The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-12-16
h Pacific

NaR ~
" The subsidy bonds. s27. 236, 5l2. and the ac-
,rued interest thereon. s3t. 2It. 5ilTS making
he total Indebtedness SIS, i4s. 222 20 The bid
u the sale covered the first mortgage Men and
The entire mortgage claim OF the government,
principal and interest The sale of the sub
sidized portion Of the Kansas Pacific line,
apon which the government holds n second
mortgage lien. has been postponed at the in
ttance of the government 70 December
70, 1897. The debt of this division
" the Union Pacific railroad TO the
government on November ". 1897 was ne
principal OF the subsidy bonds, o.. 303. OoO and
.he unpaid and accrued interest 90 626. 800. 80,
making a total OF 81, es9l $50 SO The sale OF
Ihis road was originally advertised for Novem-
DER 4, but for the purpose OF securing the ut
most public notice of the event IL was post
poned until December 40, and a second adver-
tsement of the sale was mnde BY the decree
81 the court the upset price on the sale OF the
Kansas Pacific will yield to the government
The sum of ~, 800. 0os over all prior liens, costs
and charges II no other better bid is made
this sum Is all that the government
will receive on its claim OF nearly
u 10000 The government has no informa-
lion as to whether there will be other bidders
pr a better bid than the maximum amount
herein stated. The question presented there
Tore is; Whether tine government shall. under
the authority given 1t by the act of March 8.
1852, purchase or redeem the road In the event
that a bid is not made by private parties COW
sring the entire government claim To qualify
the government TO bid at the sale will require
adeposit of s9JJ,0D. as follows: In the govern
ment cause 800 900 and in each of the first
mortgage causes so J0,O 900, and in the latter the
deposit must be in cash. Payments at the sale
are as follows: Upon the acceptance OF the
bid a sum which with the sum already depos-
ited shall equali15 per cent OF the bid. the bal
ance in installments of p per cent, 30, 40 and 80
days after the confirmation OF the sale. The
lien on the Kansas Pacific prior TO thai of the
government on the 30th OF July, 1897. p. incipal
and interest. amounted to 81, 2si,u4sIL The
government, therefore, should 1t become the
highest bidder, will have to pay the amount OF
the first mortgage lien.
l believe that under the act OF 1887 1t has the
authority TO do this and in absence OF any ac-
ton by congress / shall direct the secretary of
the treasury to make the necessary deposit as
required by the courts decree TO qualify as a
bidder and to bid at the sale n sum which will
at least equnlsthe principal OF the debt due to
the governments; but suggest in order TO re-
move all controversy, that ian amend
ment '"of the . law be Immediately
passed explicitly giving such powers
ind appropriating in general terms whatever
sum is sufficient therefor. In so Important a
matter as the government becoming the possi-
bic owner of railroad property, which 1t per-
force must conduct and operate. / feel con-
strained to lay before congress these facts Tor
its consideration and action before the con-
summation of the sale 1t is clear 10 my mind
that the government should not permit the
property to be sold at n price which willyield
less than one-half of the principal Of its debt
and less than one-ffth OF its entire debt, prin-
cipal and interest But whether the govern
ment, rather than accept less than its claim,
should be q bidder and thereby the owner OF
the property. l submit to congress for action
The library building provided for by the act
of congress. approved April Is, 1883. has been
completed and opened to the public. 1t should
he n mnttpr Of rOnVratnlntiOn that thrOpuh the
foresight and munificence Of congress the ma
ton possesses the noble treasury house OF
knowledge 1t is earnestly to be hoped that,
having done so much toward the cause of
education, congress will continue to develop
the library in every phase Of research to the
end that 1t may not be only one OF the most
magnificent but among the rio hest and most
beautiful Libraries in the world.
civil Service.
The important branch OF our government
known as the civil service, the practical i'm
provement of when has long been u 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 a still frmer basis of business
methods and personal merit While the RICH.
OF our veteran soldiers to reinstatement to de-
serving cases has been asserted, dismissals for
merely political reasons have been carefully
guarded against, the examinations FOL
admittance to the service enlarged
~ ~ lHo SAINT Liint TtultTcu
less technical and more practical; and q
distinct advance has been made by giving a
hearing before dismissal upon all cases where
incompetency is charged or demand made for
the removal OF oficials in any Of the depart
ments. This order has been made to give to
the accused his right to be heard, but without
in any way impairing the power of removal,
which should always be exercised in cases OF
ineficiency and ineompeteney and which is one
of the vital safeguards OF the civil service re-
fa.Vn vnNa L.. -. - a.
wood and keeping every employe keenly alive
TO the fact that the security of his tenure de.
ponds not on favor, but on his own tested and
carefully watched record OF service.
Much of course still remains to be accom-
plished before the system can be made reasona-
bly, perfect for our needs Theme are places now
In the classified service, which ought to be eX,
empted and others not classified may properly
be included. / shall not hesitate TO exempt
cases which 1 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 IL will be
my endeavor to uphold and extend it am
forced by the length Of this message to omit
many important references to affairs Of gov
eminent with which congress will have to IDEAL
at the present session. They are fully dis.
cussed in the department reports, to all OF
which 1 invite your earnest attention.
The estimates of the expenses Of the govern
ment by the several departments will, l am
sure. have your careful scrutiny. While the
congress may not find 1t an easy task TO reduce
the expenses of the government, IL should not
encourage their increase. These expenses will,
in my judgment, admit OF a decrease in many
branches of the government without injury &c
the public service. II is a commanding duty TO
keep the appropriations within the receipts of
the government and thu avoid a aeneit
Executive Mansion. Dec. 8, 1897.