The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-11

employment should continue to wait
upon the Iaborer. and under the gold
standard the workingman Is secured
against payment for his labors IN depre-
ciated currency. For labor, a short day
is better than a short dallor; one VIII
tighten the burdens the other lessen the
rewards, of toll. The one viii promote
contentment and Independence, the other
penury and want. The wages OF labor
should be adequate TO keep the nome IN
comfort, educate the children and, WITH
thrift and economy, lay something by
for the days of insrmity and old age.
CIVIL SERVICE
practical civil service reform mas al
ways had the support and encouragement
OF the Republican party. The future OF
the merit system is safe in its hands.
During the present administration as oc-
casions have arisen for modification or
amendment in the existing civil service
rules and laws, they have been made
Important amendments were promulgat-
ed by executive orders under date of
May %, 1899, having for their principal
purpose the exemption from competitive
examination of certain places involving
HQuElaTy RESPONSIVENESS VI OutASo VI q
strictly confidential scientific or execu-
tive character. which, it was thought,
might better be filled either by nom
competitive examination or by other
tests of fitness in the discretion of the
appointing officer. 1t is gratifying that
the experience Of more than a year has
indicated the changes, in the marked i'm
provement of the public service.
1.-THE merit system, as far as practica-
BILE, is made the basis for reappointments
to Office in our new territory.
PENSIONS
1.-THE American people are profoundly
grateful to the soldiers, sailors and ma
rines who have in every time of conflict
fought their country's battles and de-
Tended its homer The survivors and the
widows and orphans of those who have
fallen are Justly entitled to receive the
generous and considerable care of the
nation. Few are now left Of those who
fought in the Mexican war, and while
many of the veterans Of the civil war
are spared to US, they are rapidly dinlin-
ishing and age and indrmity are increas-
ing their dependence. These, with the
soldiers Of the Spanish war, will not DC
neglected by their grateful country. The
pension laws have been liberal They
should be justly administered, and will
be- Preferences should be given to the
soldiers, sailors and marines, their wild
ows and orphans with respect to en-
ployment in the public service.
INSULAR POSSESSIONS
AMERICAN RULE IN CUBA.
1--WE have been in possession Of Cuba
since January /, 1899. We have restored
order and established domestic tranquil
ity. We have fed the starving, clothed
the naked and administered to the sick
We have improved the sanitary condition
Of the island. We have stimulated In
dustry, introduced public education and
taken a full and comprehensive enumer-
alton of the inhabitants. The qualifica-
ton Of electors has been settled and IN
der it officers have been chosen for al
the municipalities in Cuba These loca,
governments are now in operation, ad
ministered by the people. Our military
esta blishment has been reduced from
43. 900 soldiers to less than 5000.
can election has been ordered to bt
held September Is under a fair election
law already tried in the municipal cleo
tons. to choose members Of a constitu
tional convention and the convention by
the same order is to assemble on the
first Monday of November to frame {
constitution upon which an independent
government for the island will rest. Al
this is a long step in the fulfillment. o.
our sacred guarantees to the people o.
| Cuba
HOME RULE IN PORTO RICO
eve hold Porto Rico by the same it'll
as the Philippines. The treaty of peac
which ceded us the one conveyed to u
the other. Congress has given to thi
island a government in which the inhabi
tants participate. elect their own legisla
lures, enact their own local laws, pro
vide their own system of taxation, an
| in these respects have the same power
and privileges enjoyed by other terri
tories belonging TO the United States an
| a much larger measure of sef-govern
ment than was given to the inhabitant
| of louisiana under Jefferson. A distric
court Of the United States for Porto Ric
| has been established and local court
| have been inaugurated, al LOT which ar
in operation.
THE PORTO RICAN TARIFF.
1.-THE generous treatment of the Port
Ricans accords with the most liberia
| thought Of our own countrymen and en-
| courages the best aspirations Of the pee
pie of the island While they do not hav
instant free commercial intercourse wit
the United States, congress compile
with my recommendation by removing
on the 1st day of MAY last, S. per cent G
the duties and providing for the remova
Of the remaining Is per cent on the Is
of March. 1902, or earlier If the legisla
ture Of Porto Rico shall provide Lscs
revenues for the expenses Of conductin
/ the government. During this intermed
ate period Porto Ritan products comm
into the United States pay the tariff c
Is per cent of the rates under the Dlngle
act, and our goods going 70 Porto Ric
pay a like rate The duties thus pal
and collected both in Porto Rico and th
United States are paid 70 the govern
ment OF Porto Rico and no part therec
is taken By the national government
/ PORTO RICo's ADVANCEMENT.
"All Of the duties from November. ls9
to June 9. 1900, aggregating the sum
g -. 523. p paid at the custom housees
the United states upon Porto Rican prs
duets, under the laws existing prior {
the aforementioned act ef congress
have gone into the territory Of Port
Rico to relieve the destitute and Il
schools and for other purposes. IN a.
dition 20 this we have expended for relic