The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-07
MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT
CONTINUED from Page rwo.)

continued from Page Two.)
roads of the country. particularly to
employees, is apparent. For the inspec-
ton of water craft and the life-saving
service upon the water the congress
has built up an elaborate body of pro-
tective legislation and a thorough
method Of inspection and is annually
spending large sums of money. 1t is
encouraging to observe that the con-
greSS is alive to the interests of those
who are employed upon our wonderful
arteries of commerce-the railroads
who SO safely transport millions of pas
sengers and billions of tons of freight.
The federal inspection of safety APP
planes, for which the congress is now
making appropriations, is service
analogous to that which the govern
ment has upheld for generations IN re-
gard to vessels, and it is believed Will
prove of great practical benent, poth
to railroad employees and the travelling
public. AS the greater part OF COM
merce is interstate and exclusively un-
der control of the congress the needed
safety and uniformity must be secured
by national legislation
Pensions.
No other class of our citizens de-
serves so we'll 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 expedite
ing and disposing of pension claims
During the fiscal year ending July 1,
1903, the bureau settled PSI, 9S2 claims,
an average of 1926 claims for each work.
ing day of the year. The matter of
settlements since July l, 1908, has been
in excess of last years average, ap-
preaching 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.
Extension of Civil Service.
During the year ended June 80 last
25,566 persons We're appointed through
civil service rules. This was 1852
more than during the preceding year,
and 40 per cent. of those who passed
the examinations. This abnormal
growth was largely occasioned by the
extension of classification to the rural
free delivery service and the appoint
ment last year Of over 5000 rural car
riers. A revision of the civil service
rules took place on April Is last, which
has greatly improved their operation
The completion of the reform of the
civil service is recognized by good c1t1-
KenS everywhere as a matter of the
highest public Importance, and the sue
cess of the merit system largely de-
ponds upon the effectiveness of the
rules and the machinery provided for
their enforcement. A very gratifying
spirit of friendly cooperation exists in
all the departments of the government
IN the enforcement and uniform OBJ
servance of both the letter and spirit OF
the civil service act. Executive orders
of July 8, 1902; March 20, 1903, and
July 8. 1903, require that appointments
of all unclassified laborers, both in the
departments at Washington and in the
field service. shall be made with the
assistance of the United States civil
service commission. under a system of
registration to test the relative fitness
of e0Dlicants for appointment or en-
1lOyment. This system is competitive,
and is open to all citizens of the United
States qualified in respect to age, phys
ical ability. moral character, industry,
and adaDtability for manual labor; ex-
eept 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.
Regulations in aid thereof have been
put in operation in several of the de-
partments and are being gradually ex-
tended in other parts of the service.
The results have been very satisfac-
tory, as extravaganza has been checked
by decreasing the number of unneces-
sary positions and by increasing the
efficiency Of the employees remaining.
Reports of Board of Charities.
The congress. as the result of a thor
ough investigation of the charities and
reformatory institutions in the District
of Columbia. by a joint select commit
tee of the two houses which made its
report in March. 1898. created in the
act approved June 6, 1900, board of
charities for the District of Columbia,
to consist of five residents of the Dis
trict 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. to serve without
compensation. President Mckinley
appointed five men who had been active
r7d
of Washington. all of whom upon TAX
ing Office July l. 1900, resigned from
the different charities with which they
had been connected. The members of
the board have been reappointed in
successive years. The board serves
under the commissioners of the Dis
trtct of Columbia. The board gave it's
first year to a careful and impartial
study of the special problems before
it. and has continued that study every
year in the light of the best practice
IN public charities elsewhere. It's rec
concentrations in its annual reports to
the congress through the commissions
ers OF the District of Columbia "for the
economical and efficient administration
OF the charities and reformatories of
the District of Columbia" as required
py the act creating it, have been based
upon the principles commended by the
joint select committee of the congress-
in its report of March, 1898. and an
proved by the best administrators of
public charities and make for the de-
sired decentralization and Improvement
OF the affairs under its SUPERVISION
Ihey are worthy of favorable consider
alton by the congress.