The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-12

opinion, based upon such statements as


done incalculablr !iarn in Gcnoralixing our
people and fair, minded good citizenship.
j have cndeayorrd w;:hi:! my sphere OF Of
fetal duty to protect our pension roll and
make it what i! should be. Il roll of
honor, containing the names Of those dis
abled u their cv,!nicy's 1cfcusa and worthy
the cOunt-y'S assistance and remembrance.
When l have seen those who pose as the
soldiers friend active and alert III urging
greater laxitv and Eor" reckless pension
expenditures, white nursing selfish schemes,
| have deprecated, Me approach OF Sl;ua-
ton, wien necessary r"trpnrhment ANA
enforced economy lead ~ I'LL attack upon
pension abuses. 50 determined rs to over
look the discrimination due TO those. who
were wOrthey OF Il nations care, and ought
to live and die under the protection OF j
no tinn's orn ;tuI1o
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The department OF agriculture is so en-
tirely related to the welfare of our p"n-
pie and the prosperity Of our nation that
it should constantly receive the care ami
cucoura cement o: thu government From
i small beginning it has grown to be the
centre Of agricultural Intelligence and the
source Of aid and encouragement to ayr
cultural efforts. l.arS" sums OF money are
annually appropriated for the maintenance
cd that the legislation relating to it has not
always been directly iii the interest Of rrar
teal fa;!nin, or property guarded asalns;
waste and extravaganza. So far, however.
public money has been appropriated 1air-
~ an! scnsD!y TO help those VIII" actually
I'LL their soil. 70 expenditure has been
.rorr it:otitahy made ANA more generally
ayprnyed ny t. people. Iiiirr the pres
Ell; nana.c:ac:u Of tn" department. its
use. ta:> has n"en enhanced IN every d'-
rrc.o, .;g.l 1T til" same ;im" strict economy
has enforced - HE utmost extent rr"lll.-
ted by congressional :.",!"I. From I'll" re-
port 6: The secretary it appears that al
though carctUi and prudent financial man
as"lneut has annually sa:rd :" large sllnl
from the appropriations agSrcga,!nS during
his incumbnncr and I'D TO the close or he
present fiscal year nearly one-tifth of the
entire amount appropriated. tie results
have been accomplishment by 4 conscientious
duty Of the real need of the farmer ana
such Il regard for rrouOinT as tie genuine
farmer ought 10 nnDr2'!a:r, supplemented
By Il rigid adhpr:,rr 20 civil service meth
DDS in a department which should be con-
lucled III the interest OF agriculture, i'll
stead Of party politics !he secretary r.
ports that the value % our exports OF farm
products during thc las. fiscal year amount
ed to $J70GDO.D''U. all increase OF 81, ,"E,.-
900 oyer those Of the year Immediately
preceding This statement is not The less
welcome because Of the fact that not with
standing such Increase the proportion of
exported agriculture products 20 our 1oial
exports OF all descriptions fell Oil curing
the year. The benefits Of an Increase il
agricultural exports ErnS assured, the DC
crease in its proportion to our l"lal eS-
ports is TIE more gratifying when Wc con
slider II IS owing TO tn" fact 'hai Sucl!
total exports for the year increased more
than S7a.O0O.OO0. The large anl increasing
expectation Of our agricultural products
suggests the great usefulness OF the organ
ization recently established in the depart
engaged in farming pursuits reliable in
formation concerning the conditions. needs
and advantages OF different foreign markets.
luasnluch as The success OF tn" farmer !!c-
ponds upon the advantageous sale OF IBIS
products, and inasMuch rs foreign markets
must largely be the destination OF Snch
products. it is quite apparent that 4 EnoWI-
edge Of the condition and wants that affect
those markets ought to result in sowing
promise Of profit. Such information points
ont the way to prudent foresight III the
selection and civilizations of crops ard 10
q release from tho bondage, the unreasonn5
monotOny of production, Il glutted and de-
pressed market, and constantly recurring
Improbable selling. III my opinion the Gra-
tuituous distribution OF seed by the de-
partment as at present conducted ought 10
be discontinued No one challenged the
statement OF the secretary on tails subject
aud the doubtful extravaganza and aues-
tionable results OF this practice The pro-
fessed friends Of the farmer, and certainly
the farmers themselves, are naturally eI-
pectcd to be willing to aid q department.
devoted to the promotion Of farming In
tustries, or Of Il feature when >chos 50
much to its credit
The weather bureau attached to the de-
nartment Of agriculture has continued to
extend its share of usefulness, and by an
uninterrupted Improvement i'll the accuracy
Of its forecasts have greatly increased lis
efficiency as an aid and protection to ell
whose occupations are related to weather
conditions. Olnittinf; weather refrence TO
operations Of The department.. commend
the secretary's report and the suggestions
II contains to the carecN, consideration Of
tie congress.
CIVIL, SERVICE REFORM.
The progress made in civil service re-
form furnishes Il cause for the utmost
congratulations It has survived the doubts
of it's friends as wc;l rs the rancor Of its
enemies and has gained permanent PLACE
among the agencies destined to cleanse onr
notifies, end to improve. cconrmlZc and e,c-
vate the bubble services There are now in
the competitive and classified service uD-
wards Of 81 ,O0O places More than half OF
these have been Included TON time TO time
since March 4, 1882. \ most radical and
swccDin. extension was made by executive
order, dated the 9Th day Of May. 1896. and
If fourth class pastinasteTsllips are not IN
clu!cd in the statement. it may be said
that practically all positions contemplated
BIZ ciy! service law are now CLASSIFIED.
Abundant reasons exist fer including the
misunderstanding, based upon economy. I'M
proved service and the peace and quiet OF
ncighborhoods. II, however. obstacles pre-
vent such action at present. earnestly
hone that congress will without increasing
postotfice appropriations SO adjust them as
to permit, in proper cases. consolidation
of these postofilccs, to the end that'throush
this process the result desired may, to
limited extent. be accomplished. The
civil service rules az amended during the
last year provide for Il sensible and uni
form method Of promotion basins elesibili-
ty to better position on demonstrated ef-
fciency and fa!thfulness. The absence OF
fixed rules on this subject has been an in
trinity in the system more and more ap-
parent as its other benefits have been bet
ter appreciated. The advantages Of civil
service methods in their business aspects
are too we'll understood to require argu-
ment. Their application has become 4
necessity to the executive work OF the gov
eminent, but those who gain positions
through tue operation Of these methods
should be made to understand that the non
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