The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-07

| conduct and operate, feel constrained
to lay before congress these facts for it:
consideration and action before the con.
summation Of the sale. Il is clear to my
| mind fha. the government should nj
permit the property ID be sold al price
which will yield less than one-half of the
| principal of it's debt and less than one
| fifth OF its entire debt, principal and in
terest. But whether the government
rather than accept less than its claims
should become bidder, and thereby the
| owner OF the properly, submit 10 con-
gress for action.
Conversational Librarr.
The library building provided for by
the act OF congress as approved April Is,
1885, has been completed and opened 10
the public. 1t should oe a matter OF CON
graduation that through the foresight
and munificence OF congress the nation
possesses thi. noble treasure-house OF
knowledge. II is earnestly TO be hoped
that, having done go much toward the
cause OF education, congress will con-
tinue 10 develop the library in every
Phase Of research. TO the end that 1t may
not be only one of the most magnificent
but among the richest and most oeauti-
ful libraries in the world.
Civil Service Rules
The important branch Of our govern
ment known as the civil service, :he
practical improvement Of which has long
been a subject OF earnest discussion, mas
OF late years received increased legisla-
tive and executive approval. During the
past few months the service has been
placed on still firmer basis Of BUSINESS
methods and personal merit. While the
right Of our veteran soldiers TO rein
statement in deserving case. has been
asserted, dismissals for merely polit:caI
reas3n. have been carefully guarded
against, the examinations for admit
tance TO the service enlarged and at the
same time rendered less technical and
more practical; and di,tinct advance
has been made by giving a hearing be-
fore dismissal, upon ali cases where in
competency is charged or demand made
for the removal OF officials in any Of the
departments. This order IA. been made
in order TO give the accused his rights 70
be heard, sbut without in any way i'm
pairing the power OF removal, which
should always be exercised in cases OF
ineficiency and inconpstency, and
which is cne Of the vital safeguards Of
the civil service reform system, prevent
ing stagnation and dead wood and keep
ing every employe keenly alive to the
fact that the security OF III. tenure de-
pends not on favor, but on mis- own test
ed ard carefully watched record Of SER
vice.
Much, Of course, still remains to be ac-
before the system can be
made reasonably perfect for our needs.
There are places now in the classified
service which ought 10 be exempted and
others not classified may properly be in
cluded I shall not hesitate to exempt
cases which have been Improperly in
cluded in the classified service Ut in
clude those which will, in my judgement,
best improve the public good. TIE sys-
TEN has the approval OF the people and
it will be my endeavor to uphold and ex-
tend il.
Depart ment Reports
I am forced by The length OF this mes
sage to omit many important references
to affairs OF the government with which
congress will have TO deal at the present
session. They are fully discussed in the
departmental reports, to all Of which 1
Invite your earnest attention.
Beware of n Deficit.
TIE estimates OF the expenses OF the
government by the several departments
viii, 1 am sure, have your careful scrut-
my. While the congress may not find il
an easy task to reduce the expenses Of
the government, II should not encourage
their increase. These expenses will. in
my judgment. admit Of a decrease in
many branches OF the government with
put injury TO the public service. II is a
duty to keep the appropria-
tons within the receipts OF the govern
meut and thus avoid a deficit.
WILLIAM MKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, December s. 1897. |