The weekly star. (Douglasville, Ga.) 18??-18??, December 17, 1885, Image 2

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/ FAWNING TO NONE-CHARITY TO ALL. VOLUME VII. DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1885- NUMBER 44' Church Directory. Methodist—Doustaaville, first and sjeofid Sundays. Bev. C. S. Owen, pastor. Baptist—Douglasville, first and fourth Sun days. Bev. A. B. Vaughn, pastor. Masonic, Douglasville Lodge, No. 289, F. A. M.,meets on Saturday night before the first and third Sundays in"each month, J. B. Carter, W. M., W. J. Camp, Secy. County Directory, Ordinary—H. T. Cooper. Clerk—S..N. Dorse tt. Sheriff—Henry Ward, Deputy Sheriff—G, M. Souter. Tax Beceiver—E. H, Camp. Tax Collector—W. A. Sayer. Treasurer—Samuel Shannon. Surveyor—John M. Huey. Coroner—E. M. Mitchell. SUPERIOR COURT. Meets on third Mondays in January and Julj and holds two weeks. Judge—Hon. Samson W. Harris. Sol. Genl.—Hon. Harry M. Beid. Clerk—S. N. Dorsett. Sheriff—Henry Ward. COUNTY COURT. Meets in quarterly session ou fourth Mon days in February, Sla v, August and November and holds until all the cases on the docket are called. In monthly session it meets on fourth Mondays in each month, Judge—Hon. B. A. Massey. Sol. Genl.—Hon. W. T. Boberts. Bailiff'—D. W. Johns. ordinary's court Meets for ordinary purposes on first Monday, and for county purposes on first Tuesday in each month. Judge—Hon. H. T. Cooper. JUSTICES COURTS. 730th Dist. G. M. meets first Thursday in each month. J. I. Feely, J. P., W. H. Cash, N. P., D. W. Johns and W. K. Hunt, L. C. 736th Dist. G. M., meets second Saturday. A. E. Bomar, J. P., B. A. Arnold, N. P., S. C. Yeager, L. C. 784th Dist. G. M. meets fourth Saturday. Franklin Carver, ,T. P C. B. Baggett, N. P., J. C. James and M. S. Gore, L. Cs. 1269th Dis;. G. M. meets third Saturday. T. M. Hamilton. J.P., M. L. Yates, N. P., S. W. Diggers, L.O., S. J. Jourdan, L. C. 1260th Disc. G. M. meets third Saturday. N. W. Oauip, J. P., W. S. lYudaon, N. P., J. A. Hill, L. V. 1271st Dist. G. M. meets first Saturday. C. Clinton, J. P. Alberry Hembree, , L. C. 1272nd Dist. G. M. meets fourth Friday. |eo. W, Smith, J. P., C. J. Bobinson, N. P., L. C. |273rd Dist, G. M. meets third Friday. Thos. Lite, J. P., A. J. Bowen, N. P., W. J.‘Harbin, C. THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. To the Congress of the Unite,cl States: Your assembling is clouded by a sense of public bereavement, caused by the recent and sudden death of Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice- President of the United States. His dis tinguished public services, his complete integ rity and devotion to every duty, and his per sonal virtues will find honorable record in his country's history. Ample and repeated proofs of the esteem end confidence in which he was held by his fellow-countrymen were manifested by his election to offices of the most important trust and highest dignity: and at length, full of years aud honors, he has bee)) laid at rest amid universal sorrow and benediction. OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS. It is gratifying to announce that the rela tions of the United States with all foreign powers continue to be .friendly. Oiir position after nearly a century of successful constitu tional government, maintenance of good faith maU our engagements, the avoidance o'f com- plscations with other nations,and our consist ent and amicable attitude toward the strong aijd weak alike, furnish proof of a political disposition which renders professions of good' unnecessary. There are no questions of difficulty pending with any foreign govern ment. ” • Early in March last war broke out in‘Cen tral America, caused by the attempt of Guate mala, to consolidate .the several States into a Single government. In these contests be- tween our neighboring states the United btates forbore to interfere actively, but lent the aid of their friendly offices in deprecation or war and to promote peace and concord among the belligerents, and by such counsel contributed importantly to the restoration of tranquillity m that locality. The interest of the United States in a prac- tical transit for ships across the strip of land separating the Atlantic from the Pacific has bren repeatedly fftauifested during the last half century. My immediate predecessor caused to be negotiated with Nicaragua a treaty for the construction, by and at the sole cost of the United Slates, of a canal through Nicaraguan territory, and laid it before the Senate. Pending the action of that body Liereon, 1 withdrew the treaty for re-exam- ; mation. Attentive consideration of its pro- i visions leads me to withhold it from re-sub- i mission to the Senate. In the application of the acts lately passed I fco execute the treaty of 1880, restrictive of ! thft immioTafmri e\-p CEIwnr.n 1„1 j j TV . ! “coin money”, given to Congress by the Con stitution, it it permits the purchase by the government or bullion for coinage in any event, doe@ti.ot justify such purchase anti coinage to*®S extent beyond the amount needed for ^sufficient circulating medium. The desirsjja utilize* the silver product of the country should not lead to a misuse or the perversion of this power. The necessity for such an addition to th%silver currency of the nation as & compelled by the silver-coin- agejaet, is nd^fmyed’ by the fact that up to the present i&tfe only about fifty millions of tlie silveFSjdollars so coined have actually foundyffifeir way into circulation, leaving more than one hundred aud sixty-five milieus in tho^R|fee,ssion of the government, Hie custody of* 48i.;h has entailed a consid erable expense fqwAhe construction of vaults for its deposit. ■here are 01 amounting to dollarsA Evei^jnonth public treasur; or more of' silvte: idle-mass alread; long enough, tin substitution of s government own! purposes; It wilFikif do customs receipts of, the' make good this drain the silver thus eoinei tender for all debts 1 vate, at times during: eight per-dgat. ofithP been in silver .qr'lil average within that: per cent. The, pro. certificates receive® probably increase Against this latter amount ding silver certificates ninety-three millions of millions of gold in the id out for two millions and I invite your careful attention to the same. The present mode of compensating United States marshals and district attorneys should in my opinion be changed. They are allowed to charge against the government certain fees for services, their income being measured by the amount of such fees within a fixed limit as to their annual aggregate. This is a direct inducement for them' to make their fees in criminal cases as large as possible in an effort to reach the maximum sum permitted. As an entirely natu ral consequence, unscrupulous marshals are found encouraging frivolous prosecutions, arresting people on petty charges of crime and transporting them to distant places for examination and trial, for the purpose of earning mileage and other fees. And dis trict attorneys uselessly attend criminal examinations far from their places of resi dence for the express purpose of swelling their accounts against the government. Jhe actual expenses incurred in these trans actions are also charged against the govern ment. Thus the rights aud freedom of our citizens are outraged and public expenditures .Efcs, t) : t be added to the IS Wfii resififtethe ! the* o-olel t,hA i be otbcei s pi etexts for increasing the meas- laif to th its g gencra! ! compensation. -fVT T) lAJ CACLUDtt LHfcf I , __ — ,..ww*uvi r v \sj. ’ ! tbe immigration of Chinese laborers into the United States, indi vidual cases of hardship have occurred beyond the power of the Exec utive to reined}', and calling for judicial de termination. Professional Cards. IROBERT A. MASSEY, If AT LAW KLLE, GA. Rfice in W5!!Wbom, Dorsefcfc’s Building.^ Ell practice anywhere except in the County Court of Douglass county. W. L JAMES, iTTORfu EY AT LAW, V'ill practice in all the courts, Since an lend. Office on Court House Square, DOUGLASVILLE, GA. m. T. ROBERTS^ 'TORNBT AT LAW. DOUGLASVILLE, GA. pi practice in a I! the< Courts. All lega less will receive prompt attention. Office art House. H. McLARTY, iORNEY AT LAW, DOUGLASVILLE, GA. Ittice in ad the courts, both State and fillections a specialty. G. GRIGGS, INEY AT LAW, |U 3LA8VILLE, GA. in all the courts. State and !H M, EDGE, HEY AT LAW, ^LASVILLE, GA. |1 the courts, and promptly i entrusted to his care. mis, AT LAW, “ASVILLE, GA. the courts of Douglass, ftuilding, Cobb, Fulton and Prompt attention given EDGE. ATtdfflJEY AT LAW, DOUGLASVILLE, GA. O °ctors. DE. T. E, WHITLEY, Physician and Surgeon DOUGLasyile, qx. Special attention to Surgery and Chronic Din aras In *ivU r Vex. Office Upstairs m Horsy. Brick Building. p. s. verderyt Physician and Surgeon Office at his BESIDENCE, on Price street where he ean »e found a, hon ■ when professionally engaged, gnocial atten- «on given to Chronic else., and especiaUy th *‘ haV6 bee “ tre “' d and stiff ooc ’ lred - 1anl3 ’85-ly THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE. I earnestly urge that Congress recast the appropriations for the maintenance of the di plomatic und consular service on a footing commensurate with the importance of our national interests. At every post where a representative is necessary, the salary should be so graded as to permit him to live with comfort. With the gassignment of ade- I TJ?*-: 6 salaries the s<*alled, notarial extra- l official fees, which our officers abroad - are now permitted to treat as personal perquisites, should be done away with. Every act requiring the certification and seal of the officer should be taxable at schedule rates, and the fee therfore returned to the treasury. By restoring these revenues to the public use the consular service would be self-supporting, even with a liberal increase of the present low salaries. In further prevention of abuses a system of consular inspection should be instituted. . THE TREASURY. The report of the secretary of the treasury fully exhibits the condition of the public finances and of the several branches of the f overnment connected with the department he suggestions of the secretary relating to the practical operations of this important de partment, and his recommendations in the direction of simplification and economy, par ticularly in the work of collecting customs duties, are especially urged upon the atten tion of Congress. The ordinary receipts from all sources for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1885, were $322,690,706.8S. Of this sum $181,471,939.34 was received from customs and $112,498,725.54 from internal revenue. The total receipts, as given ab,ove, were $24,829,163.54 less than those for the year ended June 30, 1884. This diminution embraces a falling off of $13,595,- JP. * b . e receipts from customs and $9,68<,346.97 in the receipts from internal rev enue. The total ordinary expenditures of the government for the fiscal year were $260,226,- 935.50, leaving a surplus in the treasury at the close of the year of $63,463,771.27. This is $40,929,854.32 less than the surplus report ed at the close of the previous year. THE TARIFF. The fact that our revenues are in excess of the actual,ne“ds of an economical adminis tration of the government justifies a reduc tion in the amount exacted‘from the people for its support. Our government is but the means established by the will of a free people, by -Which certain principles are applied which they have adopted for their benefit and pro tection; and it is never better administered and its true spirit is never better observed than when the.people’s taxation for its sup port IS scrupulously limited to the actual ne cessity of expenditure, and distributed ac cording to a just ondaequitable plan. The proposition with which we have to deal is the reduction of the revenue received by the government, and indirectly paid by the people from customs duties. The question of free trade is not involved, nor is there now any occasion for the general discussion of the wisdom or expediency of a protective system. Justice and fairness dictate that in any modification of our present laws re lating to revenue, the industries and interests which have been en couraged by such laws, and in which our citizens have large investments, should not be ruthlessly injured or destroyed. We should also deal with the. subject in such manner as to protect the interests of Ameri can labor, which is the capital of our work ingmen ; its stabilty and proper remuneration furnish the most justifiable pretext for a pro tective policy. Within these limitations a cer tain reduction should be made in our customs revenue. The amount of such reduction having been determined, the inquiry follows, where can it best ,be remitted and what articles can best be released from duty, in the interest of our ci tizens ? I think the reduction should be made in the revenue derived from a tax upon the imported necessaries of life. We thus directly lessen the cost of living in every family of the--land, and release to the people in every humble home a larger measure -sf the rewards’of frugal industry. THE SILVER QUESTION. Nothing more important than the present ■condition, of our currency and cisinage v can claim your attention. Since February, 1&78‘, 'the government has, under the compulsory provisions of law, purchased 'silver bullion and coined the same at the rate of more than $2,000,000 every. month. By this process up to the present date 215,759,431 silver dollars have been coined. A reasona ble appreciation of a delegation of power to the general government would limit its exercise without express restrictive words to the people’s needs and the requirements of the public. Upon this theory and authority to ) rely upon the government to ■ gold, because been inane icgal- 2 diiesi publfe and pn- ' i^lftslpsix months fifty- •6Gejpte-||or duties have .|©ri;iSeates,. while the ■0(1 has been twenty (ion of silver and its tiie IsBffemment will ... A on, for the reason that,the nearei^he period approaches when it will be oblige ftp offer silver in pay ment of its obligations, ' ment there will bo to 111 predation in the valuc.c*'*fcb .v,r, or for the purpose of speculatmguicSv The hoarding of gold.Aas already begun. When the time comes" withdrawn from cu be apparent the the real value of tin a dollar in gold, and part company. Gold, value, and necessary in o; er countries, will be at a pi, banks which have substita' posits of their customers mai, silver bought with such gold, handsome profit; rich speculate their hoarded gold to their ne“ need it to liquidate their foreign;, ruinous premium over silver,and men and women of the Kffiri, fenceless of all, will find thOT (he dollar re ceived for the wage of their toil has sadly Shrunk in its purchasing poweVj" It may be said that the latter result will bq but tempor ary, and that ultimately the price ot labor will be adjusted to the change; but ijven if this takes place, the wage worker cannot possibly gain but must inevitably lose,since*he price he is compelled to pay for his living will not only be measured in a coin heavily depreciated, and fluctuating and uncertain ;m its value, but this uncertainty in the vahte of the pur chasing medium will be made the pi%text for an advance in prices beyond that justified by I think marshals and district attorneys should be paid salaries adjusted by a n ' which -will make them commensurate with services fairly rendered. THE INDIANS. The report of the se n-etary of the interi ■ containing- an account of the operate n-- t sis important department, and much n e dug information w ill be submitted for >o; ! I se strengtn, the perpetuity, and the des tiny of the nation rest upon our homes, es tablished by the law of God, guarded by parental care, regulated by parental authori ty, and sanctified by parental love. These are not the homes of polygamy. The mothers of our land, who rule the nation as they mold the characters and guide the actions of their sons, live according to God’s holy ordi nances, and each, secure and happy in the exclusive love of the father of her children, sheds the warm light of time womanhood! unperverted and unpolluted, upon all with her pure and wholesome family circle. These are not the cheerless, crushed, and unwoman ly mothers of polygamy. The fathers of our families are the best citi zens of the republic. Wife and children are the sources of patriotism, and conjugal and parental affection beget devotion to the coun try. The mau who, undefiled with plural marriage, is surrounded in his single home with his wife and children, lias a stake in the country which inspires him with respect for its laws and courage for its defence. These are not the fathers of polygamous families.. There is no feature of this practice, or ttia system which sanctions it, which is not op posed to all that is of value in our institutions. There should be no relaxation in the firm but formance of their duties, and yet insist that they shall rely, in confidential and important places, upon the work of those not only op-; posed to them in political affiliation, buts® steeped in partisan prejudice and rancor that they have no loyalty to their chiefs and no desire for their success. Civil service refoim does not exact this, nor does iti require that those in subordinate posi tions who fail in yielding their best service,or who are incompetent, should be retained simply because they are in place. The whin ing of a clerk discharged for indolence or in competency, who, though he gained his place by the worst possible operation of the spoils system, suddenly discovers that he is entitled to protection under the sanction of civil ser vice reform, represents an idea no less absurd than the clamor of the applicant who claims the vacant position as his compensation for the most questionable party work. The civil service law does not prevent the discharge of the indolent or incompetent clerk, but it does prevent supplying his place with the unfit party worker. Thus, in both these phases, is seen benefit to the public ser vice. And the people who desire good gov ernment having secured this statute will not relinquish its benefits without protest. Nor are they unmindful of the fact that its full , ousideratioii. The most intricate and difficult subject in (Large of this department is the treatment ..... „ ®ud management of the Indians. I am satis- greatei- induce- fied that some progress may be noted in their gold against de- . condition as a result of a prudent administra- ' ‘ 1 (ion of the present laws and regulations for their control. The history of all the progress which has been made in the civilization of the Indian, I .think, will disclose the fact that the begin ning has been religious teaching, followed by or accompanying secular education. While the self-sacrificing and pious men and women who have aided in this good work by their independent endeavor have for their reward the beneficent results of their labor and the consciousness of Christian duty well - per formed, their valuable services should be fully acknowledged by.all who under the law are charged with the control and management of eur Indian wards.’ Fiat gold has been ^tion, then will grence between sjisvr dollar and two coins will he standard of a lings with oth- 3 um over silver; gold for the de- ’ pajf them with S making a rs will sell (labors who debts, at a fee laboring most de- TilK PUBLIC LANDS. It is not for the “common benefit of the United States” that a large area of the pub lic lands should be acquired, directly or through fraud, in the hands of a single indi vidual. The nation’s strength is in the peo ple. The nation's prosperity is in their pros perity. The nation’s glory is in the equality of her justice. The nation’s perpetuity is in the patriotism of all her people. Hence, as far as practicable, the plan adopted in the disposal of the public lands should have in view the original policy, which encourages many purchasers of these lands, for homes and discouraged the massing of large areas. Exclusive c" ‘' ’ fifths of the national subjected to contract portion is j , A rapidly in- i eys i just execution of the law now in operation, j advantages can only be gained through the ule I and I should lie glad to approve such further ! complete good faith of those having its exe- ltu discreet legislation as will rid the country of i cutiou in charge. And this they will insist rhio Kl/vt- 74-^. 7— i u lipOIJ " / . I recommend that the salaries of the civil service commissioners be increased to a sum more nearly com mensurate to their important duties. SUCCESSION TO THE PRESIDENCY. . The present condition of the law relating to the succession to the presidency in the event of the death, disability, or removal of both the President and Vice- President is such as tot require immediate amendment. This sub ject'has repeatedly been considered by Con gress, but no result has been reached! The recent lamentable death of the Vice- President, and vacancies at the . same time in all other offices the incumbents of which might immediately exercise the func tions of the presidential office, 'has caused public anxiety and a just demand that a re currence of such a condition of affairs should not be permitted. In conclusion, I commend to the wise car* and thoughtful attention of : Congress the needs, the. 1 wslfai',;, and the aspira-, Lons of an inteihgens au.i gener ous nation. To subordinate these to the narrow advantages of partisanship, or tha accomplishment of selfish ;.i.;,o, .... to -violate the people’s trust and betray the people’s in terests. lint, .in individual sense of responsi bility ou the part of each of us. and a stem determination to perform our duty weU,niustj give us place among those who have aided in their day and generation to the glory and prosperity of our beloved land. GroveIi Cleveland. Washington, December 8, 1885. this blot upon its fair name. Since the people upholding potygamy in our Territories are re enforced by immigration from other lands, I I recommend that a law be passed to prevent the importation of Mormons into the country. AGRICULTURE. The agricultural interest of the country demands just recognition and liberal encour- agement. It sustains with certainty and un- | failing strength our nation’s prosperity by ! the product of its steady toil, and bears its | full share of the burden of -taxation without ' complaint. Our agriculturists have but slight personal representation in the councils of the nation, and are generally con tent with the humbler duties of citi zenship and willing to trust to the bounty of nature for a reward of their labor. But the magnitude and value of this industry is ap preciated, when the statement is made that of our total annual exports more than three- fourths are the products of agriculture, and of our total population nearly on '-half: are exclusively engaged in that occupation. The department of agriculture was created for the purpose of acquiring and diffusing among the people useful information respect- cig the subjects it has in charge, and aiding In the cause of intelligent and progress! v farming, by the collection of statistics, b; testing the value and usefulness of new seed- and plants, and distributing such as are found desirable among agriculturists. This w.id other powers and duties with which this fieoartment is invested are of the utmost im portanoe, and if wisely exercised must be of great benefit to the country. The aim of our ueaotieeut government is the improvement of th: people in every station, and the ameliora tion of their condition. Surely our agricul turists should not be neglected. The instru mentality established in aid of the farmers of actual depreciation. The words uttered in 1834 by Daniel Web* ■ ^naming two-fiftb ster in the Senate of the United States* are 1 - aa v mt ® n .V desert., true to-day: “The very man of all others who has the deepest interest in a sound cur rency, and who suffers most by mischievous legislation in money matters, is the man who . earns his daily bread by his daily toil.” The most distinguished advocate of bi-metalism, discussing our silver coinage, has lately written: “No .American citizen’s hand has yet felt the sensation of cheapness, either in receiving or expending the Sil ver 1 - | Act dollars.” And those who live by labor I or legitimate trade will never feel that sensa- j tion of cheapness. However plenty silver i dollars may become, they will npt be distrib uted as gifts among the people; and if the laboring man should receive four depreciated dollars where he now receives but two, he will pay in the depreciated coin more than double the price he now pays for all the nec- cessaries and comforts of life. I recommend the suspension of the com pulsory coinage of silver dollars directed by the law passed in February, 1878. THE WAR DEPARTMENT. The report of the secretary of war is here with submitted. The attention of Congress is invited to the detailed account which it con tains of the administration of his department, and his recommendations and suggestions for the improvement of the service. _ aiytagey:. S A The prohibition the importation into ; several countries of certain of our animals imp their pvoflu.jte, based upon the suspicion that health is endangered in their use and ; tomsmription, suggests the importance of • such precautions for the protection of our | stock of ;itl kinds against disease, as will dis- ; arm suspicion, of danger and cause theremov- ! al of such au injurious prohibition, j If the laws now in operation are insufficient i to accomplish this protection, I recommend j their amendment to meet the necesities of the situation, and I commend to the considera tion of Congress the suggestions contained in I the report of the commissioner of agriculture J calculated to increase the value and efficacy : of this department. THE CIVIL SERVICE. THE NAVY. The report of the secretary of the navy gives a history of the operations of his depart ment and the present condition of the work committed to his charge. He details in full the course pursued by him to protect the rights of the government in re spect of certain vessels unfinished at the time of his accession to office, and also concerning the despatch boat Dolphin, claimed to be completed and awaiting the acceptance of the department. No one can fail to see from recitals contained in this report that only the application of business principles has been insisted upon in the treat ment of these subjects, and that whatever controversy has arisen was caused by the ex action on the part of the department of con tract obligations as they were legally con strued. Unquestionably if we are content with the maintenance of a navy department simply as a shabby ornament to the government, a constant watchfulness may prevent some of the scandal and abuse which have found their way into our present organization, and its incurable waste may be reduced to the mini mum. But if we desire to build ships for present usefulness instead of naval re minders of the days that are past, we must have a department organized for the work, supplied with all the talent and in genuity our country affords, prepared to take advantage of the experience of other na tions, systematized so that all effort shall unite and lead in one direction, and fully im bued with the conviction that war vessels, though new, are useless unless they combine all that the ingenuity of man has up to this day brought forth relating to their construc tion. I earnestly commend the portion of the sec retary’s report devoted to this subject to the attention of Congress, in the hope that his suggestions touching the reorganization of his department may be adopted as the first step toward the reconstruction of our navy. THE POSTAL SERVICE. The affairs of the postal service are ex hibited by the report of the postmaster- general, which will be laid before you. I approve the recommendation of .the post master-general to reduce the charges on domestic money orders of five dollars and less from ei&ht to five cents. This change will materially aid those of our people who most of all avail themselves of this instrumentali ty, but to whom the element of cheapness is of the greatest importance. With this reduc tion the system would still remain self-sup porting.' I approve the recommendation of the post master-general that another assistant be pro vided tor Bis department. I invite your con sideration to the several other recommenda tions contained in his report. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. The report of the attorney-general contains a history of the conduct of the department of justice during the last year, and-a number of valuable suggestions as to needed legislation; creasing imputation creates a growing de- mand for homes, and the accumulation of j wealth inspires an eager competition to ob- ] tain the public land for speculative purposes. | In the future this collision of interests will be | more marked than in the past, and the execu- I tion of the nation’s trust in behalf of oursettiers j will be more difficult. I therefore commend j to your attention the recommendations con- j tamed in the report of the secretary'of the interior with reference to the repeal and modification of certain of our land laws. PENSIONS. It appears from the report of the commis sioner of pensions that there were, on July 1, 3885, 345,125 persons borne upon the pension rolls, who were classified as follows: Army invalids, 241,456; widows, minor children and . dependent relatives of deceased soldiers . v le report of the civil service commission, 78,841; navy invalids, 2,745; navy widows’ i 'vlccii will be submitted, contains an account minor children and dependents, 1,926: sui vt 1 t!le manner in which the civil service law .« Atjjjjjj--- - | has been executed during the last year, and ! much valuable information on this important | subject. I am inclined to think chat there j is no sentiment more general in the j minds of the people of our country | than a conviction’ of the correctness j of the principle upon which the law enforcing | civil service reform is based. In its present condition the law regulates only a part of the I subordinate public positions throughout the i country. It applies the test of fitness to ap- | plicants for these places by means of a com- j petitive examination, and gives targe discre- I tion to the commissioners as to the character \ of the examination and many other matters i connected with its execution. Thus the rules 1 and regulations adopted by the commission ! have much to do with the practical usefulness i of the statute and with the results of its ap plication. The people may well trust the commission ] to execute the law with perfect fairness and i with as little irritation as possible. But of | course no relaxation of the principle which I underlies it and no wakening of the safe- f lards which surround it can be expected xperience in its j administration wi ll proba- | bly suggest amendment of the methods of ex ecution, but I venture to hope that we shall never again be remitted to system vrtiich distributes puq- lic positions purely as rewards for partisan service. Doubts may well be. enter tained whether our government could sur vive the strain of a continuance of this sys tem, Which upon every change of an admin istration inspires an immense army of claim ants for office to lay siege to the patronage of government, engrossing the time of the public officers with their importunities,spread- mg abroad the contagion of their disappointment and filling this air with the tumult of theta discontent. The allurements of au immense number of offices and places,'.exhibited to the voters of the land, aud the promise of their bestowal in recognition of partisan activity, debauch the suffrage and rob -political action of its thoughtful and deliberative character. The evil would increase .with the 5 multiplication of offices consequent upon our extension, and the mania for office-holding, growing from its indulgence, would pervade our population so generally that patriotic pmpose, the support of principle, the desire for. tlf$ public good and solici tude for the nation’s welfare would be nearly banished from the activity , of .. our party contests and cause them to degenerate into ignoble, selfish and disgraceful struggles for the possession of office and public place. Civil-service reform enforced by law came none too soon to check the progress of demor alization. One of its ; effects, not. enough re garded, is the freedom it brings to the politi cal action of those conservative and sober men who, in fear of the confusion and risk attending an arbitrary and sudden change in all the public officers with a change of party rule, cast their ballots against such a change. Parties seem to be necessary, and will long continue to exist; nor can it be now denied that there are legitimate advantages, not disconnected with office holding, which follow party supremacy. While partisanship con tinues bitter aud pronounced, and supplies so much of motive to sentiment and action, it is not fair to hold public officials in charge of important public trusts, re sponsible for the best results in tb» per- vors of the war of 1812, 2,945; and widows of those who served in that war, 17,212. About one man in ten of all those enlisted in the late war are reported as receiving pensions, ex clusive of the dependents of deceased soldiers. On July I, 1875, the number of pensioners was 234,821, and the increase within the ten years next thereafter was 11.0,304. While there is no expenditm-e of the public funds which the people more cheerfully ap- prox’e than that made in recognition of the services of our soldiers living and dead, the sentiment underlying the subject should not ■be vitiated by the introduction of anv fraud ulent practices. Therefore it is fully as im portant that the rolls should be cleansed of all those who by fraud have secured a place thereon, as that meritorious claims should be specially examined and adjusted. The re forms in the methods of doing the business of this bureau which have lately been inaugur ated promise better results in both these di rections. THE PATENT OFFICE. The operations of the patent office demon strate the activity of the inventive genius of ^ c ?^ ntrjr - For t* 10 year ended June 30, 1885, the applications for patents, including reissues, and for the registration of trade marks and labels, numbered 35,688. During the same period there were 22,928 patents i tfeT granted and reissued, and 1,429 trade-marks ’ and labels registered. The number of patents issued in the year 1885 was 14,387. The re- during the last fiscal year were $1,074,- 974.35, and the total expenditures, not includ ing contingent expenses, $934,123.11. There were 9,788 applications for patents pending on July 1,1884, and 5,786 on the same date m the year 1885. There has been con siderable improvement made in the prompt determination of applications, and. a conse- Client relief to expectant inventors. THE MORMON QUESTION. rwi t j e c- T ? rritor y of TTtah the law of the United States passed for the suppression of polygamy has been energetically and faith fully executed during the past year, with measurably good results. A number of con. victions have been secured for unlawful co habitation, and in some cases pleas of guilty ,wL b ,? el1 entered a »d a sligfit punishment unposed, upon a promise by the accused that they would not again offend against the law, nfreU.*’ c ? un ' se , 1 ’ aid ) or abet, in any way, its violation by others. J “Jr .Ufah commissioners express the opin ion, based upon such information as they are able to obtain, that but few polygamous marriages have taken place in the Territory during tne last year. They further report that while there cannot be found upon the registration lists of voters the name of a man actually guilty of polygamy , and while none mass are holding office, yet at the last il ectl ° n in tbe Territory all tne officers elected except in on6 county were _ men who, though not actually living in the practice of polygamy, subscribe to the doctrine of polygamous mar- riages as a divine revelation and a law unto all, mgner and more binding upon the eon- science than any human law, local or national, lmis is a strailge spectacle presented of a community protected by a Republican form or government, to which they owe allegiance, sustaining by their suffrages a principle and a belief which sets at naught that obligation of absolute obedience to the law of the land which lies at the foundation of Republican institutions. Generals Gordon and Barlow. The ex-Confederate General Gordon relates an interesting story about two interviews lie had with General Barlow. At bharpsburg Barlow was apparently mortally wounded, and r ell into Gordon’s hands. Gordon look a, I'king in him: and asked if he timid not do somethin* for Barlow. “ I think not, general,” said the younc man : “i shall he buried here, no doubt. T do not expect, to live. But von can do ope thing for me • here is a package of let ere from mv'wife which T- ish von to destroy before'my ryes.” Gordon who was then a vnnng man also, took tile le’ters and was about destroy them, whoa Barlow. wGb a hiihhle athis threat, murmured • “Would A •« fa** th? trouble to,read me one ol hem fir < ? im one will do.” Gordon ■ veiled one of the le ters and read if: to the dvinir man—his last friendly words perhaps, from home Then the letters were destroyed. Bu< the incident, touched Gordo' 1 i o that he msde special ox- ovtion to have Barlow sent, through the ,.r to hove hi. wife admi'ted to bir This being done Hie two armies f. apart and tho 5( , t wo men saw o-m 1 - otic no more Gordon considered Brelow lo he dead. Barlow he'd also spun that a Genera! Gordon had been killed ome- whore. Topy met at, a frtand’v table in W u shiiigten . but did ure know each other through *he chan of time. After some lanse. Gordon said : “Gen eral Barlow, are you a relative of that Bu-low who r as killed at Antietam?” ‘ No,” said the general, ‘ J am the same man. Are yen an- relative,” inquired Barlow, in turn, “of that, General Gor don who was recent '■ killed on the O' - federate side ?” “ hat was my cousin : lam .John B. Gord n.” 7 lien at t.' " request of the persons who overheard Barlow told (he tale amid tears and emotion s on every side A Kind Employ • . “I don’t see how I can gui, along this way much longer, Mr. Bailey,” said a workman who had just been asking his employer for money, without getting it. “My landlady has given me notice that I muse leave to-night unless I pay my board, and I don’t know what I’m going to do about it. ’ “I’m very sorry for you, my good man,” said Bailey ; “but 1 don’t see how I am going to heip you any Times are so tight j Can’i cdiect anything.” “If I could only get my board,” con tinued the workman sadly, “I could get along somehow t il times'get better, but 1. can’, live on a : r.” “N ', I reckon not,” said Bailey,with a far-away lock. “Could,At you hoard me, Mr, Bailey?” blurted out ihe unfortunate man, with a sudden burnt of hope. “Well, now, I shouldn’t wonder,” mused the improvident boss. “I don’t see nothing to hinder it. X get my flour and meat on credit. I reckon you can come over to the house.” A Fream.—At Kilmacthomas Work house Hospital a man named Vnite has just bra n admitted, suffering from fright ful injuries. He had been away from his wife twelve months, and received a letter from her stating she had dream»<! ihat a great accident was to happen to him, and imploring him w return home at once Acting on her advice he started for .Dublin. He reached Kilmac thomas, and while passing toe bridge that spans the River Manor he fell over the boundary wall, a depth of fifty feet. He sustained concussion of the spine and cannot recover. l* il .91 ifcrtTO*' IpttoM <« ■«- on tare* me.*** Me*"* for ovr «sr; 918, W> Mrtwr* null ynh v»la*iu« ol kin* m*f la Am# , at, ho'' tin#. <-'• > ou. I'lmt- ai one*, id, M.ilue-.