The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-12-11

| WITVCTTUn,
economy has been enforced 10 the utmost
extent permitted by congressional action.
From the report of the secretary II APP
pears that through careful and prudent
financial management he has annually
saved a large sum from his appropria-
tons, aggregating during his incumbency
and up To tho close of the present hsral
year nearly one-fifth of the entire
amount appropriated.
The secretary reports that the value or
our exports of farm products during the
last fiscal year amounted to $570O0,00O
an increase of $l7 100000 over those OF the
year Immediately preceding. This state
ment Is not the less welcome because OF
the fact that, Notwithstanding sucn IN
crease, the proportion Of exported agri-
cultural products to our total exports or
all descriptions fell Off during the year.
The benefits Of an increase IN agrlcul-
tural exports being assured, the decrease
In its proportion 10 our total exports is
the more gratifying when we consider
that IL Is owing to the fact that such
total exports for the year increased more
than $50. 0O0, 900. The large and increasing
expectation of our agricultural products
suggests the great usefulness or the or
ganiZation lately established in the de-
partment for the purpose OF giving 10
| those engaged i'm farming pursuits re-
| liable information concerning the condi-
ton. needs and advantages of different
In my opinion the gratuitous distribu-
ton of seeds by the department. as at
| present conducted ought TO be discon-
| tinued. No one can read the statement
of the secretary on this subject and doubt
| the extravaganza ara questionable re-
suits OF this practice.
The weather bureau. now attached TO
| the department Of agriculture. has con-
tinued to extend its sphere of usefulness,
| and by an uninterrupted improvement IN
| the accuracy Of its forecasts mas greatly
| increased its efficiency as an aid aud pro-
| lection to all whose occupations are re-
| lated to weather conditions.
civil Service Reform.
The progress made in civil service re-
\ form furnishes cause for che utmost
| congratulation. 1t has survived the
| doubts Of it's friends as well as the ran
cor OF its enemies and has gained a per-
| manent place among ne agencies dCStiHed
] TO cleanse our politics ana 20 improve
| economiZc and elevate the public service:
| There are now in the competitive CLASSIFIED
| service upward of Si,JjD places More than
| half of these have been included from
| time TO time since March :. 1898. most
! radical and sweeping extension was madc
| by executive order dated the 9TH day OF
| May. 1896. and If fourth class oo5llnas-
! tcrships are included in the statement, -
] may be said that practically all positions
/ contemplated by the ~ III service law aiC
| now classified. Abundant reasons t>Ist
| for including these postmaster ships, based
| upon economy, improved service ana tie
| peace and quiet Of ncighborhoOdS. IT,
| however, obstacles prevent sucn action 81
| present l earnestly nope That congress
| will. without increasing postniicc applo-
| priations, so adjust them as TO permit
| i'm proper cases conSolid alton Of the
| postotHces. to the md that through this
! process the result desired nay To d limit
| cd extent hc accomplished.
| Tho civil service rules as amended dur
| ing the last year provide for sensible
| and uniform method of promotion, b5slng
| eligibility TO better positions upon demon
| strated efficiency and faithtulncss. Their
| application has become Il necessity to the
| executive work Of the government. But
| those who gain positions through the
| oneration of these methods should be
made to understand that the non-partisan
| scheme through which they receive their
appointments demands from them, 10y way
| of reciprocity. non-partisan and faithful
| performance a. duty under every ADMIN
stration. and cheerful fidelity 10 every
| chief While they should be encouraged
| 10 decently exercise their rights 81 citizen
| ship and TO support through their suf-
| Traces the political beliefs lhey honestlv
| confess. the noisy. pestilent and partisan
| cmploye, who loves political turmoil ana
| contention. or who renders lax and Erudg-
ing service 10 an administration not re y
| resenting his political views, should be
| promptly and fcaTl ssly dealt with in sue n
| n wav as 20 Furnish warains 20 Cther rs
who may be likewise disposed
Interstate Commerce.
The interstate comfnerce commission
has. during the last year. supplied abun-
dant evidence OF its usefulness and the
Importance q the work committed TO its
charge Public transportation Is a. uni
vcrsal necessity, and the question OF just
|
| become of vital importance not only TO
shipper and carriers. but also TO the
vast multitude of producers and con-
| sumers. The justice and equity of the
PRINCIPLES embodied in the existing law
passed for the purpose of regulating
| these charges are everywhere conceded
| and there appears to be no question that
| the policies thus entered upon have
| permanent place in our legislation
In view OF the judicial Interpretation
which some provisions of the interstate
commerce statute have been received
and the defects disclosed by. the efforts
| made for its enforcement, its revision
and amendment appear TO be essential
| to the end that IL may more effectually
reach the evils designed to be corrected
| hope the recommendation of the com
mission upon this subject will be prompt
ly and favorably considered by the con-
Gress.
A Chapter About the Tariff.
desire to recur to the statements else
where made concerning the government
receipts and expenditures for the purpose
of venturing upon some suggestion
touching our present tariff law and its
operation. This statute took effect OF
the 18th day of August, 1894 Whatever
may be its shortcomings as complete
measure of tariff reform, IL must be con-
coded that 1t has opened the way To q
trcer. and greater exchange of commodi.
ties between us and other countries, and
thus furnished WIDER market for oui
| products and manufa 'turings. The only
entire fiscal year during which this law
has been in force ende1 on the 9th dly
of June. 1886. In that year our imports
| increased over those of the previous yeal
| more than S5,500OD, while the value o
! the domestic products We exported and
which found markets abroad, was near
| ly S,OCOJOOO more than during the pre-
| Vious years.
Those who insist that the cost to out
people of articles coming to them from
| abroad for their needful use should on
be increased through tariff charges to al
| extent necessary TO meet the expenses o
the government. as well as those who
! claim that tariff charges may be laic
| upon such articles for the necessities o.
government revenue, and with the add
tional purpose of so increasing their prize
in our markets as to give American man
ufacturers better and more profitable o ,
| portunt.es, must agree that our tarif
| laws are only primarily used az
| sources of revenue to enable the govern
ment to meet the necessary expenses %
f.s maintenance. Considered as its sutt-
cheney in this aspect, the present law
can by no means fall under just con
ifemnation During the OILY complet,
fiscal year of its operation Il has y!eldcC
| nearly So 900 900 more revenue than wa:
! received from tar.m duties i'm the pre-
I ceding year. There was, nevertheless, q
deficit between our receipts and exoend
lures of little move than S-5,OOlOOO
! This however, was not uneXpec ed.
4 he situation was such in December
last, seven months before the c.ose ol
the fiscal year, that the secretary or th'
treasury foroto.d a deficiency OF SlSOyO,-
OO0 inc great and increasing apprOpfla-