The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-06


cmim. TO quay the government TO bid
az the sale Will require deposit OF $780,
000 as follows: ON the government
cause, $500 600, and In each OF the first
mortgage causes. 5000. .0oo and In the lat
ter the deposit must be in cash. Pay
ments ot the sale are as follows: Upon
the acceptance of the bid sum which,
with the amount already deposited. shall
equal 10 per cent OF the bid. tho balance
In instalments OFFS per cent. 20, 40 and
50 days after the conformation OF the
sale. The lien on the eKansas Pacific
prior TO that OF the government on the
30th OF July. 1895. principal and interest,
amounted TO S2s1 .04S.1i.
The government therefore. should II be-
come the highest bidder. will have 10 ray
the amount ofSthe first mortgage lien.
I believe that under the act OF 1887 II has
the authority to do this. and In the abb
sence Of any action by congress / shall
direct the secretary of the treasury 10
make the necessary deposit as .-equired
by the courts decree 10 qualify as a
bidder and 10 bid at the sale, sum
which will at least equal the principal OF
the debt due to the government; but
suggest, in order tore move all contro-
yersy. that an amendment OF the law be
Immediately passed explicitly giving such
powers and appropriating In general
terms whatever sum Is sufiicient there
for.
ment becoming the possible owner OF
railroad property, which IL must perforce
conduct and operate. i feel constrained 10
lay before congress these facts FOR It's
consideration and action before the con-
summation of the sale. II is clear TO my
mind that the government should not
permit the property TO be sold at "A prico
which will yield less than one half of
the principal Of it's debt and less than
one-ffth OF its entire debt principal and
interest: but whether the governma mt.
rather than accept less than its claim,
should become "A bidder and thereby tho
owner OF the property. ] submit 10 the
congress for action.
CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
The library building provided for by
the act of congress. approved April 10,
1856 has been completed and opened 10
the public II should he a matter of con-
graduation that. through the foresight
and munifcence of congress. the nation
possesses this noble treasure house OF
knowledge. 1t is earnestly 10 be hoped
that. having done so much toward the
cause of education. congress will con-
tinue 10 deveop the library In every
phase OF research. 10 the end that II
may be not only one of the most magni-
fcent. but among the richest and most
useful libraries In the world.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
The important branch of our govern
practical Improvement OF which has long
been subject of earnest discussion. has
Of late years received increased legisla-
tive and executive approval. During the
past few moaths the service has been
placed upon a skill firmer basis OF busi-
ness methods and personal merit. While
the right OF our veteran soldiers TO
instatememt I'm deserving cases has been
asserted. dlsmissals for merely political
reasons have been carefully guarded
against the examinations for admit
tance TO the service enlarged. and at the
same time rendered less technical and
more practical; and distinct ad-
vance has been made by giving
a hearing before dismissal upon all cases
where incompetency Is charged or de-
mand made for the removal OF officials in
any Of the departments. This order has
been made to give the accused his right
to be heard but without in any way i'm
pairing the power OF removal. which
should always be exercised in cases OF i'm
efficiency and incompetency. and which
is one of the vital safeguards OF the civil
service reform system-preventing stag
nation and deawood and Keeping every
employe keenly alive to the fact that the
security of his tenure depends not on
favor but on his own tested and care
fully watched record of service.
Much. OF course. still remains TO he ac-
compished before the system can be
There are places now in the classified SER
vice which ought to be exempted, and
others not classified may properly be in
cluded. 1 shall not hesitate to exempt
cases which think have been improperly
included in the classified service. or in
clude those which, in my judgment, will
best promote the public service. The sys-
tenn has the approval OF the people. and
IT will be my endeavor TO hold and ex-
tend IL.
IN CONCLUSION.
] am forced by the length of this mes
sage to omit many important references
TO affairs of TIE government with which
congress will have TO deal at the present
session. They are fully discussed In the
departmental reports. to all of which
invite your earnest session.
The estimates Of the expenses OF the
government by the several departments
will, / am sure. have your careful scru-
tiny. While the congress may not find IL an
easy task TO reduce the expenses OF the
government il should not encourage
their increase. These expenses VII. in
my Judgment, admit of decrease in
many branches OF the government with
out injury TO the public service. 1t is
a commanding duty TO keep the appro-
priations within the receipts of the gov
ernment and thus avoid deficit.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.