The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-05

perfect security afforded by the postal
savings banks is a very important fac
tor, as under such a system no man.
woman or child could ever lose a single
cent deposited in them. This would be
in happy contrast with existing condi-
tionS ard past records The govern
ment will so adjust affairs that depos-
itorS could receive small interest on
their savings, and can be so adjusted
that they could invest them in a gov
eminent bond. There then would be an
opportunity for inducing honest Ameri-
can citizens to become holders of the
securities of their own country. and
who can measure the vast impulse in
the direction of patriotism which would
be thus engendered and stimulated? /
am very hopeful that a safe, easy and
conservative measure of this character
will be proposed and passed, avoiding
the objections usually urged against
the measure. that it would serve 10 con-
tract the currency in outlying regions
by tying up the money where it cannot
be reinvested.
II am satisfied a plan can be devised
by which the money deposited can be
reinyested in the states where it is de-
posted and be a blessing instead of an
evil. II is well known that under eX-
listing conditions the surplus money
held by outlying banks is transferred to
the great cities.
National Bankruptcy Hill.
The national bankruptcy bill, which
has been before the people and con-
gress so many years, will again be up
for discussion. 1t Will be remembered
that the house passed what was known
rs the Torrey bankruptcy bill. Numer-
Gus amendments We're proposed To the
measure in the senate. notably those of
Teller, Mitchell and Nelson, and after
a prolonged and interesting debate the
Nelson substitute was passed by the
senate. This substitute has not yet
been acted on by the house. but will
be taken up this winter. The Torrey
bill was a most comprehensive meas
ure. treating of every possible detail of
the subject, yet it raised much oppoS-
ton in congress and the country at
large because of its vigorous involun-
tary provisions. The Nelson substitute
is what is known as a voluntary bank
ruptcy bill and is much more liberal in
it's terms and dealings with insolvent
debtors / voted for the Nelson bill,
believing that while it is not so com
plete as the Torrey bill, it would be
more liberal and indeed more just in
it's treatment of the unfortunate peo-
pie who are compelled to go through a
bankruptcy proceeding. 1t is hardly
probable that the house will accept the
Nelson substitute and the matter will
no doubt have to be compromised in
conference committee.
Railroad Measures.
There are also to be considered
measures of great interest to the rail-
roads of the country, notably the anti
scalperS' bill and the pooling bill. The
latter is a most important measure,
proposing to amend the common law so
as to permit and legaliZe and authorize
railroad companies to enter into agree
ments for the division or apportionment
of the whole or any part of their traffic
or the earnings therefrom. | think
fap wi n m
measure and its discussion will. beyond
doubt furnish some very lively and en-
pertaining debates. The railroads will,
of course, be there in force. Senator
Chandler OF New Hampshire will prob
ably lead the opposition to this meas
ure.
The Civil Service Law.
Then there will be the question of
the civil service law which. as usual,
will come in for very scathing comment
from General Grosvenor in the house
and Gallnger in the senate, both of
whom are opposed emphatically 10 al
most any sort of civil service law AS
the law now stands. and as it is en-
forced by the civil service commission,
it has degenerated almost to a farce.
The cooks and guards in the peniten-
tiaries and all the employees. such as
teamsters. farm hands. cooks. herders
and others, on the Indian reservations.
are all compelled to pass an eXamina-
ton for positions where the salary
ranges from $500 to 81, 900. which a very
great number of intelligent people
whom we meet every day in business
would find it difficult to pass 1t was
this class of government employees
which went to make up the $4,000 office
holders who We're transferred at one
fell swoop and placed under the pro-
tecting aegis of the civil service law
and given life tenure of office by Pres
before
ment. Aside from the abSurdity of
many of the proceedings con-
nected with civil service examina-
ton. the situation is naturally very
CALLING to a party in power which finds
itself thus circumscribed and denied
the privilege of taking care Of its
friends. / am heartily in sympathy
myself with the proposition that every
office holder in the service of the gov
eminent ought to be f. lily capable and
competent in every way to discharge
the duties of the office which ne holds.
and beyond question every applicant
for a federal position ought to submit
TO a reasonable and proper eXamina-
ton for the purpose of testing his fit
ness for the place, but | confess much
sympathy with the view that there are
just as capable people in one party as
in another, and it would seem. after
all. only fair that the party which suc-
ceeds a. the polls should. in a general
way, have the naming of those whc are
to help carry out its principles and pol
icies. But | repeat that every holder of
federal position should be required 20
pass a proper examination.
The Dingley Bill.
There is considerable adverse criti-
cism just now because of the failure
of the Dingley bill to produce revenue
sufficient to run the government Can
dor compels the admission that the
Dingley bill has not had a fair oppor-
tunity as yet to demonstrate whether
under normal conditions, it can puu-
duce a sufficient revenue. There was
such an enormous influx Of imports
prior to the passage Of the bill that the
revenues from this source have natur~
ally fallen off-so much so that ii ap-
pears that the deficiency is already in
the neighborhood of $50 00O, 600 There
was a great difference of opinion during
the debate as to whether the measure
would even in the second year produce