The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-05


various bureaus Of the Department. recommend
an appropriation for new War Department build
pnon he Of the secreay Of War
q very satis actory reduction the expenses OF the
referred to his accompanying report The expenses
OF the Navy for the whole OF the last year,
port-are less than s1sOOooOo, or about si,a0O,ooo
less than they were the previous year. The ex
/ e, since July 1-show for the five months a de-
Of over e2,400,000 from those OF the cores
ponding months of last year. Tbs estimates m, les for
those for next year are s9O ssa ,sl7, with sass 100
additional for necessary and PsTnan,ent TProgs pr ,S
mere maintenance OF the naval establishment as
1t now is without much in The nature OF permanent
and current years were evidently intended
by Congress- and are suflcient only
ships. 1'nis policy must OF course gradually but
economical, each year that it is pursued, the
cessty for new repairs in ships and navy yards oe-
current expenses are annually increased for the
mere repair OF ships, many OF which must OOn be-
hope during the present session OF Congress TO
be able to submit TO it plan by which naval vessels
upon the present cost Il hardly be wise ssstes
manship In a government which represents a c1uu-
Try with over i've thousand mites OF coast lines on
forty millions OF progressive people, with relations
of every nature with almost every foreign country,
any foreign policy, either of protection or redress.
Separated by the ocean from the nations OF the
Eastern continent, our navy Is our only means OF
direct protection to euF citizens abroad, or
for the enforcement of5any foreign policy.
raj shows most satisfactory working OF that de-.
partnent. With the adoption OF the rscomme ada
to a reform in the frsnShg privilege and the aiop,
tion OF the cOrresrOndence cards. sslf-sustsining
POSTAL system may speedily De Looked f9r ana AZ no
postage be attained. | recomment authoriz alton
by Congress to the Postmaster G eneral and Astor-
neyGeneral to issue all commissions to officials
pointed through their respective departments. AT
present these commissions where appointments are
Presidential, are issued by the State Departments
The law in all the departments OF Gov
@s,nS eminent .rs except those Of the Post
each to issue its own commissions Always favoring
practical reforms, respectfully call your attention
to one abuse OF long standing which woald like to
to see remeded by this Congress. IL is reform in
the civil service Of the county would have it go
beyond the mere fixing OF the tenure of Office OF
1.-The advice and consenti0f the Senate" To make
their appointments complete would have 1t govern
not The tenure but the manner OF making all ap-
pointments There Is no duty which so much em-
barrasses the Executive aud heads OF departments,
nor is there any such arduous and thank
less labor imposed on Senators aud Representatives.
as that OF finding places for constituents. The pres
not even MT men Tor public place. The elevation
and puriiicaton OF the civil service OF the Govern
people Of the United States siSrm ia
the ns os management OF Indian Affairs
ation from its Inauguration to the present day.
The experiment OF making it missionary work was
of Friends, and has beea found TO work most ad.
vantageously. All agencies and superintendents
St SO 20 the disposed n Of f., o were gwen 70
the army renders army officers ineligible for civil
positions. indian agencies being civil ofllc s,
rsligious denominations as had heretofore esta-
Silshed d missionaries among the Indians aud per;
maps 10 some othef DENOMINATIONS who would
terms-lle as missionary work.
The societies selected are allowed to name their
own agents, subject TO the approval OF the Execu-
tive, and are expected to watch over them and aid
Indans and to train them in the arts OF peace The
Government watches over the official acts OF
s an agents hes we %
any otner manner | entertain the confident hope
mat that ihe ne policy now pursued viii in few years
will live in houses have school houses and churches
and viii be pursuing peaceful aud selr-sustaning
by the law-abding white man with the same
impnnity that b now visits the civilized white set-
OF the commissioner OF Indian Affairs for full infor
nation on this subject.
acres Of public land were disposed OF. OF
this quantity S,6ss, ,910O5 acres were taken under
cash. The remainder wss located with military
warrants. colleges, or Indian scrip, or applied in
Se eares 10 he o
the last year covered s6 5I5 more than those
during the preceding year.
Surveys have been vigorously prosecuted to the
full extent Of the means applicable to the purpose
The quantity OF land in market will amply supply
the present demand. The claim OF the settler under
the Homestead or the Presumption laws is not how
ever, limited to lands subject to sale at private
entry. Any unappropriated surveyed public land
may, TO limited amount, be acquired under tue
former laws, II the party entitled to enter under
them will comply with the requirements they pre-
scribe in regard TO residence aud cultivation.
The actual settlers preference right OF purchase
is even broader, and extends TO lands which were
right was formerly confined within much
Rstog %s and cdnerpns at 9as period OF
| special statutes They were enabled frem time 10
time TO legalize what was then regarded as an un-
authorized intrusion upon the national domain. The
opinion that the public lands should be regarded
chiefly as a source OF revenue is no longer main
| tanned. The rapid settlement and successful cuti-
more importance 10 our wel-being than is the fund
| which the sale OF them would produce. The re-
and Territories attest the wisdom OF the legislation
which invites the ter of the soil to secure a per-
msnsnt Of sGme The on no,ts terms who within the
dangers and privatlons OF a frontier life and
! thus aids in laying the foundation of new common
! wealths, renders a signal service to his country
and s entitled TO Its special favor and protection
These laws secnre that object and largely prom Ote
| the general welfare They should therefore be
cherished as perm anent feature OF our land system
Good faith requires us to give full effect existing
grants, The iime-honored aRd benencent policy OF
caiional purposes In the new States should be
| tnued When ample provision shall have been
made for these objects / submit MS question
worthy OF kerious consideration whether the rest
due OF our national domain should not be wholly
ulsposedoi under the provisions OF the homestead
and preempiion laws?
In addition 70 the swamp end overnowed lands
granted to the States in which they situated tue
lands taken unoer the Agricultural College acts and
Tor internal improvement purposes under the act OF
September, ls4i and the acts supplemental thereto
4 there had oeen conveyed up 10 the close OF the