The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-11-27

institutions are regarded BY an industrious, H.
tel'igent and weslthy people. DESTROYS Of en-
jQying civil and religious liberty. The acqnisi-
ton Of SO large an emigration Of citizens OF a
superior class would without doubt be- Ut much
substantial benefit TO the country. Invite At
tention to the suggestion OF the Secretary of the
Interior in this behalf.
There was paid during the last fiscal year for
pensions. including expenses OF disbursement,
$40, 1856, 1882, being An amount less by
1884 ,O5S.98 than was expended for the same
purpose the preceding year. Although this
terial reduction In the amount compared with
the preceding year, It Is believed that the
changes In the pension laws ut the last session
OF Congress will absorb that amount the Cur
rent year. At tho close Of the last fiscal year
there were on the pension rolls 1904 invalid
military pensioners. and 112,O8G widows, Or
phans and dependent widows of deceased
soldiers, making total Of that class of
2ll 1872, and 1926 survivors, Of the war of
1912, and 6053 widows of the
soldiers Of the war pensioned under act of Con-
gress OF FEBRUARY ID, 1871, making total of
that class Of .43o. Invalid navy pensioners,
Ire; widows and orphans, and dependent
relatives of deceased soldiers, sailors and ma
rlnos OF navy pensioners, $500; grand total
Of pensioners of all classes, 23S,411; showing
a net increase during the last fiscal year Of
8,21S. The names of 1,645 pensioners were
added to the rolls, and 1928 names were
dropped thRrefr0m for various causes. The
system adopted for the detection of frauds
against the government In the matter Of pen.
stons, has been productive Of satisfactory re-
suits: but legislation Is needed to provide, If
possible, against the preparation of such frauds
In the future.
The evidently increasing interest in the ca use
'ofieducatfOn Is most encouraging featur g IN
the genegel progress of the country. The Bu-
reau OF Education, in it's efforts to give pro per
direction to new applicants. and the increa sed
facilities which are being offered to aid the ed
ucato!s OF the country, Is doing a great work.
NINTH CENSUS.
The ninth census has beer completed and the
report thereof published and distributed. and
the working force of tho bureaus disbanded.
The Secretary OF the Interior renews his recon-.
mendstions for census to be taken in 1875, to
WHICH subject the attention of Congress is
Invited. The original suggestion on
that behalf has met with the
general approval Of the country, and even lift
be not deemed advisable at present to provide
for regular quintennial census. census taken
Ia 1875, the report of which could be taken and
published before the Tooth anniversary
of our independence wonld be espec-
tally Interesting and valuable, as showing the
progress OF the country during the first century
of our national existence. 1t is believed, how
evar, that regular census every five years
would be of substantial benefit to the country
tnasmuch as our growth has hitherto been so
rapid that the results of the decennial census
are necessarily unreliable az basis Of esti-
mates for the latter years Of q deeennial period.
THE CAPITAL.
Under the very efficient management of the
Governor and Board of Pubic Works of this
district, the city OF Washington is rapidly as
suming the appearance of capital of which
the alton may we'll be proud. From being q
most unsightly place three years ago, disagree
able to pass through In summer in consequence
of the dust arising from the unpsved streets,
aud about impossible In winter from the mud,
1t is now one of the most slightly cities In
the country, and can boast of being the best
paved. The work has been done systematical-
ly. tho plans, gra les, location of sewers, water
and gas mains beihgldetermined before either
was commenced. thus securing pernanency
when completed. question whether 80 much
: his Feever been accomplished before In
ANY American city for. the sauna expenses The
government Aaytag large reservation In tho
"cKy, dnd the nation atiafge having an Interest
DO thelr Capital, showing liberaf policy toward
tte Dlstrict Of Columbia, it is but just that the
government should do'its share in the expense
A4,f these improvements Recommend the sub
ject Therefore to your consideration.
would suggest to Congress the propriety of
prom offig the establishment III this district of
IN Institution :of learning, or unlversity of the
highest class by the donation Of lands. There
GnO place better suited for such All Institution
than The National Capital. There is no other
place In which every citizen Is SO directly in
terested.
> ,:.' CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In three successive messages to Congress l
have calltd attention to civil service reform.
Action has been taken so far as to authorize
the appointment of a board to devise rules
governing the methods Of making appointments
and promotions, but there never has been any
action on these roles or any other rules pend
ing. suggest that special committee o
Congress might confer with the civil board dur
ing the present session for the purpose Of do
vising such rules as can be maintained, and
which will secure the services Of honest and
capable officers, and which will also protect
them In degree of independence while III Of
fee. Proper rules will protect Congress as
we'll as the Executive from much needless PIE
caution, and will prove of great value to the
COLORADO AND fRRIGATrON.
1would recommend for favorable considera-
ton the passage Of an act for the admittance of
Colorado as State in the Union. 1t possesses
al the elements Of a prosperous State, agricul-
tnrAl and mineral, anu believe has a popula
tion TO justifysuch an admission. In that con
nection I would also recommend. the encour-
agement of q canal for purposes Of irrigation
from the eastern slope Of the Rocky Mountains
to the Missouri river. AZ rule, am opposed
to the donotion of public lands
for internal Improvements owned
and controlled by private corporations
but in this instance should make an excep-
ton. Between the Missouri river and the
Rocky Mountains there is an area or belt of
public land from 800 IS 500 miles in width,
perfectly valueIess for the occupation of man
for want of sufi sient rain to secure the growth
Of any product. An irrigating canal would
make this productive belt as wide as the