Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-08


! ai least four more Eunbaafs win be
ready FOR sea In the early spring.
IL ~ gratifying 90 state that cur ships
and their outfits are beloved 90 he
equal 90 the best that can be manu-
featured elsewhere. and that such not
able reductions have been made in
their cost. as 60 justify the statement
that quite n number OF vessels are nov
being confirucicd az rates az lon AZ
yards
D. IL mos; gratifying 90 note the sat
tsfartofy results that have followed the
insnrnfation az the rev system pioxid-
e. Tor hg the act of May -. 1893. under
which certain federal offciais are COM
psnsaiod by salaries instead OF fees
The new plan Nae pn, ~ operation -
The let day of July. lsss. and aireat
the great economy u cnfofces. it, pre-
Noriion Of abuses. ana 80 tendency 60
| heticf enforcement; 90 the laws. are
fnkinElr apparent. Detailed cxldence
| 81 The nsefulness % fhis lonE-aFiaged
BOT nos happily ACCOMPLISHED reform
VIII be found clearly set forth an the
attorney Generals report.
our posiofiice department is ia good
/ condition. and the exhibit made az ifs
| .itfaiiuns during the fiscal year ended
/ !rne ao.lAta. ~ allowance 10 made ZOE
| siniseffss iiunr IN the laws att,licalfle 30
u is very satisfactory. The total re-
cripis during The year were fs2 s9s. 9og.-
Il e.
t-s.sseNs. exclusive of 81 .s.s ggs -. which
we aafned 10 tbe Pacific railroad Coz
| transportation and credited GA sheir
| DELFT 10 the government. There was an
insisa se 20 reoeirts over the previous
4 year of Ah.ais. oho2l. CO "a per cent. aud
an igefeafe of expenditures OF g., g3G..
lss o.. GO ss2 pct cent.
i The number % entrants arriving
IN the United States during the fiscal
fenf was 5s2.ss1. of whom sac s6s were
PERMITTED q land. ard ABB were de-
barred On various grounds prescribed
4 ~ law and returned Go ahe countries
| Whence They came at the expense 81
the steamship company ny which they
were brought In. The increase IA Inn
migration over the preceding year
amounted 60 Ss.13I. ~ H. reported thai
| Win fofnc exceptions tho Immigrants
l of The past year were of a hardy la
4 BORING class. aocuFtomcd and ahle SO
| earn n support for themselves and u IL
estimated that the money iroarht VITA
| them amounted 60 at leafi S. 0Oe Goo,
| though u was probably much in ex-
| ccEf ~ That sum since only those hav-
| inE less than $50 are required Go dis
close the exact amount aud "a b. known
| mat many brought considerable sums
| OF money 90 huv land aud build hotnca.
Including all the immigrants arriving
| who were over u years of gee. ~ 81
per cent were iiliicrntc as against 80 81
Ier cent: OF those of that age arriving
Il
| There arrived from Japan during sho
| year only LILO immigrants. and ID 10 the
| opinion of the immigration authorities
| that the apprehension heretofore ex-
isiinr 20 some extent of . large imfni-
4 grafton from japan 90 the United
states In without any substantial foun-
/ dsfion.
| The department Of agriculture So no
1 Intimately related 20 the welfare OF
our people and the prosperity Of our
nation that u should constantly re-
ccivc THE care and announcement Of
| the government From small begin
1 ninrs % has grown 60 be the center OF
| agric uliufal intelligence and the source
| oi aid and encouragement 10 sgricui-
\ tural efforts. Large sums of money are
annually appropriated for the maintcn-
ance u this department and IL must
| bc confessed that the legislation rclat-
ing Go u has not always been directly
| IN the Interest of practical farming or
properly guarded against waste aud
| cNtfnNarnnce. SO far. however. the
| public money has been appropriated
| fairly and Fcnsiily 60 help thofe who
| actually till the foil. No expenditure
has been more probably made OF more
| generally approved by the poole. Tin
| der the present management az the de-
p1f;ment Of Its usefulness has been en-
1 HANGED In every direction and at the
| same time strict economy has been en-
forced 60 the utmort extent permitted
4 w a'UfEfFEt'fiAl EAhlbIls tTnfu tUt re-
port Of the secretary ~ appears that
through careful and prudent financial
management he has annually saved q
| large sum from his appropriations. ar
gregating during his incunbcncy and
| up 20 the close OF the present fifcal
| year nearly onc-fifih OF the entire
amount appropriated. These results
have been accomplished by n corfciPn-
/ tiouf study OF the real needs CT the
farmer and such a regard for economy
g.s
ciaie.
The secretary reports that the value
Of our exports % farm products during
| the last fiscal year amounted 90 s57e.-
| cy0.oO0. an Increase OF sis.000.00o over
those OF the year Immediately proceed
Ing.
This statement IN not the less wei
come because of the fact that nowifh-
4 standing such increase. the proportion
Of exported agricultural products 90 our
total exports Of all descriptions fen on
during the year. The benefits 81 an IN
4 crease In agricultural exports being as
| sured. the decrease In It's proportion 10
| our total exports a. the more crafty
ing when we consider that o. Is owing
| TO the fact that such total exports for
the year increased more than $780,
Goo.
The weather bureau. now attached 20
| the department OF agriculture. has con-
iinued 20 extend it. sphere Of useful
| i'r4s W
| incnt In the accuracy 90 .ts forecasts
| has greatly increased Btg efficiency 10
| an aid and protection 10 all whose oc-
| equations are related 10 weather con-
/ ditionr.
Progress made IN civil service re-
4 form furnishes a cause for the utmost
/ concentrations. IL has survived the
doubts of it's friends ~ well as the
rancor OF its enemies. ard has gained
| n permanent places among the egen-
| cies destined 20 cleanse our politics and
1 improve. economize. and elevate the
| public service. There are now IN the
| competitive classified service upward
of 5000 places. More than half OF
| these have been included from tine 70
time since March 4. 1899. A rscst re a.
! cal and sweeping extension was made
by executive order dated the 9th day
| Of May. 1885
The civil service rules as amended
during the last year provide for q neasi-
bic and uniform method Of promotion,
basing eligibility 20 better positions
upon demonstrated efficiency and faith
fuiness. The absence Of fixed rules on
this subject has been an infrnnity in