The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-07

transport millions OF passengers and bill
lions OF tons OF freight The federal In
spection OF safety appliances. for which
the congress II now making appropria-
tions. is a service analogous 10 that which
the government has upheld for genera
tlons In regard TO vessels. and II is be-
lieved will prove OF great practical benent
both 20 railroad employees and the travel
ing public. A. the greater part OF com
merce IL interstate and exclusively under
the control az the congress. the needed
safety and Uniformity must be secured
by national legislation
PENSIONS
No other class OF our citizens deserves
so we'll OF the nation as those to whom
tho nation owes its very being. the vet
Grams Of the civil war. Special attention
is asked to the excellent work ~ the
pension bureau i'm expedlting and dlspos-
ing OF pension claims During me nscal
year ending July I, 1903. the bureau set
tied 25i.as2 claims. an average Of s2S
ella inns for each working day OF the year
The number OF settlements since July l,
1908 has been In excess of last years
average approaching 1000 claims for each
working day. and II is believed that the
work of the bureau will be current at the
close Of the present fiscal year
civil SERVICE EXTENSION.
During the year ended June 80 last
Is see persons were appointed through
competitive examina lions under the civil
service rules. This was r. 67e moro than
during the preceding year. and 40 per
cent OF those who passed the examina
tions. This abnormal growth was largo
ly occasioned BY the extension OF classi-
fica tion TO the rural free delivery service
and the appointment last year OF over
1000 rural carriers. a revision OF the
civil service rules took effect on April
rs last. which has greatly improved their
operation. The completion OF the reform
OF the civil service is recognized by good
citizens everywhere az matter Of the
highest public importance, and the sue
cess ~ 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 co.
operation exists ia all the departments
OF the government In the enforcement
and uniform observance OF both the let
ter and spirit OF the civil service act
Executive orders OF July g. 1902: March
2s. 1908. and July &. 1908 require that
appointments OF ALL unclassifed laborers.
both I'm the department at Washington
and In the field service. shall be made
with the assistance OF the United States
civil service commission, under system
OF applicants for appointment or employ
ment. This system Is competitive. and is
open 10 all citizens OF the United States
qualified In respect TO age. physical abil-
ty. moral charac cter Industry and adap-
liability for manual labor: except that In
case OF veterans OF the civil war the ele-
mcnt Of age is omitted. This system OF
appointment is distinct from the classI-
fed service and does not classify posi-
tions OF mere laborer under the civil
service act and rules. Regulations In
aid thereof have been put I'm operation
I'm several OF the departments and are
being gradually extended I'm other parts
OF the service. Tho results have been
very satisfactory, as eStayagance has
been checked by decreasing the number
OF unnecessary positions and by incrcas
ing the efY,ciency Of the employees re-
naming.
The congress- as the result Of thor
ouEh investigation OF the charities and
\ reformatory institutions in the District
OF Columbia. by a joint select committee
OF the two houses which made it's report
I'm March. 1895, created I'm the act APP
proved June 6. 1900 board OF charities
for the District OF Columbia. TO consist
OF Ave residents Of the District. appointed
BY the president OF the United States
BY and with the advice and consent OF
the senate each for a term OF three
years. 10 serve without compensation
President Mckinley appointed FIVE mer
who had been active and prominent In
the public charities OF Washington. al
of whom upon taking once July I. 1900
resigned from the different charities with
which they had been connected. The
members OF the board have been reap
pointed I'm successive years. The board
serves under the commissioners OF the
! District OF Columbia. The board gave
I 4.
study OF the special problems before II
and has continued that study every year
In the light OF the best practice I'm pub
/ lie charities elsewhere. Its recomnen-
da ations In its annual reports 10 the con-
gress through the commissioners OF the
| District OF Columbia FOR the economical
, and efficient administration OF the chart
| ties and reformatories OF the District oi
Columbia as required by the act Great
| ing it have been based upon the prinoi.
pies commended by the Joint select com
mittee Of the colgress In its report oi
| March. 1898. and approved by tho best ad'
| ministrators OF public charities. and make
for the desired ematization and i'm
provements of the affairs under it's super.
vision. They arc worthy OF favorable
considcrst tion by the congress
TIE ARMY.
The effect OF the laws providing a gen,
eral stan for the army and for the mor'
effective use OF the national guard ha'
been excellent. Great Improvement ha,
! been made In tho efficiency OF our srml
I'm recent wears. Such schools as thos'
erected at Fort Jeevenworth and For
Riley and the institution of fall maneuve
work accomplish satisfactory results
The good effect OF these manosbvers upoi
/ the national guard has been marked. an
ample sppropris should be made q
enable the susrdsmen OF the sewers
1 states 20 share IN the benefits.
! The government should az soon az pos
| sible secure suitable permanent caml
sites FOR military manoeuvres In the va
\ fious sections OF the country. The ser
/ vice thereby rendered not only 10 th
/ regular army, but 10 the national guar
OF the several states, will be so great a
/ to repay many times over the relatively
} small expense. We should not rest ratis
/ fed with what has been done. however
The only people who are contented VII
| a system or promotion by mere senioritl
i are those who are contentcd with IN
4 triumph Of mediocrity over excellence. VI
the other hand a system which encour
! aged the exercise OF social or poliuca