Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-12-14
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

the civil service Of the country L would
have IT go beyond the mere liking of the
tenure oil office or clerks and employees, who
do not require the advice and consent of
the Senate 10 make their appointments
complete. | would have ii govern, not the
tenure, but the manner of making all ap-
pointments. There is no duty which so
much embarrasses the Executive and Heads
o. departments as tEat of appointments
nor IS there amy such arduous and thaukless
labor imposed upon Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes as that OF hading places for con-
sil'uents. The present system does not
secure the best men. and often not even fit
men for public places. The elevation and
puTlheation OF the civil service Of the Gov
ernment will be hailed with approval BY the
whole people OF the United States
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Reform in the management of Indian
affairs has received the special attention of
the administration from its Inauguration TO
the present dIy. The experiment of making
II missionary work was tried with few
agel cles, given to the denomination of
Friends, and has been found to work most
adVantagcousiy. All agencies and superiu-
tender cies ROT so disposed OF we're given to
othcers OF the army The act of Congress.
reducing the army renders army officers
Ineligible for civil TO .itioBs Indian agencies
the agencies 10 such religious denominations
as had heretofore established missionaries
among the Indians, snd perhaps to some
other denominations would undertake the
work on the same terms, 1. e.. as a mis-
sionary work The societies selected are
allowed 10 name their own agents, subject
to the approval of The Executive, and are
expected to watch over them aud aid them
ae missionaries and to Chris;ianize and
ciyllize The Indian, aud 20 train him in the
arts OF peace. The Government watches
over the official acts of these agents, and
requires OF them as strict an ace unta bility
as II they were appointed in any other
manner L entertaiu the confident hope that
the policy now pursued will, ia few years,
bring all Indians upon reservations, where
they Will live In houses, have school houses
and churches, and will be pursuing peaceful
and seit-sustaining avocations and where
they may be visited Dy the law abiding white
man with the same impunity that he now
vlsIts the white settlements. | call your
special attention to the report Of the Com
missioner Of Indians Atfai.s for full inform
alton cn this subject.
PUBLIC LANDS.
During the last fiscal year 500. 54l, 300
acres o! public lands we're disposed OF Or
this quantity 369. S9l .00j acres were taken
up under the Homestead law, and el5.soI.-
jSl acres more so.d tor casA. The remaIn-
der was located with Military Warrant, Col
lege or Indian Scrip, or applied in satisfac-
tlon OF grants 10 railroads, or ior other pub
lie uses. Tue entries under the Homestead
law during the last year covered eel, ,545
acres more than tkGse during the preceding
year Surveys have been vigorously prose-
cutcd to the tull extent of the means appli-
cable to the purpose. The quantity of land
in the market viii amply satisfy the present
demands
The claim Of the settler under the Home
stead or re-emptiou laws is not, however,
limited to lands subject TO sale at private en-
try. Any unappropriated surveyed public
land may, to limited extent. be ACQUIRED
under the former laws, if the party entitled
to enter under them will comply with the
requirements they prescribe in regard to
residence and cultivation. The actual set
tier s preference right OF purchase is even
broader, and extend, to lands which were un-
surveyed At the time OF his settlement. His
right was formerly confined within much
narrower limits, and at one period of our
history was conferred only by special statutes
They were enacted from time to time TO le-
ga.lze what was then regarded as an unau-
thUrized Intrusion upon the rational domain.
The opinion :hat the public lands should
be regarded chiefly as = source OF revenue is
no longer maintained. The rapid settlement
and successful cultivation Of them are now
justly considered of more importance to our
well icing than is 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 legisla-
tion which Invites the tiller of the soil to
secure a permanent home on terms within
the reach Of all. The pioneer who incurs
the dangers aud priva,ions of frontier life.
and thus aids in laying tie foundation f
new commonwealthS, renders a signal service
to his country, aud is entitled to its special
favor and protection. The laws that secure
that object largely promote the general well
fare. They should, therefore, be cherished
as perm anent feature Of our land sy stem.
Good faith requires Us 10 give full effect to
existing grants.
The time hoDored and beuificent rolicy of
setting apart certain sections of public land
for educational purposes in the new States
should be continued. When ample provision
shall have been made tor these objects, [
submit as question worthy OF serious con-
slderarion whether the residue ofour nation
al domain should not be wholly disposed of
under he provisions of the Homestead and
Presumption laws. In addition 10 the swamp
and over;icwed lands granted to States in
which they are situated. the lands taken
| der the Agricultural College acts and for
| internal Improvement purposes under the
( act Of September, IS4l and the acts supple
! ;nentary thereto. there had been conveyed
! 10 the close OF the last fiscal year, by patent
| or other equivalent evidence Of title to states
/ and corporations ., 7s3. 62j, 763 and I-l0O
acres for railways, canal and wagon roads.
1t is estimated that there is an additional
quantity OF ia, 755, 523 acres still due under
grants for like uses
The policy of thus aiding the States in
building works ofinternal improvement was
| inaugurated more than 40 years since in the
grants to Indiana and Illinois, to aid those
States In opening canals TO connect the waters
| OF the Wabash with those OF Lake Erie,
/ and the waters of he Illinois with those OF
/ Lake Michigan. 1t was followed, with some
/ notifications. in the grant 70 Illinois, of al
/ ternate sections of public land within certain
| limits to the Illinois Central Railway. Four
! teen States aud sundry ,orporations have
sreceiyed sirnilar subsidies, in connection with
railways completed or in process of construc-
/ ton. As the several sections are rated at
the double minimum, the sale of them at
the enhanced price has thus, in many instan-
| ces, indemnifci the Treasury for the granted
I lapl