Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-12-12

les OF conmerce--the raiiroads---who
40 safely transport millions OF pas
sengerN and billions OF tons OF
freight The federal inspection of
safety appliances. for which the con.
gress Is now making appropriations,
Is a service analogous to that which
the government has upheld for gen.
erations In regard TO vessels, and IL
Il believed will prove OF great prac-
tea benefit, both TO railroad en-.
ployes and the travelling public. As
the greater part OF commerce is inter.
/ state and exclusively under the con.
troi OF the congress the needed safety
and uniformity must be secured by
national legislation.
Pensions.
No other class OF our citizens de.
serves so well OF the nation as those
| TO whom the nation owes It's very be.
| ing. he veterans OF the civil war.
| Special attention Is asked to the ex.
pediting and disposing OF pension
claims. During the fiscal year ending
July |, 1908, the bureau settled 25l,.
sS2 claims, an average of S25 claims
for each working day OF the year. The
number OF settlements since July l.,
1903 has been IN excess OF last years
average, approaching 1000 claims
for each working day, and II Is believ.
ed that the work OF the bureau will
be current at the close OF the present
year
Extension OF Civil Service Rules.
During he year ended June 30 last
25.5b6 persons were appointed
through competitive examinations
under tho civil service rules. This
was l2,672 more than during the pre-.
ceding year. an1 40 per cent OF those
who passed the examinations. This
abnormal growth was largely occas.
Toned by the extension of classified.
ton to the rural free delivery service
and the appointment last year OF over
5000 rural carriers. a revision OF the
civil service rules took effect on
April 10 last. which has greatly i'm.
proved their operation. The compile
ton OF the reform Of the civil service
is recognized by good citizens every
whore as matter OF the highest pub
lie Importance, and the success OF the
merit system largely depends upon
the effectiveness OF the rules and the
machinery provided for their enforce
ment. A very gratifying spirit OF
friendly cooperation exists in all the
departments CT the government In
the enforcement and uniform OBJ.
servance OF both the letter and spirit
Of the civil service act Executive or
drs of July 3. 1902: March 26, 1908.
and July g. 1903. require that appoint
ments OF all unclasslfled laborers,
both in the departments at Washing
ton and in the field service, shall be
made with the assistance OF the
United States civil service commits
sion, under a system OF registration
to test the relative fitness OF appli.
cants for appointment or employment
This system Is competitive, and is
open to all citizens OF the United
States qualified in respect to age
physical ability. moral character, in
dustry. and adaptability for manual
labor; except that In case Of veterans
OF the civil war the element OF age Is
omitted This system of appointment
is distinct from the classified service
and does not classify positions OF
mere laborer under the civil service
act and rules. Negotiations in aid there
of have been put In operation In sew
eral OF the departments and are being
gradually extended In other parts OF
the service. The results have been
very satisfactory, as extravaganza
has BEEN checked by decreasing the
number OF unnecessary positions and
by increasing the efficiency OF the en-
ployes remaining.
Reports OF eoand OF Charities for Die.
trjct Of Columbia.
The congress, as the result Of thor
ougn Investigation OF the charities and
reformatory institutions in the Dis
trict OF Columbia. by joint select
committee of the two houses which
made Its report in March, 1898, Great
ed In the act approved June 6, 1900, a
board OF charities OF the District OF
Columbia, to consist OF I'VE residents
OF the district. appointed by the presi-
dent OF the United States. by and vita
the advice and consent OF the senate.
each for a term OF three years, to
serve without compensation. Presi.
dent Mckinley appointed five men
who lad been active and prominent In
the public charities OF Washington,
al OF whom upon taking office July l,
1900. resigned from the different char
ilits Win WHICH tney nhO Deen con-
nected. The members OF the board
have been reappointed in successive
years. The board serves under the
commissioners of the District OF Col
umbia. The board gave it's first year
20 careful and impartial study OF the
special problems before II, and has
problems before II. and has continued
that study every year in the light OF
the best practice in pubic charities
elsewhere. Its recommendation in its
annual reports to the congress through
the commissioners of the District OF
Columbia "for the economical and ef.
ficient administration OF the charities
and reformatores OF the District of
Columbia as required by the act Gre
ating II, have been based upon the
principles commended by the Joint Sc
lect committee OF the congress in It's
report OF March, 1898. and approved
by the best administrators of public
charities, and make for the desired
decentralization and improvement OF
the AFFAIRS under its supervision. They
are worthy of favorable consideration
by tAe congress.
The Army.
The effect OF the laws providing a
general staff for the army and for the
IN -