St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-02-26

IlNIIltWOih VI DUEL anu WV "
thoroughly cushioned. The floors are
four thicknessas of white oak. The en-
tire car Is hugh safety box. the chiel
luxury Of the interior Is the perfect ar
rangement of everything pertaining 10
human cumfort. 1t has an old-fashloned
fireplace, and two paatal bedroom
apartments, and a bath opening from
each chamber. There Is magnlncenl
silver service, and large collection OF
rare china.
The 18th annual report Of the civil serv'
Ice commission has just been MADE pup.
lie, and in view Of the much discussed
subject of civil service reform IN re-
cent years, this document proves very
readable and interesting paper.
The approximate number Of places IL
the civil branch of the government Is
17S717. or these, 87f07 are CLASSIFIED
service and 91,610 unclassified. or those
not yet classified, &C, 725 are postmasters
Of the fourth class. or those unclassi'
fed, many will be transferred to the
classified service by the action OF the
rules The aggregate compensation
paid in the executive civil service OF the
United States during the last fiscal year
was, approximately, 500 ,OOO
The commission is of the opinion thai
the fourth class postofflces may De IN
Guided in the classification by executive
order. When these extensions OF Office
acts are repealed, and regulations III
successful operation In all the depart
ments requiring promotions to be paseo
on the efficiency Of employees, the re-
forms in the executive civil service, 1t Is
said, will be practically complete.
The commission is now making caro-
system to show certain information re-
garding every person in the executive
civil service. The whole number OF per
sons examined for the five branches oil
the classified service during the veal
ended June 80, 1896, was Sl,27O, of whom
20, 400 passed and 1886 failed to pass
This is material decrease in failures
The whole number of appointments was
1854, an increase Of 292 over the previous
year.
In reviewing the growth of the civil
service the report says that under Pres
ident Arthur there was growth of l6i'
classified places, making total of ovel
$1,000 at the close of his administration,
1000 added by President Cleveland dur
ing his first administration, and con
temporaneous increase of about 45Ol
places by natural growth; 5000 additions
by President Harrison by executive or
der, and natural growth of nearly 7OOt
places at the same time, and at the pres
ent time of over 81, 900.
The commission conducted investiga.
lions into charges Of political assess
ments, political or religious discrimina'
lions, illegal appointments and removals
and alleged fraud or unfalrness in con.
nection with examinations and appoint
ments. In number of cases of charges
of political assessments 1t was found thai
here has been no technical violations OF
the law. The PRONUNCIATION of the law
on this subject and the commissioners
warning to employees during the cam
pagn, that they could not be forced tc
contribute to political funds, the report
says, has most salutary effect.
vcned in this city last week, was one OF
the most remarkable gatherings of the
kind ever assembled in this country. The
work of this organization is one of the
most noble of its character ever under.
taken, which accounts for the I'm
paralleled success of the congress.
The idea of the women who started the
movement was to have as little organi.
cation as was absolutely necessary, and
not enough to hinder or cramp the free.
dom of the congress in the slightest de-
gree. 1t is called the first national con.
gress. While nothing has been said or
the subject as yet, 1t is foregone con
clusion that second will be held, per
haps in Boston next year. The interest
in the congress is by no means confined
to Washington or the immediate neigh
borhood In fact, far greater number
of delegates from other cities were herr
than the most sanguine of the womeI
interested had dared to hope in advance
1t was expected that scores might come
In point of fact there were probably NOR,
than 500 women from other cities in at
tendance upon the congress.
The women who had charge of the
preparations of the program succeeded
in bringing together from all over tn,
interesting takers who have ever ad
dressed gatherings of this sort. The sub
jects assigned were all of the creates
importance, and the manner in whicl
they were handled was entirely worth,
of the immense audiences which tn
speakers addressed. The proper rea
tlonship existing between the mothe
and the child is a very broad subject t
handle, but it was specialized and di
vided among the various speakers il
such a way as to cover the ground in
most satisfactory manner.
There We're many New England won
en- in attendance, and the immense pow
er for good which these congresses ar
bound to have can hardly be estimated
This the first congress, was admitte
en- every hand to have been an over
that the future gatherings of the organ
ization WILL if possible. be more so.
Considerable gossip has for a Ion
time been heard as to what the leadin
lights of Mr.. Clevelands second admin
istration will do after March 4. Nj
Cleveland will retire to Princeton, an
recuperate for few years, when, it
announced, he will actively resume tn
practice of law in New York city. H
will, as usual, spend his summers a
Buzzard's Bay, Mass. Postmaster Ger
eral Wilson has already accepted tn
presidency of college in his state. Sec