The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-12-10

ure Of office upon considerations of
partisan politics; the practice of ap-
| pointing, when possible, eX-army off,
GERS or bonded superintendents to the
vacancies that occur is working well.
Attention is invited to the wide
spread illiteracy due to lack Of public
schools in the Indian Territory.
Prompt heed should be paid to the
need Of education for the children in
this Territory.
safety-AppIiance Law.
In the matter of the safety-appliance
law much good has already been ac-
complished. The law should be vigor-
ously enforced.
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, the veterans Of the civil war. Spe-
cial attention Is asked to the excellent
work Of the Pension Bureau in expend-
ing and disposing Of pension claims.
During the fiscal year ending puly l.,
1903, the Bureau settled 251 1882 claims,
an average Of 825 claims for each work.
ing day Of the year. The number OF set
tlement since July l, 1903, has been in
excess of last years average, approach
ing 1000 claims for each working day,
! and it 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
1856 persons were appointed through
competitive examinations under the
civil-service rules. This was 1912 more
than during the preceding year, and 40
per cent Of those who passed the eX-
animation. This abnormal growth was
largely occasioned by the extension Of
classification 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 Is last, which has greatly i'm
proved their operation. The completion
of the reform Of the civil service is rec
ognized by good citizens everywhere as
matter Of the highest public import
ance, and the success Of the merit sys-
tenn largely depends upon the effec-
tiveness Of the rules and the machin-
cry provided for their enforcement. A
very gratifying spirit Of friendly CO.
operation exists in all the Departments
OF the Government in the enforcement
and uniform observance Of both the
letter and spirit of the civil-service act.
Executive orders Of July 3, 1902; March
&c, 1902, and July s, 1903, require that
appointments of all unclassified labor
ers, both in the Departments at Wash
ington and in the field service, shall
be made with the assistance Of the
United States Civil Service Conmis-
sion, under a system Of registration to
test the relative fitness Of applicants
for appointment or employment. This
system Is competitive, and is open to
al! citizens Of the United States quail
fed in respect to age, physical ability,
moral character, industry, and adap-
liability for manual labor; except that
in case Of veterans Of the civil war the
element of age is omitted
Board of Charities.
The report Of the Board Of Chari-
ties for the District Of Columbia Is
submitted for the consideration Of
Congress. 1t is qualifying statement.
The Army.
The effect of the laws providing a
General Staff for the Army and for the
more effective use Of the National
Guard has been excellent. Great i'm
provement has been made in the effi-
cheney Of our Army in recent years.
Such schools as those erected at Fort
Leavenworth and Fort Riley and the
institution Of fall maneuver work ac-
complish satisfactory results. The
good effect Of these maneuvers upon
the National Guard Is marked, and
ample appropriation should be made
to enable the guardsmen OF the several
States to share in the benefit. The Gov
ernment should as soon as possible Sc
cure suitable permanent camp sites for
military maneuvers in the various sec
tions Of the country. The service there
by rendered not only to the Regular
Army, but to the National Guard OF
the several States, will be so great as
to repay many times over the rela-
lively small expense. We should not
rest satified with what has been done,
however. The only people who are
contented with a system Of promotion
by mere seniority are those who are
contented with the triumph OF me-
diocrity over excellence. On the other
hand a system which encouraged the
exercise Of social or political favorit-
ism In promotions would be even
worse. But 1t would surely be easy to
devise a method Of promotion from
grade to grade in which the opinion OF
the higher officers Of the service upon
the candidates should be decisive upon
| the standing and promotion OF the
latter Just such system now obtains
at West Point. The quality OF each
years work determines the standing OF
that years class, the man being drop
ped or graduated into the next class IN
the relative position which his mill,
tary superiors decide to be warranted
by his merit.
The Navy.
Shortly after the enunciation OF tina.
famous principle Of American foreign
policy now known as the Monroe Doc
| trine," President Monroe, in special
Message to Congress on January 80,
1924, spoke as follows: "The Navy Is
the arm from which our Government
will always derive most aid in support
- a,. 4 nr;obfo Evorv Dpwar on