The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-12-11

/ Ing SlSU, ,4l0,0O III excess Of the re-
ceipts for the previous year During
the year 305, ass, ,132 acres of public
land were surveyed, an increase Of
the amount for tire previous year of l.
O31 ,l93 acres, and, added To the area
previously surveyed, aggregates GIG,
%, Sg5 acres which have been survey
ed, leaving l,2IS, 443, sos acres of the
public land still unsurveyed.
The Increased and steadily ineregs-
ing means for reaching unoeeuDied
public domain, and for the transport
alton OF surplus products, enlarges the
available field Tor desirable home-
stead locations, thus stimulating set
tlement, and extending year by wear
in gradually increasing ratio, the
ratio of occupation and cultivation.
The expressed desire of the repre-
sentatives of large colony of the cit
/ liens of Russia 70 emigrate 10 this
country, as is understOod, with the
consent OF their government, If GER
tain concessions can be made to ena-
bic them to settle in a compact colo
ny, Is OF great interest, as going to
show the light in which our institu-
lions are regarded by ar industrious, in
telllgent and wealthy people, desirous
OF enjoying civil and religious liberty;
and the acquisition OF so large an i'm
migration Of the citizens of = superior
class wonld, without doubt, be q sub
stantiaI benefit to the country. i in
vite attention to the suggestions of
the Secretary of the Interior in this
I behalf.
There was paid during the last fis-
cal year for pensions, including the
expenses OF disbursement, SO, ,1S5, ,2S6-
81, being an amount less by S984, ,05O-
9S, than was expended for the same
purpose during the preceding year.
Although this statement Of expendi-
lures would indicate q material redue-
ton in amount compared with the
preceding year, il is believed that the
changes in the pension laws at
the last session of Congress will
absorb that amount the current year.
At the close Of the last year there
were on the pension rolls SO. 804 inys-
lid military pensioners and 112,0 ,0SS
widows, orphans and dependent wild
Ows of deceased soldiers, making to-
tai of that class Of 211 ,S92; Is, ,266 sur
vivors Of the war of 1872, and 5,053
widows Of soldiers of that war pen
stoned under the Act of Congress Of
February 14th, 1871, making a total
of that class Of 2S,13S; 1,43O naval
pensioners, and ], 40 widows and or
phans and dependent relatives of de-
ceased officers, sailors and mariners
of the navy pensioners Of 200, and q
grand total of pensioners of all classes
OF 23S, All, showing net increase du-
ring the last fiscal year Of 6,2lS. Du-
ring. the last year the names of 16, 405
pensioners were added to the rolls,
and 10, 223 names were dropped there
from for various causes. The system
adopted for the detection Of frauds
against the government in the mat
ter Of pensions has been productive
of satisfactory results, but legislation
is needed TO provide, il possible,
against the perpetrating of such
frauds in the future.
The evidently increasing interest in
the cause Of education is q most en-
eouraging feature in the general pro-
gress and prosperity of the country,
and the Bureau of Education is earu-
est in its efforts to give proper diree-
ton TO the new appliances and the in
creased facilities which are being Of
fered to aid in the educators Of the
country in their great work.
The ninth census has been COM
pleted and the report thereof pub
lished and distributed, and the work
ing force Of the bureau disbanded.
The Secretary OF the Interior renews
his recommendation for a census to
be taken in 1876, to which subject the
attention of Congress is invited. The
original suggestion in that behalf has
met with the general approval Of the
country, and even if not deemed ad-
Yisable at present TO provide for q
regular quinquehnial census, a census
taken in 1870, the report Of which
could be completed and published he
fore the Tooth anniversary of our in
dependence, would be especially in
teresting and valuable as showing the
progress Of our country during the
| first century of our national existence.
1t is believed, however, that q regu-
lar census every five years would be
of substantial benefit to the country,
inasmuch as our growth, hitherto, has
been so rapid that the results of the
deeennial census are necessarily un-
reliable as basis as estimates for the
latter years.
Under the very efficient manage
ment Of the Governor and the Board
Of Public Works Of the District of
Columbia, the City Of Washington is
rapidly assuming the appearance Of q
Capital Of which the nation may we'll
be proud. From being q most un.
slightly place three years ago, disa-
greeable to pass through, In summer,
in consequence Of the dust arising
from unpAved streets, and almost i'm
psssable in the winter, from the mud,
it is now one Of the most slightly cities
cf the country, and can boast OF being
the best paved.
The work has been done systemati-
calIy, the plans, grades, location of
sewers, water and gas mains being de-
termined upon before the work was
commenced, thus securing permanent
cy when completed. L question
whether so much has ever been ac-
eomplished before in any American
city for the same expenditures. The
Government having large reseTva-
tiOns in the city, and the Nation large
paving interests in their Capitol, 1
recommend q liberal policy towards
the District of ColUm bis, and that the
Government should bear its just share
Of the expenses of these improve
m ents.
Every citizen visiting the capital
feels pride in its growing beauty,
and that he, toO, Is part owner in the
investments made here. would
suggest to Congress the propriety OF
promoting the establishment Ia this
district Of an Institution Of learning
or university of the highest class by
the donation of lands. There is 10
place better suited for such an insti-
tuition than the national capitol.
There is no other place in which eve
~ citizen is so directly interested.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In three successive messages to Con-
gress have called attention TO the
subject cf Civil Service Reform. Ac-
ton has been taken so far as to au-
thorize the appointment OF board to
devise rules governing the methods
of making appointments and promo
tiCns; but there never has been
any action making these rules bind
ing or even entitled to Observance,
where persons desire the appoint
ment of a friend or the removal Of an
official who may be disagreeable TO
them. To have any rules effective
they must have the acquieseence Of
Congress, as well as Of the Executive.
/ recommend, therefore, the subject
to your attention, and suggest that a
special committee Of Congress might
confer with the Civil Board duringthe
present session for the purpose Of de-
yising such rules ss will be main
tanned, and which will secure the ser
vices Of honest and capable officials,
and which will also protect them IN a
degree Of independence while In Office.
Proper rules will protect Congress az
well as the Executive from much
needless precaution, and will prove Of
great value TO the public at large.
would recommend for your favor
able consideration the passage of an
Admission Act for the admittance nf
Colorado as q State In the Union. II
possesses all tue elements Of q pros
porous State, agricultural and min
eral, and L believe has a population 70
justify such an admission. In that
connection I would also recommend
the encouragement of q canal for the I
purposes ofirrigatiOn from the Eastern
slope Of the Rocky Mountains 10 the
MfauOsnrs Dfua- A.. -,-Fo