Gilpin observer., 1901-12-05

one deed which IL left undono would hav0
nothing But for their steadfast prowess In
the greatest crisis OF our history. all our
annals would be meaningless. and our great
experiment in popular freedom and self-gov-
eminent a gloomy failure. Moreover. they
not only left us a united nation, but they left
mighty deeds by which the nation was $ hept
united. We are now indeed one nation, one
In fact as well as In name; We are united
in our devotion to the nag which is the sym
Dol of all national greatness and unity; and
the very completeness Of our union enables
us all, In every part Of the country. to glory
North and the of the South In the
times that tried mems souls.
Merit System Endorsed.
1.-THE merit system of making appointments
IL in its essence as democratic and American
as the common schools system itself. 1t SIM
where the duties are entirely non-political,
all applicants should have fair field and
no favor. each standing on his merits as he
Is able to show them by practical test. Writ
ten competitive examinations offer the only
available means in many cases for applying
this system. In other cases, as where la
ton undoubtedly can be widely extended.
There are. of course, places where the writ
ten competitive examination cannot be ap-
an ideal solution. but where under existing
political conditions 1t Is. though imperfect
means. yet the best present means Of get
ting satisfactory results.
1T is important to have this system OBJ
tain at home, but 1t Is even more important
to have 1t applied rigidy in our insular pos
sessions. The administration Of these islands
should be as wholly free from the suspicion
OF partisan politics as the administration OF
the army and navy. All that we ask from
the public servant in the Philippines or Porto
Rico is that he reflect honor his country
by the way in which he makes that coun-
try's rule a benent to the peoples who have
come under 1t. This is all that should
ask, and we cannot afford to be content with
less"
Treatment of Indians
The message points out the defects in our
present consular service. and recommends the
will increase its efficiency. OF the Indian
problem 1t says
when we should definitely make up our minds
to recognize the Indian an Individual and
not member of tribe. The General
Allotment Act is a mighty pulverizing engine
ly upon the family of the individual. Under
its provisions some sixty thousand Indians
States. We should now break up the tribal
funds, doing for them what allotment does
for the tribal lands that is, they should DO
should be put upon the indiscriminate per-
mission to Indians to lease their allotments.
The effort should be steadily to make tho
Indian work like any other man on his own
ground. The marriage laws of the Indians
should be made the same as those Of the
whites.
I'm dealing with the aboriginal races few
things more important than to preserve
them from the terrible physical and moral
degradation resulting from the liquor traf-
fic We doing all we can to save our own
Indian tribes from this evil. Wherever by
international agreement this same end can be
attained regards races where we DO not
possess exclusive control. every effort should
be made to bring 1t about.
.I bespeak the most cordial support from
the Congress and the people for the st. Louis
Exposition to Commemorate the One Hun
dredth Anniversary OF the LOUISIANA fur-
chase. This purchase was the greatest IN
stance of expansion in our history. 1t def
initely decided that we were to become
great continental republic. 6y y far the FORE. ore.
national government should be represented
at the exposition by q full and complete SET
of exhibits.
The people of Charleston, with great en-
ergy and civic spirit, are carrying on an ex-
position >hich will continue throughout most
of the present session OF the Congress-.
heartily commend this exposition to the GOOD
will of the people. 1t deserves all the en-
couragement that can be given it.
For the sake of good administration. SOUND
economy, and the advancement OF science. the
Census Office now constituted should be
would insure better. cheaper and more sat.
isfactory work, in the interest not only OF
our business but of statistic. economic ana
social science.
Growth of Postal Service.
1.-THE remarkable growth Of the postal ser
vice Is shown in the fact that its revenues
have doubled and its expenditures have near
ly doubled within twelve years. Its progress
sive development compels constantly increas-
ing outlay, but in this period OF business en-
ergy and prosperity its receipts grow SO much
faster than its expenses that the annual de-
fcit has been steadily reduced from s11 A.
779 in 1897 to 81, ,e23. 727 in 1901. Among recent
postal advances the success of rural free
delivery wherever established has been SO
marked, and actual experience has made Its
benefits so plain. that the demand for Its ex-
"It II Just that the great agricultural popu-
lation should share in the improvement Of the
service. The number of rural routes now In
operation is 5000. practically all established
within three years, and there are 5000 appli-
cations awaiting action. 1t is expected that
the number in operation at the cloes OF the
current fiscal year will reach $500. The mail
will then be daily carried to the doors OF
on
third Of all that portion Of the country which
Is adapted to 1t will be covered by this kind
OF service.
second-Class Mail Matter.
"The full measure of postal progress which
might be realized has long been hampered
and obstructed by the heavy burden imposed
on the government through the intrenched
and well-understood abuses which have
mail matter. The extent Of this burden ap-
pears when 1t is stated that while the sec.
the weight of all the mail. it paid for the
last fiscal year only AS OF the aggrs-
gate postal revenue of 3lll. .63l 1913. II the
pound rate Of postage. which produces the
large loss thus entailed, and which was nxed
by the Congress with the purpose Of encour-
aging the dissemination Of public informa-
tion. were limited to the legitimate news
papers and periodicals actually contemplated
by the law. no Just exception could be taken.
That expense would be the recognized and
accepted cost of a liberal public policy de-
liberately adopted for q justihable end. But
much OF the matter which enjoys the privi-
legged rate is wholly outside OF the intent Of
the law. and has secured admission only
through an evasion of its requirements or
through lax construction. The proportion OF
such wrongly included matter is estimated
by postal experts to be one-half Of the whole
volume OF second-class mall. II 1t be only
the burden Ia apparent. The Postofdce De-
partment has now undertaken to remove the
piicstion Of the law; and It should be sus-
tained In It's effort"
IN via ystifh ical lnlarasf Nd Ioas