River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-12-18

with the business requiring their attention
Whether this would involve the necessity Of adding
two Justices of the superior court TO the pres
ent number, submit to the Judgment Of Congress.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The attention of Congress is invited 10 the
port Of the Secretary of the Interior and - the leg
islation asked for by him. The domestic inter-
ests of the people are more intimately connected
with this department than with any Of the 1ther
departments Of government. Its duties have been
added 10 from time to time until they have become
so onerous that without the most perfect system
and order il will be impossible for amy Secretary Of
the Interior TO keep trace Of all official transactions
having his sanction and done in his name, and for
which he Is held personally responsible.
THE INDIAN POLICY.
The policy adopted for the management of Ind-
an ana r., known as the peace policy has been ad
hered 10 with most beneficial results. II is conf
IDENTIFY hoped that few years more
depredatiOns. / commend the recommendation Of
the Secretary for the extension Of the homestead
laws 70 the Indians, and for sort of territorial
government for the Indian Territory. great
majority Of the Indians occupying this territory
are believed 10 BE- incapable Of maintaining their
rights again tire more civilized and enl ghtened
man. Any territorial form Of government given
them, therefore, should protect them in their
homes and property for period Of at least ~
years. and before its final adoption should be rati-
ned by majority Of those affected. The report Of
the Secretary of the Interior, herewith attached,
gives much interesting statistical information
which abstain from giving abstrae; Of. but re-
fer You 10 the report itself.
rRxsfnNs.
The act Of CONGRESS prescribing the GATH which
pensioners must subscribe before drawing heir
pensions cuts on from this bounty few survivors
Of the war Of 1879 residing IN the southern states
/ recommend the restoration of this bounty 10 all
SUCH The number Of persons whose names would
be restored TO the list OF pensioners II not large.
They are all old persons who could have taken no
part in the rebellion, and the services for which
they were awarded pensions we're in defense Of the
whole country.
THE CENTENNIAL.
The report of the Commissioner Of Agriculture,
herewith submitted, contains suggestions Of much
interest to the general public and refers 10 the an-
preaching Centennial, and the part this department
is ready to take in it.. feel that the nation at
large is interested in having this exposition sue
cess and commend to Congress such action as viii
secure greater general interest in il. Already
foreign nations have signhed their intention 70 be
represented at it. II may be expected that every
civilized nation will be represented.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The rules adopted to improve the civil service Of
the government have been adhered 70 as closely as
has been practicable, with the opposition with
which they met. The effect of it has been assented
on the whole, and has tended to the elevation of
the service, but ID is Improbable to maintain
them without the direct and positive support of
Congress. uemeraly the support Which this reform
receives is from those WHIT give 1t their support
only to find fault when the rules apparently de-
parted from Removals from Office without prefefring
charges against parties removed frequently
cited departures from the rules adopted, and the
retention of those against whom charges are made
by irresponsible persons and without good grounds,
is also often condemned violation of them.
/ announce that If Congress adiOurns without posi-
tive legislation the subject of civil service re-
form, l will regard such action disap-
proval Of the system, and will abandon it
except far to reqrGe examine
tons for certain appointees TO determine
their fitness. Competitive examinations viii be
abandoned. The gentlemen who have given their
services without compensation, as members of the
board to devise rules and regulations for the gev-
eminent of the civil service Of the ctuhtrF, have
shown much zeal aiId earhestress i'll their work,
and 20 thein well as 10 myself it will be source
of modification if it is to be thrown away. But
repeat that il is impossible to carry this system to
successful issue without general approval and
assistance, and positive law to support it.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
have stated that the elements of prosperity TO
the nations capital-labor, skilled and unskiled,
and the products Of the soil-still remain with
To direct the employment of these is problem de-
serving the most serious attention of Congress. If
emp loyment can be given TO all labor Offering it.
self; prosperity necessarily follows. l have
pressed the opinion, and repeat it, that the first
requisite to the accomplishment of this end is the
substitute of a sound currency for one of fiuctu-
ating value. This secured, there are many inter-
ests that might be fostered 10 the great profit of
| both labor and capital. How to induce capital to
employ labor is the question. The subject of cheap
transportation has occupied the attention of Con-
gress. New light on this question viii, without
doubt, be given by the committee appointed by the
last Congress to investigate and report upon this
subject.
OCEAN TRAFFIC.
a revival OF ship building and particularly Of iron
steamship building, is of vast importance to our
national prosperity The United States is now
paying over 81 100000 per anmum for freigbts and
passage on foreign ships, to be carried abroad and
| expended in the employment and support of
| other peoples, beyond fair per centage of what
should go TO foreign vessels. estimating on the tom
mage and travel of cath respectively. 1t is to be
Regretted that this disparity in the carrying trade
exists. and to correct il would be willing to
great departure from the usual course of govern
ment in supporting what might us ually be termed
''private enterprise" | would not suggest, a
remedy. direct subsidy 10 American steamship
lines, but would suggest the direct offer of ample
compensation for carrying the mails between the
| Atlantic seaboard cities and the continent on
| American owned and American built steamers,
ard would extend the Iberality to vessels carrying
mails to South America and Mexico, and would pur-
sue the same policy from our Pacific seaports to
foreign seaports the Pacific. II might be demand
ed that vessels built tor this service should NJ
to a standard fixed by legislation in tonnage, speed
aud all ether qualities looking to the possibility Of
the government requiring them al some time fol
war purposes. The right, alsu OF taking possession
Of them in such emergency should be guarded.
offer these suggestions, believing them worthy OF
consideration in all seriousness, affecting all sec
tons and all interests alike.
If anything better can he done to direct the coun
try into course of general prosperity, one viii
be more ready than to second the Plan
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT
Forwarded herewith win be found the report OF
the Commissioners appointed under an act of Con.
gress approved june 20, 1874, to wind up the al
fairs of the District government. 1t will be seen
from the report that the total debt of the District
of Columbia, less securities ON hand and available
isl e
Bodned debt prior to July LIST, 1874, - ss3 $40 49,
365 bonds by act of Congress June 90 1874 81 0SS-
I6S 10: certificates of the Board of Audit 81 ITO
55sf5; total SIS, 7a2 81: special Improve
ment assessments chargeabie 20 private property in
excess Of any demand against such assessment 81 :
Ola 05I.37: less Chesapeake and Ohio canal bonds,
$685. 10000. and Washington and Alexander
railroad 1 bonds, s59,0o-@; in the hands
OF the commissioners of the sinking funds.
81 74s 0543 leaving the actual debt less said as
sets, Sl3994, Gl3,24. In addition to this there
| claims preferred against the government of I'll :
District amounting in the aggregate reported by
the board of audit, to ss,147 7S7.4a, Of which the
greater part will probably De- rejected.
priety, he included in the debt of the District
government than the thousands OF
as portion OF the national debt But the aggre-
gate thus stated includes something more
than the funded debt chargeabe exclusively to the
District of Columbia. The act Of Congress of Nov.
2Sth, 1874 eontemplates an apportionmen t between
the United States government and the District of
Columbia in respect of the payment of the princi-
pal and interest of the 3.65 bonds. Therefore, in
computing with precision the bonded debt of the
District. of the aggregate sums above stated,
spects 3.Gj bonds now issued, the outstanding
tihcafes of the board of audit aud the unadjusted
claims pending before that board, should
be reduced TO the extent of the amount which
be apportioned to the United States government in
the matter indicated in the act Of Congress Of June
Doth, 1874.
| / especially invite your attention to the recon-
mendation of the commissioner of the sinking
fund relative to the ambiguity of the act of June
10Th, 1874. the interest the district bonds and
the consolidation of Indebtedness TO tee district.
feel much indebted to the gentlemen who consented
to leave their private affairs and come from dis
lance to attend 10 the business of this district and
/ for the able and satisfactory manner in which il
has been conducted. ! am sure their services VIII
be generally appreciated by the entire country.
/ 1t viii be seen from the acc mpanying full re-
port Of he Board Of Health that the sanitary
condition of the district is very satisfactory.
In my opinion the District of Columbia should
he I'd "a no grounds q national can't