The Holly chieftain., 1897-12-10
1h,. P.c.oo k.,lx.x.

AHe y mon faciuc faliwnyk main line WA
sold under the decree Of the United Stares
court for the district Of Nebraska on the Isl
and Ind CT November, of this year The amount
due the government consisted of the PRINCIPAL
Of the subsidy bonds. az .s36 5i. and the &C.
crued interest thereon. tsi.:il. .s1l75. making
the total indebtedness fSs. 44S e.zS5 The bid
1T the sale covered the nrst mortQage lien and
the entire mortgage claim Of the government
principal and interest The Anic Of the sub
sidized portion Of the Kansas Pacinc line
upon which the government holds = second
mortga re lien has been postponed ct the Ir-
stancs OF the government 70 December
10. 1897. This deb: OF this division
OF the Union Pacific railroad TO rhe
government on November "a 1907 was 10
principal of the subsidy bonds es SQno 90 and
the unpaid and accrued interest q. ga ooo. s.
making u total Of sl:,psa eco n The sale Of
this road WA originally advertised for Noyem.
Der Z. but for the purpose OF securing the ut
most public notice Of the event II was post-
poned until December ID. and second adyer-
tisenent Of the sale Was made BY the decree
Of the court the upset price ON the sale Of the
Kansas Pacific will yield 70 the government
the sum of x. 500 0oa over all prior liens costs
and charges NO other better bid u made
this sum is ali that the government
will receive on Its claim Of nearly
ti3,000.0 O The government has NO informa-
tion as TO whether there Will be other bidders
or q better bid than the maximum amount
herein stated. The question presented there
the authority given It by the act Of March s
1887. purchase or redeem the road In the event
that bid Is not nude by private parties GOV.
ering the entire government claim To qualify
the government to bid ut tho sale willrequiro
deposit of s0oo 00 as follows: In the govern.
ment cause 800, ,000 and In each Of the nrst
mortgage causes $4,000, and in the latter the
deposit must be In cash. Payments 1t the sale
are As follows: Upon the acceptance OF the
bid q sum which with the sum already depos-
{krl. AL -.--- a-R. - IL = -
Ance In instailments Of z5 psr cent -. " and "a
days after the confirmation OF the sale. The
lien on the Kansas Pacific prior to that Of the
government on the 30th Of July, 1897. principal
and interest. amounted to C.2Sl .c43iL The
government. therefore. should 1t become the
highest bidder. will have to pay the amount Of
the first mortgage lien
believe that under the act OF 1887 It has the
authority TO do this and in absence OF any ac.
tion by congress shall direct the secretary Of
the treasury to make the necessary deposit as
required by the courts decree to qualify Us
bidder and to bid Ut the sale sum which will
Mt least equal the principal of the debt due To
the governments; but sugges. in order to re-
move all controversy, that fan amend.
ment of the law be Immediately
passed explicitly giving such powers
and appropriafing in general terms whatever
sum is SUFFICIENT therefor. In Important
matter Us the government becoming the pcssi-
BILE owner OF railroad property. which 1t per-
force must conduct and operate. 1 feel con-
strained 10 lay before congress these facts for
It's consideration and action before the con.
summation OF the sale 1t is clear to my mind
that the government should not permit the
property to be sold at price which will yield
less than one-half Of the principal of its debt
and less than one-ffth OF its entire debt prfn-
cipal and interest But whether the govern
ment, rather than accept less than Its claim
should be o bidder and thereby the owner OF
the property submit to congress for action
The library building provided for bv the act
Of congress- approved April 49, 1885. has been
completed and opened to the public. 1t should
be matter of conRratuatfon that through the
foresight and muniticence Of congress the ma.
tfon possesses the noble treasury house Of
knowledge 1t is earnestly to be hoped that
having done 80 much toward the cause Of
education. congress will continue to develop
the library In every phase of research to tho
end that IT may not be only one Of tho most
magnificent but among the richest and mos,
beautiful libraries in the world
Civil service.
The important branch of our government
known US ths civil service, the practical i'm.
provement Of which has long been . subject OF
earn est discussion. has Of late years received
increased Legislative and executive approval
During the past few months the service has
been placed on still hrmer basis OF business
methods md personal merit While the right
Of our veteran soldiers to reinstatement to de-
serving cases has been asserted, dismissals for
merely political reasons have been carefully
guarded against tho examinations for
aud at the same time rendered
less technical and more practical: and .
distinct advance has been made by giving Q
hearing before dismissal upon all cases where
incompetency II CHARGED OF demand made for
the removal OF on1cials In any OF the depart
ments This order has been made to give to
the accused his right 70 be heard, but without
in any way tmpatrtns the power Of removal,
which should always be exercised In cases Of
ineffciency and incompetency and which Is one
Of the vital safeguards Of tho civil service re.
form system, preventing stsgnation and dend-
wood and keeping every employe kecnly alive
to.the fact that the security OF his tenure de-
pends not on favor. but ON his own tested and
carefully watched record Of service
Much Of course still remains 10 be accom-
plished before the system can be made reasona-
bly, perfect for our needs There are places now
In the classified service, which ought to be ex-
empted and Others not classified may properly
be included shall not hesitate 70 EXEMPT
cases which think. have been improp-
erly included In the classified service,
or include those which In my judgment will
best promote the public service. The system
has the approval Of the people and II will be
my endeavor to uphold and extend IL am
forced by the length Of this message to omit
many important references 70 aaairs Of gov
ernment with which congress will have 70 deal
ut the present session. They are fully dis
oussed IN the department reports. 10 all OF
which invite your earnest attention
The estimates Of the expenses Of the govern
ment by the several departments WILL am
sure. have your careful scrutiny While the
congress may not nnd II an easy task 70 reduce
the expenses Of the government. II should not
encourage their increase. These expenses will.
in my Judgment admit Of . decrease IN many
branches Of the government without injury 10
the public servica II II . commanding duty to
keep the appropriations within the receipts Of
the government and thus avoid dencit
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, Dec q 1871.