Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-12-05

~ uOuDly lOTUunAte Time. Jney are
about being completed at time when
and the work upon them has not only
given direct employment to thousands
of men, but has no doubt been the
means of keeping open establishments
for other work at time Of great finan.
cial distress.
Since the commencement OF the last
month, however, the distressing occur
rences which have taken place In the
waters of the Caribbean sea, and almost
on every seabosrd, while they illustrate
most forclbly the necessity always ex-
isting that nation situated like ours
should maintain In state of possible
efficiency navy adequate to its respon-
sibilities, has at the same time demand
ed that all the effective force we really
have should be put in immediate readf-
ness for warlike service. This has been
and 10 being done promptly and effec.
lively, and 1 am assured that all the
available ships and every authorized man
OF the American navy will be ready for
whatever action is required for the
safety of our citiz,ns or the maintenance
Of our honor.
This, of course, will require the ex-
penditure in short time OF some of the
appropriations which were calculated to
extend through the fiscal year, but
Congress will, l doubt not, understand
and appreciate the emergency and will
provide adequately, not only for the
present preparation, but for the future
maintenance of our naval force. The
Secretary of the Navy has, during the
past year, been quietly putting some Of
our most effective monitors in condition
for service, and thus the exigency finds
us in q much better condition for work
than we could possibly have been with
out his action.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.
Your careful attention is invited to the
subject of claims against the govern
ment and the facilities afforded by ex-
istiDg laws for their prosecution. Each
of the Departments of State, Treasury
and War have demands of many mill
they are rapidly accumulating. To these
may be added those which were 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 re-
bellion, and are intended to indemnify
persons on both sides for their losses
during the war, and not q few of them
are fabricated and supported by false
testimony.
Projects are on foot, 1t ia believed, to
|
classes of claims and to revive old ones,
through the repeal or modification OF
the statute of limitations by which they
are now barred. / presume these
schemes. If proposed, will be received
with little favor by Congress, and re-
commend that persons having claims
against the United States cognizable
by any tribunal or department. thereof,
be required to present them at an early
, day, and that legislation be directed, as
far as practicable, to the defeat of un-
founded and unjust demands upon the
treasury. And would suggest, as q
means of preventing fraud, that wit
nesses be called upon to appear in per-
, son to testify before the tribunal hav.
ing said claims before them before adju.
, dication. Probably the largest savin G
, to the national treasury can be secured
by timely legislation on these subjects
of any of the economical features that
will be proposed.
REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
/. You will be advised of the operations
: of the department of justice by the re-
, port of the Attorney General, and L in.
vite your attention to the amendments
OF existing laws suggested by him with
: that department.
lNDlAN Ar AttAlhSs
,, The policy towards the Indians at the
beginning of the last administration has
, been steadily pushed and believe with
: with only such modinoatlons as Ilme
and experience may demonstrate as
, necessary with the encroachment o.
| civilization upon the Indian reserva
tions and hunting grounds. Disturb
. ances have taken place between thu
; Indians and whites during the pas
: years, and probably will continue to d.
! so until each race appreciates that the
= : other has rights which must be respect
! ed. The policy has been to collect tn,
. Indians as rapidly as possible on re
y servations, and as far as practicable
Q within what is known as the IndiaI
0 territory, and to teach them the arts o
y civilization and self-support. Wher
u found off their reservations and endan
gering the peace and safety of tn
= whites they have been punished, AM
. will continue to be for like offenses.
!, The Indian territory south of Kan
% sas and west Of Arkansas Is sufficien
~, in area and agricultural resources t
u support all the Indians east of tn
y Rocky Mountains. In time, no doubt
$ all of them, except few who ma
l. select to make their homes anon
- white people, will be called there. A
!, preparatory step for this consumms
u ton am now satisfied that a territoris
70 form Of government should be give
i them, which will secure the treat
i rights of the original settlers and pro
u tect their homesteads from alienatio
i for q period oftwenty years.
|. THE PATENT OFFICE.
B. The operations of the patent Office al
IS growing to such magnitude and the q
n cumulation of material is becoming 6
is great that the necessity for more rOol
D. is becoming more obvious day by day
n TIE PUBLIC LANDS.
y respectfully invite your attention [
70 70 the reports of the Secretary Of the Int
i9 rior and Commissioner of Patents @
~ this subject. The business of the gene
" al land office exhibits q material Il
- -, crease in all its branches during the la
y fiscal year. During that time there W,
IIs disposed of out of the public lands Is
~ 030,606 acres, being an amount great
~ by ! ,l65, ,G3l acres than was disposed
8 during the preceding year. or IL
" amount disposed Of 1925, ,266 acres we
sold for cash PA $40 acres were locate
with military land warrants; 1898, G.
g. acres were taken for homesteads 65S
a 44G acres were located with agricultur
III college scrip; 60S3, ,536 acres were ce
ts titled by railroads; "a, ,596 acres we
to granted to wagon roads /; 2,2lS, ,54S acr
were apportioned to States as swan
lands; 1865 acres were certified f
al agricultural colleges, common school
,c universities aud seminaries; 1907
o. acres were apportioned to States for il
NJ ternal improvements, and II, 222 acr
ia were located with Indian scrip.