Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-12-04

such subjects as the Executive may
bring before it from time in writing.
The advantages to be gained by these
two amendments are obvious. One ses-
sion in each year is provided by the
Constitution, in which there are no re-
strietions rs to the subjects of leoisla-
ton by Congress. If more are required
it is always in the power of Congress,
during their term of office,.to provide
for sessions at any time. The first of
these amendments would protect the
public against the many abuses and
waste of public moneys which creep in
to appropriation bills and other import
ant measures passing during the expir-
ing hours of Congress, to which, other
wise, due consideration can not given.
THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
The business OF the General Land Office ex-
hibits II material increase in all its branches
during the last fiscal year. During that time
there were disposed out of the public lands,
l3.U1i GOO acres. being an amount greater by l.
165,fs3l acres, than was disposed of in the pre-
ceding year. OF the amount disposed OF, 1,656-
26j acres were sold for cash, al4,40 acres were
located with military land warrants, B. 10, ,6l2
acres were taken for honesteads, 6534i6 acres
were located with Agricultural College scrip;
Cos, ,53G acres were certified by railroads; s65,
756 acres were granted to wagon roads, 23S, ,54S
l3S,6Sl acres were certified for agricultural
colleges, common schools, universities and
seminarieS, 19O,7I5 acres were approved to
States for internal Improvements, and Il, ~
acres were located with Indian scrip. The
cash receipts during the same time were s.
40S5l5 30, being $l91, AIS 50 in excess of there
ceipts for the previous year. During the year
30.4Ss, ,132 acres of public land were surveyed,
an increase of the amount surveyed the pr resent
year of 1,0S7, 1913 acres, and, added to the area
previously surveyed, aggregates 6l6,54 ~
acres which have been surveyed, leaving Els
1855 acres of the public land still unsurvey
ed. The increased and steadily increasing IA
cilities for reaching our unoccupied public do
main and for the transportation OF surplus pro-
ducts enlarges the available field fer desirable
homestead locations, thus stimulating settle
ment and extending year by year, in gradu-
ally increasing ratio, the ratio OF occupation
and cultivation. The expressed desire OF the
representatives of large colony OF citizens Of
Germany to emigrate to this country, as is un-
derStood, with the consent of their own gov
ernmcnt il certain concessions can be made to
enable them to settle in q compact colony, is
of great interest. as going to show the light in
which our institutions are regarded by an in
dustrious, intelligent and wealthy people de-
sirou; of enjoying civil and religious liberty,
and the acquisition of so large an immigration
of citizens of 4 superior class would, without
doubt, be of substantial benefit to the country.
We invite attention to the suggestions OF the
Interior in this behalf.
THE PENSION LIST.
Incfc was p2lu during tne SLuScu year lOr
pensions, including the expenses of disburse-
ment, $29,1S5 ,2S9 62 being an amount less by
S9Si, $50 9S than was expended for the same pur-
pose the preceding year. Although this state
ment of expenditures would indicate materi-
al reduction in amount, compared with the
preceding year, it is believed that the changes
in the pension laws at the last session of Con-
gress will absorb that amount the current
year. At the close of the last fiscal year
there were on the pension rolls 99,S04 invalid
military pensioners, and 1ls0Ss widows and or
phans and dependent relatives OF deceased
soldiers, making total of that class Of sl1 .91s;
$3.50 survivors of the war OF 1919, and 5,053
widows of soldiers of that war pensioned under
the act of Congress ofFebruary 14th, 1871 ,mak-
ing total of that class OF 2, ,4s0 invalid
navy pensioners and |, no widows and orphans
and dependent relatives oil deceased officers,
sailors and mariners of the navy pensioners;
grand total of pensioners of all classes OF
23S,4t, showing net increase during the last
fiscal year OF 6,21S. During the last year the
names of 16 ,405 spensioners were added to the
rolls and II, ,ss23 names were dropped therefrom
for various causes.
BUREAU OF EDUCATION.
The evidently increasing interest in the
cause of education, in most encouraging fea-
ture in the general progress and prosperity of
the country, and the Bureau OF Education is
earnest in its efforts to give proper direction
to the new applicants and the increased facil-
itics which are being offered to aid the educa
tors of the country in their great work.
NEW CENSUS RECOMMENDED.
The ninth census has been completed and the
report thereof published and distributed, and
the working force of the Bureau disbanded
The Secretary of the Interior renews his rec
ommendation for a census to be taken in 1875,
to which subject the attention of Congress is
invited The original suggestion in that be-
half met with the general approval Of the
country. and even if it be not deemed advisa-
BILE at present to provide for re gular quin-
quennial census, census taken in 1875, the re-
port Of which could be completed and publish
ed before the one hundredth anniversary of
our independence would be especially interest
ing and valuable as showing the progress Of
the country during the first century Of our ma
tional existence. 1t is believed, however. that
a regular census every five years would be of
substantial benefit to the country, inasmuch
aS our growth hitherto has been so rapid that
the results ofthe decennial census are necessa-
rily unreliable as n basis of estimates for the
latter years of II adecennial period.
IMPROVEMENT OF WASHINGTON CITY.
Under the very efficient management of the
Governor and the Board of Public Works of
this bis rict, the City of Was hington is rapid
ly assuming the appearance of a capital of
which the nation may well be proud. From
being a most unsIghtly place three years ago,
dlsagreeaDie 70 2 pass tnr9ugn IN n.os summer IN
streets, and almost impossible in the winter
from the mud, it IS now one Of the most sight
ly cite in the country, and can boast of being
the best paved. The work has been done sys-
tematically, the plans, grades, location of sew
ers, and water and gas mains being determin-
ed upon before the work was commenced, thus
securing permanency when completed. lques-
tion whether much has ever been accom-
pliShed before in any American city for the
same expenditure. The Government having
large reservation in the city, and the nation
at large. having an interest in their capital,
recommend 4 liberal policy toward the Dis
trict of Columbia, and that the Government
should bear its just share of the expense of
these improvements. Every citizen visiting
the capital feels pride in its growing beauty
and that he, too, is part owner in the invest
mentS made here, 1 would suggest to Congress
the propriety of promoting the establishment
in this District of an institution of learning
or university of the highest class, by the do
nation of lands There is no other place in
which every citizen is so directly interested.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
In three successive messages to Congress, /
have called attention to the subject Of civil
service reform. Action has been taken so far
as to authorize the appointment of board to
devise rules governing the methods Of making
appointments and promotions, but there never
has been any action making these rules or any
rules binding or even entitled to observance,
friend or the removal of an Official who may
be disagreeable to them. To have any rules
effective they must have the acquiescence of
Congress as well as the Executives / recon-
mend, therefore, the subject to your attention,
and suggest that q special Committee of Con-
gress might confer with the Civil Board dur
in. the present session, for the purpose of de-
vising such rules as will be maintained, and
which will secure the services of honest and
capable officials osd which will also protect
them in adcgree ofindependence of while in Of
flee, proper rules VIII protect Congress as
well as the Executive from much needless pre-
caution and will prove Of great value to the
public at large.
THE ADMISSION OF COLORADO.
/ would recommend for your favorable con-
sideration the passage OF an enabling act for
the admittance of Colorado as State in the
Union. 1t possesses all the elements OF pros
porous State, agricultural and mineral, and /
believe has population to justify such an ad-
mission. In that connection would also rec
ommend the encouragement of a canal for the
purpose of eating, from the eastern slope of
the Rocky Mountains to the Missouri River.
As rule / am opposed to donation of public
controlled by private corporations, but in this
instance l would make an exception Between
the Missouri River and Rocky Mountains,
there is an arid belt of public land from three |
hundred to five hundred miles in width, per-
fectly valueless for the occupation of man, for |
want OF sufficient rain to secure the growth OF |
any sproducts: An irrigating canal would |
make productive q belt as wide as the supply |
of water could be made to spread over and |
across the entire country, and would secure a |
population of the mountain and mining re- |
gions with that of the older States. All the |
land reclaimed would be clear gain, il alter
nate sections were reclaimed by the Govern |
ment. would suggest that the retained sec |
tions be thrown open to entry under home |
stead laws or sold to actual settlers for very
low price.
GENERAL AMNESTY.
/ renew my previous recommendation TO L
Congress for general amnesty. The number
engaged in the late rebellion laboring under
is very small, but enough to keep
up n constant irritation. No possible danger
can accrue to the Government by restoring
them to eligibility to hold Office.
CIVIL RIGHTS.
suggest for your consideration the enact
ment of law to better secure the civil rights
which freedom should secure, but has not ef-
Iectually secured, to the eniranchsed slave.
lSigne,l.l u 5. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Dec. 1st, 1873.