The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-07

charges II no Other or better bid is made
this gum Is all the government will re-
] ceive on its claim of nearly S13, 600, 0G0.
| The government has no information as to
whether there will be other bidders or a
better hid than the minimum amount
herein stated Tine question presented
therefore is whefhsr the government shall
under the authority given it by the act of
Marcn ., 1887, purchase or redeem she
ROAD ID the event that bid is not made
government claim To qualify the gov
ernment to BID at the sale, will require
deposit Of $780, 600 as follows:
In this government causes $500, 600 and
In each OF the first mortgage causes $780,,
900 and in the latter the deposit must ne
in cash. Payments at the sale are as fol-
| lows;
| Upon the accordance of the bid q sum
which with the amount already deposited
shall equal Is per cent OF the bid the bal
anoe in ipstallments of % per cent, thirty,
forty and fifty days after the confirmation
of the sale.
The lien on the Kansas Pacific prior to
that Of the government on the 30th of
July, 1885, principal and interest,",
amounted to 81, 2sl O48 II. The govern
ment therefore. should it become the
highest bidder. will have to pay the
amount OF the first mortgage lien
[ believe chat under the act of 1887 it
mas the authority to do this and In the
absence of any action by Congress [ shall
direct the Secretary OF the Treasury to
make the necessary deposit as required
by the courts decree TO qualify as bidder
and 60 bid at the sale as a sum which will
at least equal the principal of the debt
due to the governments but suggest in
order to remove all controversy that an
| 4 II
passed explicitly giving such powers and
&ppropriating IN general terms whatever
sun1 is efficient therefor.
In 50 important matter as the govern
ment becoming the possible owner of rail-
road property which it perforee must con-
duct and operate. feel oonstrainaa to lay
before Congress these facts for its oonsid-
GRAFTON and action before the consumma-
Sion of f he gale. IL is clear to my mind
that the government should not permit
the property TIC be sold at a price which
will yield less than one half OF the prin-
cipGl OF it's debt and less than one fifth
OF it's entire debt. principal and interest
But whether the government rather than
| accept less than it's claim, should become
bidder ana hereby the owner Of the
property. I submit to the Congress for
action.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY.
The library building provided for by the
act Of Congress approved April 5, 1886,
has been completed and opened to the
public 1t should be matter of congrat-
uiasiOn that through the foresight and
munlfcence OF Congress the nation pos
sesses this noble treasure house of kn0wl
edge 1t is earnestly to be hoped that
having cone go much toward the cause of
education, Congress will continue to de-
| VOL he. fh1sor IN, nh rf ,r
search to the end that it may be not only
one of the most magnificent but among
the richest and most useful libraries in
the world. r.ssS
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The important branch of our govern
ment known as the civil service. the prac-
tioal improvement of which has long been
a subject of earnest discussion, has of late
years received increased legislative and
executive approval. During thu past few
months, the service has been placed upon
a still frmer basis of business methods
personal merit While the right of our
veteran soldiers to reinstatement in de-
serving cases has been asserted, di SIN issals
for merely political reasons nave been
carefully guarded against, the examina-
tions for adEnittanoe 60 the service en-
| iarged and at che same time rendered
less technical and more practical; and a
| distinct advance hiss been n3aua ty giving
q hearing before dismissal upon all cases
where inoompetenoy is charged or demand
made for the removals 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 impairing
the power Of removal, which should al
ways be exercised in cases OF ineffloiency
and in3ompetenoy and which is one of the
vital safeguards Of the civil service re-
form system preventing stagnaticn and
deadwood and keeping every employs
keenly alive to the fact that the security
of his tenure depends, not on favor, but
on bis own tested and carefully watched
record of service.
Much of COURSE still remains to be &C.
complished before the system can be made
reasonably perfect for cur needs. There
arc 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 classified service or included those
which in my Judgment will best promote
the publie sergioa. The system has the
approval Of the people and it will be my
endeavor to hold and extend it,.
IN CONCLUSION.
am forced by the length of this mes
sage 60 omit many important references
to affairs of the government with which
Congress will have to deal ct the present
session They are fully discussed in the
departmental reports. to all of which / in
vite your earnest session.
] The estimates of the expenses of the
government by the several departments
VIII, | am sure. have your careful scruti-
ny. While the Congress may not find it
an easy task 30 reduce the expenses of
the government, it should not encourage
their increase. These expenses will in
my Judgment admit of decrease in many
branches Of the governments without in
jury to the public service. 1t ia com
mandinR duty so keep the appropriations
within the receipts Of tine government and
thus avoid deficit
WILLIAM M'KINLEY
Executive Maneion, Dec. g. 1897.
/ CONTROLLER WOULDN'T WORK.
Last evening as the special electric car
numbered 81 of the Westbrook line which