
ta) OF these 20 214 represent o-igiEal al
lowances cf claims ard .5,3;s increase c
existing pensions.
The number Of persons receiving pen
sions from the United states bat residing
IN foreign countries at the close of .h'
last fiscal year was 5,1si, ant
the amount paid to them during the yea
was S5s2, 735 80
The sum appropriated for the paymen
Of pensions for the current fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1896, is Sl40.0O0,OO0, and fo
the succeeding year it is estimated tina
the same amount will be necessary.
The commissioner of pensions report
that during the last fiscal year 335 indict
ments were found against violators OF tn
pension laws. Upon these indictments IL
| convictions resulted
| In my opinion such statem""ts as thes
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08

and much other Information ana ooser-
vation the abuses which have been allowed
10 creep into our pension system have
done incalculable harm in demoraiiZing
our people and undermining ;t"d clti1e'.
Kip. l have cndcavorcd within my
sphere Of Official duty 70 protect car PEN
slCn roll and II X Il whH; il Should DC. L
,Oll OF honor, containing he nui.ic- OF
those disabled in their coH&trv'- srr.icc
and worthy of their rOaHtry afcc:iOnatc
emb,ance
When have seen those who pose as the
soldiers friends. active and alert in urg
ing greater laxity and more reckless pen
sion expenditure. while nursing selfish
schemes | have deprecated the approach
of situation when necessary retrench-
ment and enforced economy may lead to
an attack upon pension abuses so deter
mined as to overlook the discrimination
due to those who are worthy of IA nation $
care ought to live and die under the pro-
lection Ct a nation gratitude.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
PCsTOFFlCE DEPARTMENT.

Our postoflicc department Is in good
condition and the exhibit made of it, op
erations during the fiscal Trar ended June
SO. 1896 if allowance i made for imrerfec-
tions in the laws applicable 10 il, i, very
satisfactory The total receipts during
the year were So, 499 POS 40 The total ex
penditures were syn, 81, ,2gj.S4. There was
an increase O. receipts over the previous
year of 81, ,5lt. .O>O.2l, or ~ per cent and an
increase of expenditures of S3,s36, ,l24O2 CT
~ per cent The deficit was 81 ,679S ~
less than than that of the preceding year.
There should be small addition to the
existing inspector service, TO he employed
IN the supervision Of the carrier force,
which now numbers 200 men, and per
forms it, service practically without the
surveillance exercised over ali other
branches of the postal or public service,
OF course such lack of supervl SION nd
freedom from wholesome disciplin
ary restraints must inevitably 1ead
to imperfect service There should alSC
he appointed a few inspectors who woulo
assist the central office in necessary IN
ye-tigation concerning matters OF po-;
Office leases pOStotfice sites allowances
for rent, fuel and lights, and in crgariz
.ag and securing the best results tr@IH .ht
work Of the II coo clerks now enloly"d :.
first ard second class offices
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
RECEIPTS ANO EXPENDITURES

The secretary of the treasury reports
that during the fiscal year ended June 80,
1896 the receipts of the government from
all sources amounted to Sio9, 415, 40S. Dur
ing the same period its expenditures We're
s434 .61S .654 Is. the excess of expenditures
over receipts thus amounting to s23.2o3-
2457U. The ordinary expenditures during
the year were a ,Ol5, So p less than during
the preceding fiscal year.
The operations of the marine hospital
service, the revenue cutter service, the
lighthouse service the bureau Of navi ga
ton and other branches of public work
attached to the treasury department, to-
gether with various recommendations con
cerning their support and Improvement
are fully stated in the report of the secre.
tary of the treasury, TO which the htten
ton of congress is specially invited.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
NAY Be FORCED TO ACT.

Whatever circumstances may arise our
pOlicy and our interests would constrain
Us 20 object to the acquisition Of the Isl.
and or any interference with its control
ty anv other power. 1t should be added
that il cannot be reasonably assumed
that the hitherto expectant attitude CT
the United states will be indefinitely
maintained While we are anxious to &C.
cord all due respect to the sovereignty CT
Spain we cannot view the pending con
fiict in all its features and properly ap-
prehend our inevitably close relations to
il and its possible results without consid.
erinp that by the course Of events we may
he drawn into such an unusual and uE-
nrecedented condition as will fix a limit
70 our patient waiting for Spain to end
,he contest, either alone and in her owl
wav or with our friendly cooperation.
When the inability CT spain to deal sue
cessfully with the insurrection has be
come manifest, and it is demonstrated
that her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba
for All purposes of it's rightful existence
and when hopeless struggle Tor It's re
establishment has degenerated into {
strife which means more than the useless
sacrifice of human lie and the utter de
struction of the very subject matter o
the conflict. situation will be presented
in which our obligations to the severeignt!
| of Spain will be superseded by higher Oh
| legations, which we can hardly hesitate t
recognize and discharge.
Deferring the choice Of ways and meth
ods until the time for action arrives, w
should make them depend upon the pre-
! else conditions then existing, and the
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
sOvE TARIFF SUGGESTIONS.

| desire to rcCur to the statements else
where made concerning the government :
receipts and expenditures for the purpose
of venturing upon som" suggestions
touching our present tariff law and its op
erat.Ln
The statute took effect on the 26th day
cf Augist fIs9i Whatever may be itS
.hCrtCCIntarS IA, Il complete measure OF
tariff reform it must b. conceded that II
has opened the way to IA freer and greater
exchange of commodities between rs and
other countries and thus furnishes w;d
er market for our products ana manu-
featuring
The only entire fiscal year during which
this law has been IN force ended on the
5Oth day OF June 1895. In that year our
imports increased over those of the prI-
vlous year more than S6.5OJ.U 900, while the
value Of the domestic products we export
ed and wEich found markets abroad, was
nearly S1O.OWNU more than during the
Preceding year.
Those who insist that the cost to our
people of articles coming 20 them from,
abroad for their nt"dful use should only
be ,nCrea Sed through tariff charges 10 an
extent necessary to meet the expenses O1
tie government. as we'll as those wht
claim that tariff charges may be laid upon
such articles beyond the necessities oi
government revenue, and with the addi
tional purpose of so increasing their price
in our markets "a to give American
manufacturers and producers bet
ter and more profitable opportu
| mites, must agree that our tariff
laws are only primarily justified al
| sources of revenue to enable the govern
| ment to meet the necessary expenses o
| its maintainance. considered as To its SUI
ficiency in this aspect, the present law cal
| by no means fall under just condelnna
ton During the only complete fisca
| year ri its operation 1t has yielded neari!
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
rei,her ,f}irnco nor denied. The United

neither affirmed nor denied The United
States has nevertheless, character to
maintain az IA nation, which plainly die
tatrs that right and not might should be
the rules of it, conduct.
Further though the United states IS not
q nation to which peace Is necessity, II
is in truth the most pacific Of powers, and
desires nothing SO muCh ast TO live In am
ity with all the world. Its own ample and
diversified domains satisfy all possible
longingS for territory, preclude all dreams
of conquest, and prevent any casting OF
covct0us eyes upon nei ghboring regions,
however attractive. That our conduct
towards spain and her dominions has con
stitutcd no exception to this national dis
position is made manifest by the course OF
our governments not only thus far during
the present insurrection, but during the
ten wears that followed the rising at Yara
in 1868
No other great power, 1t may beg safely
said, under circumstances of similar
pcrplexity, would have manifested the
same restraint and the same patient en-
durance. 1t may also be said that this
persistent attitude of the l'nited states
towards spain in connection with CUBA
unquestionably cvinCeS no slight respect
and regard for spain on the part OF the
American people. They view with won
der and admiration the cheerful rcsOlu-
ton with which vast bodies of men are
sent across thousands Of miles of ocean
and an enormous debt accumulated that
the costly possession of the gem of the
Antilles may still hold its place in the
| Spanish crown. And if neither the gov
| ernmcnt nor the people of the United
! States have shut their eyes to the course ol
! events in Cuba or have failed to realize
| the existence Of conceded grievance
| which have led to the present
! revolt from the authority of Spain, gricv
ances recognized by the queen regent anI
by the cortes, voiced Icy the most patriotic
and enlightened of Spanish statesmen
without regard to party and demonstrat
ed by reforms proposed by the executive
and approved by the Legislative brancf
of the spanish government. 1t is in tn
assumed temper and disposition of tn
| Spanish government to remedy thc>
grievances. fortified by indications of in
hucntial public opinion in Spain, tina
this government has hoped to discover tn
| most promising and effective means o
composing the present strife, with homo
and advantage to spain and with tn
achievement of all the reasonable object
| of the instruction.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
AN APPEAL FOR ECONOMY.

In concluding this communication, ita
last words shall be an appeal to the con-
gress for the most rigid economy in the
expenditure of the money it holds in trust
for the people. The way to perplexing ex-
travagance is easy, but "a return to frugal
ity is difficult. When, however, it is con-
sidered that those who bear the burdens
of taxation have no guaranty of honest
care save in the fidelity of their publ
servants, the duty of all retrenchment is
plainly manifest
When our differences are forgotten and
our contests of political opinion are no
longer remembered nothing in the retro
spect of our public service will be az for
tunate and comforting as the recollection
Of official duty well performed and tho
memory Of y constant devotion to the in
terests of our confiding fellow country,
men. GROVER CLEVELAND.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
ARMY HAD lITTLE TO 90.

The limit of our military force as fixed
by law is constantly and readily main
taincd The present discipline and NOR
ais OF our army are excellent, and marked
progress and efficiency are apparent
throughout the entire organization.
With the exception of delicate duties in
the suppression of slight Indian disturb
ances along our southwestern boundary,
in which the Mexican troops cO-operated,
and the compulsory but peaceful return,
with the consent of Great Britain, of a
band of Cree Indians from Montana to
the British possessions, no active opera
tions have been required of the army dur
ing the wear past.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08
SPAIN SHOULD GRANT AUTONOMY.

Ii would seem that if spain should offer
to Cuba genuine autonomy-a measure Of
home rule, which. while preserving the
sovereignty of spain. would satisfy all
rational requirements of her Spanish sub
iccts-there should be no just reason why
the paciticaton of the island might not be
effected on that basis. Such result
would appear to be in the true interest Of
all concerned. 1t would at once stop the
conflict which Is now consuming the re-
sources of the island and making it
worthless for whichever party may ulti
mately prevail. 1t would keep intact the
possessions of Spain without touching her
honor which will be consulted rather
than impugned by the adequate redress OF
admitted grievances. 1t would put the
prosperity Of the island and the fortunes
of its inhabitants within their own con-
troll without severing the natural and
ancient ties which bind them to the
mother country, and would vet enable
them to test their capacity for self govern
ment under the most favorable condi-
tions. 1t has been objected on the one
side that Spain should not promise au-
tonomy until her insurgent subjects lay
down their arms; on the other side, that
promised autonomy, however liberal, Is
insufficient without assurance OF the
promise being fulfilled.
Realizing that suspicious and precau-
tions on the part Of the weaker OF two
combatants are always natural and not
always justitia ble-being sincerely desir-
Gus in the interest of both AS well as on
its own account that the Cuban problem
should re solved with the least possible
delay-it was intimated by this govern
ment to the government of spain some
months ago that if a satisfactory measure
Of home rule were rendered the Cuban in
| surgents ard were accepted by them upon
| q guarantee of its execution, the United
| states would cndeavOr to find "a way no,
| objectionable TO spain of furnishing such
! guarantee.
| While no definite response to this init
| nation has yet been received from the
! Spanish government, Ii is believed to bt
not altogether unwelcOme, while, as al
| ready suggested, no reason Is perceived
why it should not be approved by the in
| surgents Neither party can fail TO se'
| importance of early action, and both mus
| realize that to prolong the present state o
| things for even short period will add enor
| mouSly TO the time and labor and eXpen
| diture necessary to bring about the indus
trial recuparation Of the island. 1t i
therefore fervcntly hoped on all ground
that earnest efforts for healing the breacl
between spain and the in>urgent Cuban
upon the lines above indicated may be a
once inauguratrd and pushed 20 an imme
! diatc and successful issue. The fricnGi
| offices of the United states either in IN
manner above outlined or in any othe
wav consistent with oar constitution an
laws. will alway, be at The disposal {
hnr
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-08

e8, ,OO0, 600 more revenue than was received
from tariff duties in the preceding year.
There was, nevertheless, deficit between
our receipts and expenditures of little
more than S25000,O)J. This, however,
was not unexpected.
The situation was such in December,
seven months before the close of the fiscal
year, that the secretary Of the treasury
foretold deficiency of Sl7,OOO,OOO. The
great and increasing apprehension and
timidity in business circles and the de-
preston in all activities intervening since
that time resulting from causes perfectly
we'll understood and entirely disconnected
with our tariff law or its operation seri-
ously checked the imports we would have
otherwise received, and readily accounted
for the difference between this estimate OF
the secretary and the actual deficiency, as
well as for continued deficit.
Indeed it must be confessed that we
could hardly have had n more unfavora-
bic period than the last two years for the
collection of tariff revenue. We cannot
| reasonably hope that our recuperation
from this business depression will be sud-
den, but 1t has already set in with a prom
ise of acceleration and continuance. l
believe our present tariff law, if allowed o
fair opportunity, will in the near future
yield revenue which, with reasonably
economical expenditures will overcome
| all deficiencies. In the meantime no de-
| ticit that has occurred or may occur need
| excite or disturb US
To meet any such deficit we have in the
| treasury, in addition to gold reserve,
100000, 900, a surplus of more than Sl2S =
00O,O 900 applicable to the payment of the
expenses of the government, and which
must, unless expended for that purpose,
remain useless hoard, or, If not extrava-
gantly wasted, must In any event be per
verted from the purpose of its exaction
from our people. The payment, therefore,
of any deficiency in the revenue from this
fund is nothing more than it's proper and
legitimate use.
1t is immeasurably better to appropriate
our surplus to the payment of justifiable
expenses than to allow to become an
invitation toreckless appropriations and
extravagant expenditures. l suppose 1t
will not be denied that under the present
law our people obtain the necessaries of a
comfortable existence at II cheaper rate
than formerly. This is matter OF SUI
preme Importance, since 1t is the palpablt
duty of every just government to make
the burdens of taxation as light as posi-
BILE The people should not be required tc
relinauish this privilege of cheap living
except under the stress of their govern
ment's necessity made plainly manifest.