The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-08

| revenue reform mas not Deen ue00cQ Dy any Oh
its advocates, to my knowledge, but seems TO be ac-
cepted something which is to supply every
mans wants without any cost or effort on bis part.
A true revenue reform cannot be made in day,
hut must be the work of national legislation and of
| time. As soon as the revenue can he dispensed
with all duty should be removed from coffee, tea,
| and other articles of universal not produced
by ourselves. The necessities of the country COM
pei us to collect revenue from our imports. An
army of assessors and collectors is not pleasant
sight to the Citizens but that tariff for revenue
is necessary. Such tariff. far as it acts in
| cOuragement to home products. affords employ
ment TO labor at living wages in contrast TO the
pauper labor OF the old world, and alse in the de-
| velopment of home resources. Under the act of
Congress of the 18th day of july 1870 the army has
gradually been reduced. so that on the first day of
January. 1871. the number ofcommissioned officers
and men in all will not exceed the number con-
templated by that law.
DEPARTMENT BUILDING.
| The Department building is old structure,
not fre-proof, and entirely inadequate in dimcn-
sions TO orr present wants. Many thousands of
dollars are paid annually for rent OF private
| buildings to accommodate the various Bureaus
| of the Department. | recommend an appropra-
ton for new War Department building, suited
to the present and growing wants OF the nation.
| ARMY AND NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of War shows very
satisfactory reduction in the expenses Of the
| referred to his accompanying report. The ex-
penses of the navy for the whole OF the last year
report, less than S9C0o.0O0, about Sl,000Oe0
| less than they were the previous year.
The expenses since the commencement OF this
ens s of n from lDr those o
| the CORES spending months of last year.
The estimates for the current year were S2S,2o5.-
1GS .03. Those for the next year $50, 6c3.3fT,
with $3.50 100 additional tor the necessary perma-
nent improvements. These estimates made
closely for the maintenance of the naval establish
mcnt as it now is. without much in the nature of
permanent improvement. The appropriations
made for the last and current years were evidently
intended by Congress and are sufficient only to
Enn arNra cont nntIn hV
pairing and reitting of our old ships. This policy
must of course gradually but surely destroy the
navy; and it Is in itself far from economical, as
each year that is pursued the necessity for mere
repairs in ships and navy yards becomes more i'm
perativc and more costly, and our current expenses
are annually increased for the mere repair of ships,
many OF which must soon. become unsafe and use
less.
hope during the present session Of Congress to
be able TO su bmit to II plan by which naval yes
sells can be built and repairs made with great saw
ing pom the present cost. 1t can hardly be wise
craftsmanship of Government which represents
a country with over five thousand miles or coast
line on both oceans. exclusive of Alaska, and con-
tanning forty millions of progressive people, with
relations OF every nature with almost every foreign
country TO rest with such inadequate means OF en-
forcing 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
protection to our citizens abroad or for the en-
forcement of any foreign policy.
PosT-OFrICE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report OF the Postmaster Gen.
eral shows most satisfactory working of the de-
partment. With the adoption of the recommends
tons contained therein particularly those relating
70 a reform in the ranking privilege, and the
adoption of spondence cards aself-sustaining
postal system may speedily be looked for, and at
no distant dav further reduction OF the rate OF
postage attained.
recommend authorization by Congress. to the
Postmaster General and Attorney General TO issue
ali commissions TO officials appointed through their
respective departments. At present these commits
sOns. where appointments are Presidential are is
sued by the State Department. The law in all de-
partments of Government. except those OF the
Postofce and of Justice, authorizes each to issue
its own commissions.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Always favoring practical reforms. respectfully
call your attention 10 one abuse of long standing.
which would like to see remedied by this Con-
country. I would have it go beyond the mere tx
ing of the tenure of Office Of clerks and employees
who do not require tiie alsice and consent OF the
Senate 10 make their appointments complete.
would have it govern not the tenure but the man
ner OF making all appointments. There is no duty
which so much embarrasses the executive and
ne ads of departments that of appointments. or
is there any such arduous and thankess labor i'm
posed on Senators and Representatives as that Of
fnfir" places for constituents
The present system does not secure the hest, and
often not even fit men for public places. The ele
walton and publication of the civil service of the
Government will he hailed with approval by the
whole people of the United States.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Pef0rm in the management of Indian affairs has
from its Inauguration TO the present day. The ex
pertinent Of making il a missionary work was tried
with q few agencies given to the denomination Of
Friends. and has been found to work most advan
tageOlsly. All agencies and snperintendences not
so disposed OF were given 10 officers OF the army.
The act OF Congress regulating the army renders
army officers ineligible to civil positions Indian
agencies heng civil offices. determine ed TO give all
the agencies to such religious denominations as
had heret ofore established missionaries among the
Indians and perhaps to some other denominations |
who would undertake the work on the same tertns |
D. - a missionary work.
The societies selected are allowed to name their |
own agents, subject to the approval Of the Execu |
tive. and are expected 10 watch over them and aid /
them "a missionaries to Christianize and civilize
The Indian. and to train him in the arts of peace.
The Government watches the official acts of /
these AGENTS and requires of them as strict an &C
countabty.as if they were appointed in any other /
manner. | entertain the confident hope that the 1
policy now pursued will. i'm few years bring all |
the Indians upon reservations where they will live
in houses have schoo-houses and churches, will he
pursuing peaceful and self-sustaining avocations, |
and where they may be visited by the aw-abding, |
white man with the same impunity that he now
special attention TO the report of the Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs for full information on this sub
ject.
PUBLIC LANDS.
During the last fiscal year s,oa541s acre. OF pub
lie land disposed Of OF this quantity 3.6aS910
acres taken under the homestead law and 2159,
BIS sold for cash. The remainder was located
with military warrants college Indian scrip, or !
applied in satisfaction Of grants to railroads or for
other public uses. The entries under the home
stead law during the last year covered 961 545
more than those during the preceding year. Sur |
veys have been vigorously prosecuted to the full /
extern of the means applicable TO the purpose. The
quantity of land in market will amply supply the |
present demand. The claim OF the settlers under |
the homestead or the pre- emption laws Is not, how
ever limited to lands subject to sale ut private |
entry. AIRY unappropriated surveyed public land |
NAV 10 limited amount ,e acquired under the for
mer laws. if the party entitled 10 enter under them
will comply with the requirements they prescribe |
in regard to residence and cultivation.
The actual settlers preference to right ofpurchaee
Is even broader. and extends to lands which were |
unsurveyed AT the time of his settlement. His /
right wac formerly confined within much narrower |
lmts; and. at one period OF our history, was con-
enacted from time to time to legalize what was |
then regarded ne an unauthorized intrusion upon |
the national domain The opinion that the pub |
lie land, should he regarded chiefly a source of |
revenue i. no longer maintained. The rapid set |
Element and successful cultivation of them is
now justly considered of more importance |
to our well-beiDg than II the fund which the |
sale OF them would produce. The remarkable |
growth and prosperity of our new States and |
Territories attest the wisdom of the legislation |
which invites the tiller of the soil TO secure per
manent horne terms within the reach or all. The |
pioneer who incurs the dancers and privatlons or
frontier life and thus aid. in laying the foundation
of the new commonwealth. renders signal serv
ice 10 this country and is entitled to- it, special IA
vor and protection. The laws secure that object
and LARGELY promote the general welfare. Ihey
should therefore he cherished "a permanent fea-
ture Of land system. Good faith requires us to
give full effect TO existing grants.
The time -honored and bencfcient policy or set
ting apart certain sections of public land for cdu-
cational purposes in the States should be con-
timed.
When ample provision shall have been made for
these objects submit, question worthy OF
serious consideration. whether the residue or our
national domain should not he wholly disposed
of under the provisions of the homestead and pre-
emption laws.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
In addition TO the swamp and overfowed lands
tboC tatnS in ipb fbAy are
the lands taken under the Agricultural College
acts and for internal improvement purposes, under
the act of September, 1871, and the acts supple
mental thereto there had been conveyed, up to |
the close of the last fiscal year, by patent or other
equivalent evidence Of title. to States and corpora
tons 81 25T 1890 acres for railways canals,
aud wagon-roads; and II IL estimated that an ad-
ditonal quantity OF Ia, ,523 acres Is still due
under grants for like uses