Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-12-11

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 he paid to the
need OF education for the children in
this Territory.
safety-Applianee Law.
In the matter OF the safety-appliance
law much good has already been ac-
complished. The law should be yigor-
ously enforced
Pensions.
No other class OF our citizens de-
serves so well OF the Nation as those
TO whom the Nation owes its 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 |.
l9O3, the Bureau settled Pol 49, claims.
an average OF S2j claims for each work
Ing day of the year. The number OF set
tlement since July !. 1903. has been in
excess of last years average, approach
ing 600 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-
q mi, Ton IL, Oh,
largely occasioned by the extension of
I 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 10 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
a matter OF the highest public import
ance, and the success OF the merit sys-
tenn largely depends upon the effec-
tiyeness 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
\ 26, 1903, and July s. 1908, require that
/ appointments OF all unclassifed labor
/ ers both in the Departments at Wash
! ington and in the field service, shall
! b. made with the assistance OK the
/ United States Civil Service Commits
| sion, under system Of registration TO
| test the relative fitntss 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 Chart
| 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
| 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
! eminent should as soon as possible Sc
! cure suitable permanent camp sites for
military maneuvers in the various sec
tons 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
! contepted with a system of promotion
| by mere seniority are those who are
contented with the triumph of me-
dlocrity over excellence, On the other
hand system which encouraged the
exercise of social or political favorit-
ism in promotions would be even
worse, But it 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 that
famous principle of American foreign
policy now known as the Monroe Doc
trine," President Monroe, in a 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
of our *rights Every power en-
gagged in war will know the strength of
our naval power, the number of our
ships of each class, their condition,
and the promptitude with which we
may bring them into service, and will
lay due consideration to that argu'
inent."
heartily congratulate the Congress
upon the steady progress in building
up the American Navy. We can not af-
ford a let-up in this great work. To
stand still means to go back.
lsthmian Canal.
By the act of June %, 1902, the Con
gress authorized the President to en-
ter into treaty with Colombia for the
building of the canal across the
Isthmus of Panama; it being provided
that in the event of failure to secure
such treaty after the lapse of a rea-
sonable time, recourse should be had