The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-11

cumulatlons of his nelghbor, dscourages
the thrift and economy of which he him
self ought to be an example. He makes
war upon the very condition which lie
hopes some time TO attain. Those VINO
create and foster discomfort in the mind
of the laborer are not his friends .lhe
largest opportunities possible to the labor
ing man should be provided. The largest
wages consistent with the rights of the
employer should be paid, and different
persons performing the same work, even
though some of them be women, should
receive the same compensation These
results are more likely to occur through
reason and mutual acquaintance than
through rebellion. Tolerance is the first
requisite of amlcabe relations and this
will arise when the employer and laborer
understand each other. Some plan should
be devised which would afford to each such
Information of the other as VIII form ba-
sis for the friendly adjustment of differ
ences between them. No such plan now
exists here, and the result is the appalling
loss of wages and property which is so
often seen when the rights of the employ
er and laborer clash. The plan known as
the university extension has been tried in
England. and Is said by many to have pro-
duced satisfactory results. 1t Is the inves-
tigation by careful, intelligent and con-
sCientious men into the affairs of the Ia
boring people, and their relations to their
employers. It's tendency and purpose is
to give and ito get information, and by
seeing both sides, prevent the conflict
which Il view of only one might produce.
Whether or not the scheme of the uni
versty extension is feasible, ii at least at
fords a suggestion along lines which must
at some time be pursued. | commend this
subject to the legislature for that careful
consideration which the great need of all
our people in this direction demands for
1t.
There Is a tang to the governors pen
which shows itself in several terse
and salient bits of executive sense, but
in no place is it more apparent than in
his remarks touching the civil service:
This subject has been much discussed
generally exaggerated, and has provided
capital to many who would otherwise be
bankrupt. The value of practical civil SER
vice is beyond question. Its Importance
was recognized by the last constitutional
convention, and its place Is now fixed in
the fundamental law of the state. But
the work of the Legislature is necessary to
render effective the provisions of the con-
stitution. This work should be done
promptly and in good faith, not with ref
erence to ideas so delicate as to be worth
less in actual practice, but with a view
solely to the elevation of the public SER
vice. and the highest discharge of the
duties of every public office. An eXam-
nation for a public place should be suita-
BILE to the kind of SArvice required, and
sufficient margin should be given those
making appointments so that the most
competent help can be selected. Expert
| enCe character, tact and even muscle may
| be of more Importance in some cases than
| the fraction of l per cent in an eXamina-
| ton in geography. The discretion of the
| appointing power should not be entirely
| subordinated to the marking system. If
an examination have disclosed the fact
| that a certain number of men are qualified
to fill a given position, the place would be
| more likely to be properly filled If the
| appointing officer could select from the
| whole number so qualified than If he were
| limited to a quarter of that number. Fur
| thermore it would reduce the chances OF
| injustice to an applicant whose qualitica-
| tons, on the whole, were superior to those
of his competitor who had outranked him
| on paper. Civil service is intended to Sc
| cure for the public at a reasonable cost
| unquestioned integrity and approved skill
| enlarged by continuous service and not tC
| exploit any particular idea.
1t is q fair inference from this that
| Governor Black prefers an ounce OF
| practical result to a ton of theory. This
| llltltICG IL iltCi III tllt las
quotation that we shall make--from the
part of his message where he pleads
for biennial sessions:
| In many states the legislature convenes
| once in two years, and wherever that prac
| tlce prevails | understand there is no dis
| position to return to the yearly meeting
| This is a large state and it's interests are
| enormous and diverse, but these do no
| justify or even excuse the large number
| of confusing, expensive and unneCeS
| sary laws passed at every session. They
| serve no proper purpose whatever anC
| their tendency is to unsettle and mislead
| even If they contain nothing more objec
| tionable. The legitimate needs of thi!
| state can be provided for in a shorter
| time than is generally consumed, and tn,
| chief hope arising from protracted scs
sions and the passage of unnecessary law!
is that the people may in their next con
| stitution conclude to correct both Will
biennial sessions. l should be glad If NJ
act should be passed not of pronounced
utility or to meet some urgent public need
This would make possible an early ad
journment, for which the people are al
ways grateful.
i We commend the last two sentence!
to the legislature of Pennsylvania.
|
The government is now paying 1888
ton for first quality armor plates. Sec
retary of the Navy Herbert figure
that they can be made at ample prof
for $500 a ton. Evidently somebody j