Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-09


mccoy. 1t ought to be Charitable
Although more than 40 of o,,.
states nave enacted measures IN ala
o. motnerhood, the District nj
Columbia Is still without such = In
A carefully considered bin will he
presented, which ought To have most
thoughtful consideration in order
mat tne Congress may adopt meas
ure which will be hereafter a mode,
Tor all parts of the Union.
Civil Service
IN 1883 the Congress passed the
CIVIL service act, which from a
modest beginning of $4,000 employees
has grown until there are now Dos
900 In the classified service. This has
removed the clerical force of the Ma
ton from the wasteful effects OF the
spoils system and made 1t more
stable and efficient. The time has
come to consider classifying all post
masters, collectors of customs, COL
iectofs Oh internal revenue, and pro-
nlpi,lon agents by an act covering
IN those at present in office. except
when otherwise provided by Execu-
tive order.
The necessary statistics are now
being gathered to form the basis of a
'>~eSS~>N0AA va sAS SAtA SGINlC0 IGIlre-
ment fund based on current condi-
tons of the service. 1t is confidently
expected that this valuation will be
completed in time to be made avail
able to the Congress during the pres
ent session. 1t will afford definite
knowledge of existing and future
liabilities under the present law and
determination of liabilities under any
proposed change in the present law.
We should have this information be-
fore creating further obligations for
retirement annuities which will be-
come liabilities to be met in the
future from the money of the tax.
payer.
The classification act Of 1928, with
the subsequent legislative action pro-
viding for adjustment of the COM
pensation of field service positions,
has operated materially to improve
employment conditions in the
Federal service. The administration
of the act is in the hands of an i'm
partial board. functioning without
the necessity OF direct appropria-
ton. 1t would be inadvisable at this
time to place in other hands the adj
ministration of this act.
Federal Trade Commission
The proper function of the Federal
Trade Commission is to supervise
and correct those practices in COM
merce which are detrimental to fair
competition. In this it performs a
useful function and should be con-
tinued and supported. 1t was de-
signed also to be q help to honest
business. In my message to the
Sixty eighth Congress I recommend
ed that changes in the procedure
then existing be made. Since then
the commission by its own action has
reformed its rules, giving greater
speed and economy in the disposal
of its cases and full opportunity for
those accused to be heard. These
changes are improvements and, il
necessary, provision should be made
for their permanency.
Reorganization
No final action has yet been taken
on the measure providing for the
reorganization of the various de-
partments. / therefore suggest that
this measure, which will be of great
benefit to the efficient and economi-
cal administration OF the business of
the Government, be brought forward
and passed.
The Negro
, Nearly one tenth of our population
consists of the Negro race. The
progress which they have made in
all the arts of civilization In the last
60 years is almost beyond belief. Our
country has no more loyal citizens.
But they do still need sympathy.
kindness, and helpfulness. They
need reinsurance that the require
ments of the Government and soci-
ETY. to deal out to them even-handed
justice will be met. They should be
protected from all violence and sup
ported in the peaceable enjoyment
of the fruits of their labor. Those
who do violence to them should be
punished for their crimes. No other
course of action is worthy OF the
American people.
Our country has many elements
in its population, many different
modes of thinking and living, all of
which are striving in their own way
to be loyal to the high ideals worthy
of the crown of American citizen
ship. 1t is fundamental of our in
stitutions that they seek to guaran-
tee to all our inhabitants the right
to live their own lives under the pro-
lection of the public law. This does
not include any license to injure
others materially, physically. NOR
ally. to incite revolution. or to vio-
late the established customs which
have long had the sanction of en-
lightened society.
But It does mean the full right to
liberty and equality before the law
without distinction of race or creed.
This condition can not be granted
to others, or enjoyed by ourselves,
except by the application OF the
principle of broadcast tolerance. Big
otry is only another name for slav-
cry. It reduces to serfdom not only
those against whom 1t is directed,
but also those who seek to apply 1t.
An enlarged freedom can only be
secured by the application of the
golden rule No other utterance
ever presented such practical rule
of life.
Conclusion
Tt is apparent that we are reach
ing into an era of great general
prosperity. 1t will continue only so
long as we shall use 1t properly.
After all, there is but a fixed guam
tity of wealth in this country at any
fixed time. The only way that we
can all secure more of 1t is to Gre
ate more. The element OF time en-
tiers into production. If the people
have sufficient moderation and con-
tentment to be willing to improve
their condition by the process of
enlarging , production. eliminating
waste, and distributing equitably.
a prosperity almost without limit lies
before us. TT the people are to be
dominated by selfshness. seeking
immediate riches by nonproductive
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