Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-12-11

1t is clear to my mind that the gov
eminent should not permit the propsrtv
TO be sold at price which will Yield less
than oue-half the principal of it, dohf
and less than onc-nfth of its debt min
cipal and interest. The government fath-
er, than accept less than its claim should
become a bidder and thereby the owner
of the property and / submit this TO CON
gress for action.
Treasure House OF Knowledge
The library provided for by the act of
congress approved April Il. 1896 has been
completed and Is open to the public IL
should he matter OF CONCENTRATION
that, through the foresight and munlh-
CenCe of congress, the nation possesses
this noble treasure house of knowledge
II IS earnestly to be hoped that having
done SO much toward the cause OF edu-
cation, congress will continue to develop
the library in every phase of research, to
the end that 1t may not only be one OF
the most maEnihcent but among the
richest and most beautiful libraries in
the world
Maintain CIvn Service.
The important branch of our govern
ment known as the civil service the prac-
teal Improvement of which has long been
subject of earnest discussion, has of
late years received increased legislative
and executive approval
During the past few months the sorv-
ice has been placed on a stll tirmer basis
of business methods and personal merit.
While the right of our veteran soldiers
been asserted. dismssals for merely po-
htical reasons have been carefully guard
ed against tAe examinations for admit
lance to the service enlarged and at the
same time rendered less technical and
more practical, and a distinct advance
has been made by giving a hearing before
dismissal upon all cases where incompe-
tencY Is CHARGED or demand made for re
moval of officials in any of the depart
ments.
This order has been made to give to the
iBh to ha nit bout In,
any way impairing the power of removal.
which should always be exercised in eases
of inetiCiency or of inCompetcncy, and
which is one of the safeguards of the civ
il service reform system preventing stag
nation and deadwood and keeping every
employe keenly alive to the fact that Sc
CuritY of tenure depends not on favor, but
on his own tested and carefully watched
record of service.
Much, of course, still remains to be ac-
complished before the system can be made
/ reasonably perfect for our needs. There
are places now in the classified service
which ought to be exempted and others
unclassiied may properly he included.
shall not hesitate to exempt cases which
| think have been improperly included In
the classified service or to include those
which, in my judgment, will best pro-
mote the public service. The system has
the approval of the people and it viii be
my endeavor to uphold and extend it.
| am forced by the length of this mes
sage to omit many important references
.
congress will have to deal al the present
session. They are fully discussed in the
departmental reports to all Of which |
invite your earnest attention.
Reduce the Expenses.
The estimates of the expenses OF the
government by the several departments
should have your careful scrutiny. While
congress may not find ii an easy task to
reduce the expenses of the government, II
should not encourage their Increase.
/ These expenses will, in my judgment, ad-
NIT of reduction in many branches of the
government without injury to the public
service. 1t is a commencing duty to keep
the appropriations within the receipts of
the government and thus prevent a de
felt. WILLIAM MklNLEA.
Executive Mansion, December e, 1891