The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-12-06

soSi n5O o. than was expended for the same
purpose the preceding year. Although inns
statement Of expenditures would indicate
"A material reduction in the amount, compared
with the preceding year, II Is believed that thc
changes I'm the pension laws made nj the last
scssjAn of Congress will absorb that amount
the current year At the close OF the last lis
cal year there were on the pension rolls "9,Nf
invalid military pensioners ana ll2,uSN WIDOWS,
orphans and dependent widows Of deceased
soldiers making u total Of that class ol II 81;
1896 survivors of the war of Isl! and 5,0oj
widows o. soldiers Of that war pensioncd under
the act of Congress of February II, 1871, making
"A total of that class Of 233l9; 40 Invalid navy
pensioners, and l,11O widows ana orphans ana
denendcnt relatives Of deceased officers, sailors
and marines of the navy pensioners, OF n,!oo'
total OF pensioners of all classes, 2iS ILL show
inr net increase during the last fiscal year oi
62lS The names of 1910 pensioners ware add
ed to the rolls, and lO,2?3 names were dropped
thercfrom for various causes. Inc system
adopted for the detection OF frauds against the
Government in the matter OF pensions mas pceh
productive Of satisfactory results, but le%lNla-
ton is needed TO provide, il possible, against
the pcrpetratng OF such frauds in future.
Tie evidently increasing ii tiiGc.'''.'S
Of education is most encouraging feature III
tkc general progress of the country and the
bureau of Education is in earnest in its efforts
to give proper direction to the new applicants
and the increased locilitic, which are being of
fcrcd TO aid the educators Of the country III
their great work,
The ninth census has been completed, the
report thereof published and distributed ana
working force of the bureau dishanded. The
Secretary Of the Interior rcncws his recon-
mcndati0n for a census to be taken in 1919, to
which subject the attention Of Congress Is III.
vited The original suggestion in that behalf
has met with the general approval OF the couh,
try. and, even if it be not deemed advisable at
IL tl4as fhIt
census, II census taken in 1870, the report OF
which could be completed and published pc
fore the Tooth anniversary of our national mae,
pcndcnCc, would be especially interesting anu
valuable as showing the progress OF thc couh-
try during the first century of our nalluh"l en-
istcnce. Il is believed, however, that regular
census every five years would be OF subslantlal
benefit to the country, inasmuch rs our growth
hitherto has been so rapid that the results vi
the dcccnnial census are necessarily unrcllablc
rs Il basis of estimates for the later years OF Ihc
deCCnnial period.
Under the very efficient management OF the
Governor and the Board Of Public Works OF
this district the city Of Washington is rapidly
assuming the appearance OF capital OF Whlch
the nation NAV well be proud. From beng Il
most unsightly place three years ago Disagree
able pass through in summer IN consequence
of the dust arising from unpavcd streets, ana
almost mpasSablc in the winter from the mud,
COuutrv and can boast of being the best paved.
The work has been done Systematically, the
plau, of GRADES location of sewers water and
ras mains being determined upon before the
work was commenced, thus securing pcrma-
nrncv when completed. question whether so
much has ever been accomplished before in
any American city for the same expenditure.
The Government having large reservations in
the city, and the nation at large having an III,
tcrcSt in their Capital, | recommend a liberal
policy toward the District of Columbia, and
That the Government should bear its just share
of the expense Of these improvements. BYery
citizen visiting the Capital feels pride in It's
growing beauty, and that he, too, is part owner
in the investments made here. | would sug-
gcst to Congress the proprety OF promoting
the establishment in this District OF an lnStltu-
ton of learning, or university OF the highest
class, 10y the donation of lands. There Is no
place better suited for such an institution than
The national capital. There is no other place
in which every citizen is so directly interested.
In three successive messages to Congress
have called attention to the subject OF clVl ser
vice reform. Action has been taken so far as
to authorize the appointment OF board 10 uc'
wise rules governing the methods OF making
appointments and promotions; but there new
or has been any action on these rules, or any
rules pending or even entitled to observance
Where persons desire the appointment OF ;
friend or the removal Of an official who may
be Gisagrccablc, to have any change effected
they must have the acquicsccncc of Congress
as well as of the Executive. | recommend
therefore, the subject to your attention, and
suggest that Il special committee OF Congress
might confer with the Civil Board during The
present session, for the purpose oi dcYisinl
such rules rs shall be maintained, and whic)
will secure the services OF honest and capable
officials, and which will also protect them in 1
degree of independence while in office. Propcl
rules will protect Congress, as well aS the I'm
ccutiye, from much needless prccautiOn, ant
will prove OF great value to the public at large
would recommend for your favorable con
SidcratiOn the passage Of an act for the admit
lance of Colorado as a state into the Union. II
possesses all the elements OF prOspcrOu.
stare agricultural and mineral, and, believe
has a population to Justify admission. In thai
connection, would also recommend the en-
cuuragrmcnt Of a canal for the purpose Of trr
eating from the eastern slope OF the Rocky
Mountains to the Missouri river. As rule
am opposed to the donation of the public lands
for internal Improvements owned and CONTROL
ed by private corporations but in this instance
would make an exception. Between the Mis-
souri, river and the Rocky Mountains there i
an area belt of public land from 300 to 900 miles
IN width, perfectly yaluClcsS Tor tnc occupation
of man, for want of sufficient rain to secure the
growth Of any products An irri@ating canal
would make productive "A belt aS wide as the
supply Of water could bc made to spread over
across the entire country, and would secure q
Gordon of settlements connecting the present
population Of the mountain and mining region,
with that Of the Older States. All the land re-.
claimed would be clear gain If alternate sec
tons were reclaimed by the Government,
would suggest that the retained sections be
thrown open to entry under the homestead law
and sold to actual settlers for very low prices.
| renew my previous recommendation to
Congress for general amnesty The number
engaged in the late rebellion who are labnring
under disadvantages is very small, but enough
10 keep up a constant irritation. No possible
danger can cnsuc to the Government by rr
storing them to eligibility tn hold office.
suggest for your consideration the enact
ment of a law 10 better secure the civil tight.
which freedom should secure, but has not cf
frctuallv secured, to the cnfraHChiscd slave.
(Sgned |. :. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, December |, 1873.