Conservative.
PLUCKY IJUT PUSILLANIMOUS.
Judge McConncll , of Chicago , not long
ago , took occasion to make announce
ment at a public dinner of his opposition
to the silver issue as presented by the
architects of repudiation and dishonor
in the national convention of ninety-six.
Judge McConncll is an active and influ
ential man and a recognized force in the
political life of Illinois. The gentleman
was so strong in the democratic leader
ship that his statement that he could
not longer support the silver proposition
made in such a public manner caused
something resembling a cyclonic move
ment among the guests at the dinner.
Judge McCoimcll was instantly assailed
for his apparent defection from the
"great principle" of paying honest
debts in dishonest money , and ho showed
commendable pluck by standing his
ground and pleading against such a
proposed wrong upon the country. But
Judge McCounell became the next thing
to pusillanimous when , under pressure ,
or rather , from craven fear of losing the
pewter jewel of regularity , he soon af
terwards stepped down to a dead level
by saying that he should support the
party whatever might be the lower deep
of degradation it might be dragged into
by designing and ambitious men.
A classified service
THE CIVIL SEIIVICK.
vice is disciplined
merit. Disciplined merit renders a
steady and efficient service , and steady
and efficient service is economy.
Good government is the chief conservator
vator of the welfare of all legitimate
business and gainful undertakings. It
must , therefore , if it is to be made bet
ter and perpetuated , be itself adminis
tered in harmony with business princi
ples and methods. Just government is
economical not wasteful ; frugal , and
not extravagant. An ounce of economy
in executive affairs is worth more than
a pound of revenue. More economy ,
through a judiciously organized and ef
ficiently directed departmental service ,
will bestow upon this government and
American citizenship far greater benefits
thaii more revenue.
By the aid of a completely classified
service to which there is no ingress , save
through competitive examinations by
the United States civil service commis
sion , the department of agriculture the
smallest and youngest of the executive
departments h a s demonstrated the
truth that the civil service law , regula
tions and rules , vigorously carried out ,
are the best forces for economy yet
tested in this form of government. In
four years' trial , from March 0 , 1898 , to
March 6 , 1897 , of the merit system more
than two millions of dollars wore saved
to cover back into the treasury out of
appropriations made during that period
for that department. And as employees
become more skillful , more expert and
adept from experience in the service , the
labor-cost of administration will con
tinue to decline. Thus it will bo easy to
continue , proportionally with the growth
of the department of agriculture , a re
duction of expenditures and an enhance
ment of the value of its work in behalf
of that advanced and successful agricul
ture upon which all other callings de
pend for existence.
Sneeriugly the practical politician de
nounces civil service reform as an illu
sion of doctrinaires , theorists and school
men a theory from Utopia. But what
great movement for the elevation and
improvement of humanity ever came
from any other than a scholarly or
thoughtful source ? And can there be a
more sincere tribute to the merit system
in the public service than its vitupera
tion by those who have no merit ? Only
those political pirates who by retrospec
tion , introspection and prospection are
convinced that with a firmly established
merit sj'stem in the civil service of mu
nicipal , state and federal government
their calling as plunderers of the public
has been abolished , now openly de
nounce the reform. Therefore , it will
win its way to greater victories for hon
esty , economy and efficiency and its
triumphs will be equally enjoyed by all
good citizens upon whom rest the re
sponsibilities and burdens of maintain
ing for this republic a government which
"will sell to no man" and "will not deny
to any man , either justice or right. "
' < J
Sterling
AVATEHED STOCK ;
AGAIN. Morton criticizes
the populists and
communists because of their attitude to
ward the stock watering habit of rail
roads and other corporations , and con
tends that it is right for railroads to
water stock because farmers place a
higher value on their farms than they
did when they bought the laud at $1.25
per acre. Mr. Morton is in the business
as an apologist for corporate greed and
makes an ingenious plea that will possi
bly pass for sound argument with some
people , but his attempt at adroitness
will possibly lead many to believe that
he really has the qualifications for a
juror instead of an editor. As the farm
er's laud increases in actual value , he
fixes the price at just exactly what it
will bring and has nothing to induce
him to place a fictitious value , and don't
fix the price of his products at a certain
per cent at watered stock prices. The
roads of necessity water their stock so
that their earnings may appear but a
small per cent of capital invested. " The
Granger.
The law says that for 'assessment the
laud shall be valued at "just exactly
what it will bring. "
And The Granger remarlcs that the
farmer "has nothing to induce him to
place a fictitious value. " From this
THE CONSERVATIVE concludes that the
land values returned for taxation are
not "fictitious" in Nebraska.
A list of the roads in Nebraska which
have watered their stocks for the pur
pose set forth by The Granger ought to
be published. The people would bo en
lightened by such accurate information.
The Granger will confer a great favor
by giving , at its earliest possible con
venience , the name of every road in Ne
braska which has issued stock repre
senting no value , or only "water , " "so
that their earnings may appear but a
small per cent on capital invested. "
After this adept in the knowledge of
railway stocks and railway management
shall have given this desirable informa
tion THE CONSERVATIVE will again , in the
light of the new knowledge which is to
be flashed \ipou the inner methods of railroading
reading , take up "watered stock" for
discussion.
Coin Harvey re-
THE MONEY ports that he is re-
I'OWEK. ceiviug contribu
tions from faithful
silver people at the rate of about $800 a
day. This will not pile up so many mil
lions for a campaign fund for 1900 as was
promised , but the rake-off will keep Mr.
Harvey in comfort while the stream
continues to pour in. He is as confident
as ever that silver will be the dominant
issue in the next national contest , in
spite of the jeers and cuffs it is receiving
from all sides just at present. State
Journal.
The receipts of the Hon. Coin Harvey
are now , according to the above statement
about thousand dollars
ment , twenty-four
lars a month. The parties who assigned
the alleged democratic invoices of prin
ciples and lackings of principles will be
encouraged to think that Mr. Harvey
will have accumulated before the next
presidential election in November 1900 , if
his present income continues for twenty-
one months , five hundred and odd thous
ands of dollars.
"The money power" seems sought
after by the assignee of Messrs. Jones ,
Alleu and Teller. It is strange that
those who deride , scorn , scarify , de
nounce and damn money and its diaboli
cal influence should seek it with such
importunate solicitings. It is likewise
singular that the money is sought for
the avowed purpose of placing it where
it will accomplish the most in securing
votes for a policy which will debase the
money and destroy the credit of the
United States !
THE MOST ANCIENT STEAM ENGINE
IN THE WOULD.
"Engineering has the following inter
esting note on the most ancient steam
engine in existence. The oldest engine
in the world is in possession of the
Birmingham Canal Navigations , this
engine having been constructed by
Boulton and Watt in the year 1777. The
order is entered in the firm's books in
that year as a single-acting beam engine ,