Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-06

act Oh Congress approved April 10 1855
mas been completed and opened to the pub
hc 1t should be a matter of congratula-
tion that through the foresight and munifi-
cepce OF Congress the nation possesses this
noble treasure-house of knowledge Ii is
earnestly to be hoped that having done so
much towards the cause of education, Con-
gress will continue to develop the Library
In every phase Of research to the end that
II may be not only one Of the most mag
nificent but among the richest and most
useful libraries in the world
CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
Inc important branch Of our Government
known as the Civil Service, the practical
Improvement of which has long been a
subject of earnest discussion has of late
years received increased legislative and
Executive approval. During the past few
months the service has been placed upon
still firmer basis of business methods and
personal merit. While the right of our
veteran soldiers to reinstatement in de-
serving cases has been asserted, dismissals
Tor merely political reasons have been care
1ully guarded against, the examinations for
admittance to the service enlarged and at
the same time rendered less technical and
more practical; and distinct advance has
Deen made by giving hearing before dis
missal upon all cases where incompetency
Is charged or demand made for the re-
lioVai OF omcials in any Of the Depart
menus. Ihis 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 exer-
clsed In cases of inefficiency and incom-
potency, and which is one of the vital SAFE
q
preventing stagnation and deadwood and
keeping every employee 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 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 not
CLASSIFIED may properly be included. / shall
not hesitate to exempt cases which think
have been improperly included in the CLASH
ned service or include those which In my
Judgment will best promote the public serv-
Ice. The system has the approval OF the
people and 1t will be my endeavor to up
hold and extend it.
1 am forced by the length Of this Mes
sage to omit many important references to
affairs Of the Government with which Con-
gress will have to deal at the present ses-
sion. They are fully discussed in the de-
partmental reports. to all of which 1 In
vire your earnest attention
The estimates of the expenses of the Gov
eminent by the several Departments will,
am sure. have your careful scrutiny.
While the Congress may not find It an easy
task to reduce the expenses OF the Govern
ment. it should not encourage their In
crease. These expenses will in my 1udg-
ment admit of a decrease in many branches
d. the Government without injury to the
public service. 1t is a mmanding duty
to keep the appropriations within the re-
,eipts Of the Government, and thus avoid
/ deficit.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, December 9, 1897.