Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1888 — THE CIVIL SERVICE. [ARTICLE]

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

A rxcknt writer baa a good word, am tinstone, tossy for taxes. “That word tax has brought over the ocean an oldworld sentiment with it which most be got rid of. In this country it means privilege, and oar privileges are nseas jied by our taxes—so that a tax taxes no man. It stands for a right to good roads, good bridges, postoffices, good schools, and other good things. Every man gets back the full worth of his taxes and a great deal more, unless he cheats himself.’* This is true, so far as it goes; but one-half our taxes are paid to support paupers, poor bouses and prisons, that would not exist but for whisky. The worst tax a man has to pay are those he assesses on himself, in the way of intemperance, and shiftlessness and extravagance. Such taxes bring ns no compensation. Comukndablb etforls are being put forth by the Hydrographic Bureau to collect information about those curious phenomena, waterspouts. All masters of vessels plying on the North Atlantic are requested to make careful observations when one of these objects shows itself. Waterspouts are believed to be modified forms of whirlwinds or tornadoes, a rotary motion of the air lifting the water from the ocean’s surface, while the moisture in the atmosphere is condensed and descends to meet the rising column. A large number of waterspouts have been reported of late. On January 22 three sere visible at once from the deck of one steamer, and six were observed in half an hour. A hugh waterspout, computed to be a mile in diameter, was seen on January 28. If a vessel should encounter such a monster the results would be disastrous. The data now being collected may enable sailing masters to recognize., the condi tions leading to these formations, and so be a means of Securing increased safety at sea.

W D. Foullce's Testimony Before a Senate Investigating Committee. Senator Hale’s .special committee, which will conduct an investigation into abuses of the civil service reform law, had its first sitting Wednesday, and the cases in Indiana were laid bare by Hon. William Dudley Foulke, of Richmond, President of the Indiana Civil Service Reform Association. His testimony was the result of investigations made by the State society and affidavits secured, and related chiefly to the demoralisation of the postal service and the removals for partisan purposes only, in the Indianapolis postoffice, and of the presi dential postmasters in the State. The witness called upon the President and found that he knew of these removals. The President said it was impossible to let the parties know the chaiges made against them. They were doing the best they could. The President expressed the hope that the association would go slow, as he had great difficulty in bringing some of his party up to the idea of civil service reform, and that Indiana was a pretty bad State. They had not, to wit ness’s knowledge, oeen an v change in the condition of affairs nfnce he laid these matters before the President. He expressed the hope that the committee would visit Indiana, and that it would allow the association to know sufficiently in advance to be prepared with the witnesses and the facts. The things he had stated with regard to the poet office could be brought outin the form of legal evidence. The Chairman—What is your view of the‘bperßjoh of the civil service reform in Indiana? ; ' • • Answer—Weil, we have not had any cavil service reform in Indiana. *' Riot at Leavenworth. A riot was precipitated at North Leavenworth, Kansas, Sunday evening, by an affray between James King (white), cableman in the Leavenworth! Coal Mine, aud Harrison Young, al notorious colored ward politician, Sam Hedspath and Ben Easton, also colored. A year ago Hedpath had beaten King, and when they met,'the negroes promptly attacked* him. He shot and killed Young, mortally wounded Hedspath. and hit Eiston in the thigh. A mob of colored miners started in pursuit of King, and in the effort to arrest him Policeman Stout shot him in the breast, making a serious wound. Under the impression that King was dead, and cowed by a company of cavalry from the fort, the negroes retired to their homes. ; ' In the Mazy. Young Mr. Wabash (to Miss Waldo, of Boston, at a dancing party)—Will you favor me with two or three rounds, Miss Waldc? Miss Waldo, (an admirer of John L , of course)—Certainly, Mr. Wabash,with pleasure. Or, if you like, we will continue it to a finish. Some Trut h in It. Texas Siftings. ‘ Tommy—Bay, mamma, why don’t you have some color in yonr cheeks nowadays?" Mother—l have loaned it to your father to paint his nose 1 with. ■’—l'?'