The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-12-07

competitive examinations under tne
civil service rules This was l26iz
moro than during the preceding year
ond al per cent OF those who passed
the examinations This abnormal
growth was largely occasioned 10y 'ie
extension 81 classification 10 the fafal
free delivery service and the appoint
ment last year of over 1900 rural ear
riers. A revision Of the civil service
rules took effect on April - last Whieh
has greatly improved their operation
THE completion Of the reform Of the
civil service Is recognized by good cru
zens everywhere as matter Of the
highest public importance, and the sue
cess Of the merit system largely depends
upon the effectiveness Of the rules ana
tbe machinery provided for their en-
forcement A very gratifying spirit OF
friendly co operation exists in all the
departments Of the government in the
enforcement and uniform observance
OF both tie letter and spirit Of the civil
service act.
The Army ana Navy.
The effect Of the laws providing q
general STAFF for the army and for the
more effective use Of the national guard
/ has been excellent Great improve
ment has been made in the efficiency
of our army in recent years such
schools as those erected at Fort Leav-
/ enworth and Fort Riley and the insti-
/ tuition of fall maneuver work accom-
plish satisfactory results. The good ef-
4 feet OF these maneuyers upon the ma
I tional guard is marked, and ample ap-
preparation should be made to enable
the guardsmen of the several states to
share in the benefit. The government
should as soon as possible secure suit
able permanent camp sites for military
maneuYers in the various sections Of
I the country.
| | heartily congratulate the congress
upon the steady progress in building
up the American navy. We cannot
afford let-up In this great work. TO
stand still means to 90 back There
should be no cessation in adding to the
effective units of the fighting strength
of the feet. Meanwhile the navy de-
partment and the officers Of the navy
are doing we'll their part by providing
constant service at sea under condl-
tons akin TO those Of actual warfare.
Our officers and enlisted men are learn
ing to handle the battleships, cruisers
and torpedo boats with high efficiency
in fleet and squadron formations. and
the standard of craftsmanship is being
steadily raised. The best work ashore
/ is indispensable. but the highest duty
OF a naval officer Is to exercise com
mand at sea. It is eminently desirable
that naval general staff should be
established
Istbmian Canal.
BY the act Of June 2S. 1902, the con
+ gress authorized the president to enter
into treaty with Colombia for the
building Of the canal across the 18TH
mus Of Panama. it being provided that
in the event Of failure to secure such
treaty after the lapse Of 4 reasonable
i time recourse should be had to build
ing canal through Nicaragua. It has
not been necessary TO consider this al
| tentative as / am enabled 70 lay be.
fore the senate a treaty providing Tor
the building of the canal across the
isthmus Of Panama This was the
route which commended itself to the
deliberate judgment OF the congress.
and we can now acquire by treaty the
right to construct the canal over this
route. The question now. therefore. Is
not BY which route tie isthmian canal
shall be built, for that question has
been definitely and irrevocably decld-
I'd. Tie question Is huply whether .
not we shall have an isthmian canal
When the congress directed that we
should take the Panama route under
treaty With Colombia the essence 81
the condition, Of course, referred not
to the government which controlled
that route, but TO the route itself. to the
territory across which tho route lay.
not to the name which for the moment
the territory bore on the map. The
purpose Of the law was 10 authorize
the president to make treaty with the
power in actual control Of the isthmus
Of Panama This purpose has been
fulfilled
For 400 years, ever since shortly after
the discovery of this hemisphere. the
canal across the isthmus has been
planned For twoscore years II las
been worked at. When made il Is 10
last for the ages Ii is to alter the
geography Of continent and the trade
routes OF the world. we have shown
by every treaty we have negotiated Or
attempted to negotiate with the peo-
pies IN control of the isthmus and with
foreign nations III reference thereto our
consistent good faith in observing our
obligations on the one hand to the peo.
pies Of the isthmus and on the other
hand tothe civilized world. whose COM
mercal rights we are safeguarding ana
guaranteeing BY our action. We have
done our duty TO others in letter and IN
spirit and we have shown ne utmost
forbearance in exacting our own rights.
Reputation OF Treaty by Colombia.
Last spring a treaty concluded be-
tween the representatives Of the re-