The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-12-09

July. 1877, principal and interest, arnounfee
TO 81, ,l9l, ,0iS II. The government, therefore
ehould IL become the highest bidder, will hav,
10 pay the amount Of the first mortgage lien
believe that under the act of 1887 IL hai
the authority to do this and in absence oi
any action by congress Ishall direct the sec
retary of the treasury to make the necessar,
deposit as required by the courts decree /,
qualify as bidder and to bid at the sale
sum which will at least equal the principal o.
the debt due TO the government; but sugle les
in order to remove all controversy that al
amendment Of the law be Immediately passe
explicitly giving such powers and appropri
ating in general terms whatever sum Is sun
cent therefor.
In such an important matter as the govern
ment becoming the possible owner of railroad
property, which IL must perforce conduct ant
operate, / feel constrained TO lay before con
gress these facts for its consideration and &C
tion before the consummation of the sale. II
is clear TO my mind that the government
should not permit the property to be sold al
price which will yield less than one-half oi
the principal of its debt, and less than one
fifth Of its entire debt, principal and interest
But whether the government, rather thar
accept less than its claim, should become
bidder and thereby the owner of the property
/ submit 20 the congress for action.
The library building provided for by act OF
congress, approved April l5 1886, has beer
completed and opened to the public. II
shou d be matter of congratulation tba,
congress the nation possesses this mob treas.
ure house Of knowledge. 1t il earnestly TO bt
hoped that having done so much towards the
cause OF education. congress will continue Ia
develop the library In every phase of re
search TO the end that IL may be not only one
Of the most magnih ent, but among the rich
est and most useful libraries in the world.
Civil Service Reform.
The important banch Of our government
known as the civil service. the practical i'm.
proVement Of which has long been subject
Of earnest discussion, has of late years re.
ceived increased Legislative and executive ap.
proval 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 10 re.
instatement In deserving cases has been as.
serted. dismissals for merely political reason
have been carefully guarded against, the ex-
aminations for admittance to the service en-
larged and at the same time rendered less
technical and more practical; and n distinct
advance has been made by giving hearing
before dismissal upon all cases where in
competency Is charged or demand made for
the removal OF ilcials in any Of the depart.
ments. This order has been made TO give TO
the accused his right 10 be heard, but with
out In any way impairing the power of re-
m0vTr w1TCa s5uGf1 arways De exercised N
cases of inefliciency and iDcompetency, and
which Is one of the vital safeguards of the
civil service reform system, preventing stag
nation and deadwood and keeping every em-
ploye ksenly alive 10 the fact that the Sc
curity OF his tenure depends not on favor but
on his own tested and carefully watched rec.
ord of service.
Much ~ course still remains to be accom-.
pllaued before the system can he made rea-
sOnably perfect for our needs. There are
pla ed now in the classified service which
ought to be exempted and others not classi-
fjed may properly be included. | shall not
hesitate to exempt cases which think have
been improperly included in the classified
service or include those whi h in my judg-
ment will best promote the public service.
The system has the approval of the people
and il will be my endeavor to uphold and eX-
tend II.
! am forced by the length of this message
to omit many important references to affairs
of the government with which congress will
have 10 deal at the present session. They are
fully discussed in the departmental reports,
TO all of which invite your earnest atten'
ton.
he estimates of the expenses of the gov
ernment by the several departments will, |
am sure, have your careful scrutiny. While
the congress may not find II an easy task to
reduce the expenses of the government, IL
should not encourage their increase. These
expenses will, in my judgment, admit of a
decrease in many branches of the govern.
ment without injury TO the public service. II
is a commenting duty to keep the appropri.
at ons within the receipts of the government
and thus avoid deficit.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY