Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-12-05

many cases, by obdurate creditors, to frighten or
force debtors Into compliance with their wishes
and In Ito acts OF Injustice to other creditors ana
10 themselves. ! recommend that so much OF said
act rs provides for involuntary bankruptcy on ac-
count OF the suspension OF payment be repealed.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.
Your careful attention is invited to the subject
Of claims against the Government; and the iacili-
ties afforded by existing laws for their prosecution
in each OF the Departments. The Departments OF
State Treasury and War have demands for many
millions OF dollars upon their fllcs, and they are rap
idly accumulating To these may be added those
now pending before Congress, the Court OF
Claims, and the Southern Claims Commission,
making in the aggregate an immense sum Most
of these grew out Of the rebellion, and are in
tended TO indemnify persons OF both sides for
their losses during the war, and not few Of them
are fabricated and supported by false testimony.
leyed, TO induce Congress to pro.
vide for new classes of claims, and
to review old ones, through the repeal or modihca-
tion OF the statute OF limitation, by which they are
now barred. 1 presume these schemes, II pro-
posed, will be received with little favor by Con-
gress, and / recommend that persons having
nzable by any tribunal or department
at an early day, and that legislation be
founded and unjust demands upon the Govern
ment; and would suggest, as means of prevent
fraud that witnesses be called upon to SSPP9sT
said claims before them for adjudication.
Probably the largest saving 10 the National
Treasury can he secured by timely legislation on
these subjects, OF any OF the economic measures
that will be proposed.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
You will be ADVISED OF the operations OF the De-
partment OF Justice by the report Of the Attorney
General, and invite your attention to the amend
ments Of existing laws suggested by him. with the
view Of reducing the expenses OF that depart
ment.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The policy inaugurated toward the Indians at the
beginning Of the last Administration has been
steadily pushed and, believe, with beneficial re-
suits IL will be continued with only such modif-
cation as time and experience may demonstrate as
necessary. With the encroachments OF civilization
upon the Indian reservations and hunting grounds
disturbances have taken place between the Indians
and whites during the past year, and probably will
continue to do so until each race
appreciates that the other has rights which
must be respected. The policy has been to
collect the Indians rapidly as possible on reser
yations, and as far as practicable, within what is
the arts Of civilization and sclf'support. When
ever found off their reservations and en-
dangering the peace and safety Of the
and will continue to be for like offenses. The
Indian Territory. south OF Kansas and west of
Arkansas, is sufficient in and agricultural re-
sources to support all the Indians of the Rocky
mountains. In time, no doubt, all Of them except
u few who may select to make their homes among
white people. will be collected there. As pre-
paratory step for this consummation, ] am now
satisfied that territorial form of government
should be given them, which will secure the treaty
rights of the original settlers and protect their
homesteads from alienation for period OF twenty
years.
PATENT OFFICE.
The operations of the Patent Office are growing
to such magnitude, and the accumulation OF ma
terial Is becoming great, that the necessity for
more room is becoming obvious day by day.
respectfully invite your attention to the reports OF
the Secretary OF the Interior and Commissioner
OF Patents on this subject
GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
The business of the General Land Office exhibits
material increase III all its branches during the
last fiscal year. During that time there were dis
posed Of out Of the public lands, 13,039,606 acres
being an amount greater by 1881 acres than was
The amount disposed Of. i,626266 acres
were sold for cash; 214,9i0 acres were
located with military land warrants; 3,193,-
612 acres were taken for hOmesteads 653,
446 acres were located with agricultural
college scrip; 6803. 536 acres certified by rail-
roads; 1657j6 acres were granted TO wagon roads; I;
23S,54S acres were approved to States as swamp
lands; 13s6Sl acres were certified for agricultural
colleges, common schools, universities and semi
naries; 1918 acres we're approved to States for
internal improvements, and 14222 acres were
located with indian scrip The cash receipts
during the same time were $3, 40S $3.50, be-
ing $3.50, 1880 in excess of the receipts for
the previous year. During the year 80 48s, 1872
acres of public land were surveyed an increase of
the amount surveyed the previous year OF 1857 1913
acres, and added to the area previously surveyed,
aggregaiing 616,54 s95 acres which have been sur
yeyed, leaving 1,2ls,44s ,5O5 acres of the public
lands, still unsurveyed. The increased and
steadily increasing :. facilities for reach,
for the transportation OF surplus pro-
ducts, enlarges the available field for desirable
homestead locations thus stimulating settlement
and extending year by year. in gradually increas-
ing ratio, the area Of occupation and cultivation.
The expressed desire of the representatives Of a
large colony Of citizens Of Russia TO emigrate to this
country, as is understood, with the consent Of their
Government. il certain concessions can be made
TO enable them to settle in compact colony, il Of
greatinJerest as gong' TO show the light in which
oIr lnsiitg t9ns are regarded BY an industrious IN
civil and Religious liberty and the acquisition of so
lfge an immigration Of citizens, of q superior
class, class, would, without doubt, he OF such substan-
tion TO the suggestion of the Secretary of the In
terror in this behalf.
There was paid during the last fiscal year for
pensions, including the expenses OF disbursement,
S29 1885, 2S96 g. being amount less by 1884 050 9S
than was expended for the same purpose the pre-
ceding year Although this statement Of expen-
ditures would indicate material reduction in
the amount compared with the preceding
year, 1t is believed that the changes in
the pension laws made at the last session of
Congress will absorb that amount the current year.
At the close of the last fiscal year there were on
the pension rolls S04 invalid military pensioners
and 1l2OSS widows, orphans and dependent
widows of deceased soldiers, making a total of
that class OF 81 Sg2 1926 survivors of the war Of
1872, and 5,05S widows of soldiers of that
February IA, 1871, making a total of that
class Of 23319; 1,43O invalid navy pension
ers, and 1,I70 widows and orphans and dependent
relatives Of deceased officers sailors and mar ines
Of the navy pensioners, making total Of 3,SOO;
total OF pensioners of all classes 23S41l, show
ing net increase during the last fiscal year Of
6'SlS. The names of 1915 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
pensions have been productive Of satisfactory re-
suits, but legislation is needed TO provide, if pos
sible, against the perpetrating of such frauds in
future,
The evidently increasing interest in the cause of
education Is most encouraging feature In the
general progress Of the country and the Bureau of
Education Is in earnest in its efforts to give proper
direction TO the applicants, and the increased
facilities which are being offered to aid the educa-
tors OF the country in their great work
THE CENSUS.
The ninth census has been completed the report
thereof published and distributed and the working
force Of the bureau disbanded. The Secretary Of
the Interior renews his recommendation for a cen
sus TO he taken in 1875 to which subject the atten
li0n of Congress is invited. The original sugges-
ton IN that behalf has met with the gen
II 1t be not deemed advisable at present to pro-
vide for regular quinquennial census, a census
taken In 1878, the report OF which could be COM
pleted and published before the Tooth anniversary
OF our national independence, would be especial
ly interesting and valuable, as showing the prog
ress of the country during the fret century OF our
national existence. 1t is believed. however, that
regular census every five years would be Of
substantial benefit to tho country, inasmuch as
our growth hitherto has been so rapid that the re-
suits Of the decennial census are necessarily un-
reliable basis of estimates for the latter years
Of the decennial period.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Under the very efficient management of
the Governor and the Board OF Public
Works of this district, the city OF Wash
ington lie rapidly assuming the appearance Of a
capital Of which the nation may well be proud.
From being most unslghtly place three years
ago, dsagreeable to pass through in summer IN
Consequence OF the dust arising from unpaved
streets, and almest impossible in the winter from
the mud, it is now one of the most slightly
cities in the country and can boast OF being the
best paved The work has been done sys-
tematically, the plans of grades, location Of sew
ers water aud gas mains being determined upon
before the work was commenced, thus securing
permanency when completed. question whether
80 much has ever been accomplished before in any
American city for the same expenditure. The
Government having large reservations In the city,
aed the nation at large having an interest In their
Capital recommend liberal policytoward the Dis
trict OF Columbia. and that the Government should
bear its Just share OF the expense OF these improve