The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-12-17

ufied that few years more viii relieve our from
tler OF Indian depredatOns. | commend the re
commentator of the Secretary for the extension
OF the Homestead laws to the Indians and fOl
some sort of territorial government for the Indian
D Territory. \ great majority of the Indians Oc.
cupying this territory are believed to be incapa-
Die 10 maintain their rights against the mort
civilized and enlightened white man Any terri
torlal form Of government given them, therefore,
should protect them in their homes and property
ior period of at least twenty years, and before
lts final adoption should be ratified by majority
OF those affected.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior.
herewith attached, gives much interesting statis-
tieal information, which abstain from giving an
abstract Of, but refer you to the report itself.
The act Of Congress providing the oath to which
pensioners must subscribe before drawing their
pensions cuts off from this bounty few surviv-
0rs of the war of 1872 residing in the Southern
states. | recommend the restoration of this
bounty to all such. The number of persons
whose names would be restored to the list of pen
sieners is not large. They are all old persons
who conld have taken no part in the rebellion,
and the services for which they were awarded
pensions were in defense Of the whole country.
THE CENTENNIAL.
The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture
herewith, contains suggestions of much interest
to the general public, and refers TO the approach
ing Centennial and the part his department is
ready to take in it. feel that the nation at large
Is interested in having this exposition a success,
a'sd commend to Congress such action as will Sc
c re great general interest in it. Already many
sreissn nations have signifed their intention to
be represented at it. IL may he expected that all
civilized nations will be represented.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The rules adopted to improve the Civil Service
of the Government have been adhered to as close
ly as has been practicable with the opposition
with which they meet. The effect, | believe, has
been essential on the whole and has tended to the
elevation of the SERVICE but it is impracticabe to
maintain them without the direct and positive
support of Congress. Generally the support
which This teform receives is from those who give
il their support only to find fault when the rules
are apparently departed from. Removals from
Office without preferring charges against parties
| removed are frequently cited as departures from
the rules adopted, and the retention of those
| against whom charges are made by irresponsible
persons without good grounds is also condemned
| as a violation of them. Under these circumstan-
| ces, therefore, announce that if Congress ad-
journs without positive legislation on the subject
of Civil Service reform, will regard such action
| disapppOval of the system and will abandon it
except SO far as to require examination for GER
tain appOintees to determine their fitness. Com
petitive examinations will be abandoned. The
gentleTet who have given their services without
| compensation as members Of the board TO devise
| rules and regulations for fine government of the
Civil Service of the country, haze shown much
| zeal and eaTnestness in their work, and 10 Them
as to myself, it will be source of modification if
| it is to be thrown away. But l repeat that it is
impossible to carry this system to successful is
sue without general approval and assistance and
positive law to support it.
THE LABOR PROBLEM.
have stated that the elements to the prosperity
| OF the natlon-capital, labor, skilled and un-
skilled, and products of the sOil-stll remain with
us. To direct the employment of these is a prob
lem deserving the most serious attention of Con-
gress. If employment can be given to all labor
offering ITSELF prosperity necessarily follows. /
have expressed the opinion, and repeat it, that
the first requisite to the accomplishment of this
end is the substitution of a sound currency in
place of one Of Auctuating value. This secured
there are many interests that might be fOstered
to the great profit of both labor and capital
How to induce capital to employ labor is the
question.
THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.
The subject ofcheap transportation has occupied |
the attention of Congress. New light on this ques
ton will without doubt, be given the committee |
appointed by the last Congress to investigate and
repOItupOn this subject. A revival of ship build
ing and particularly of iron steamship building, |
is of vast Importance to our national prosperity.
The United States is now paying over 3 I0, ,000,-
900 per annum fOrfreights and passage on foreign |
ships to be carried abroad and expended in /
the employment and support of other people |
beyond fair percentage of what should /
go to foreign vessels, estimating on the tonnage |
and travel of each respectively. 1t is 10 /
be regretted that this disparity in the carrying |
trade exists, snd to correct it would be willing
TO see great departure from the usual course of /
Government in supporting what might usually be |
termed private enterprise. would not suggest |
as a remedy direct subsidy to American steam |
ship lines, but would suggest the direct dfIef of
ample compensation for conveying the mails be- |
tween Atlantic and seaboard cities and the Con-
tinent on American owned and American built |
steamers, and would extend this liberality to |
vessels carrying mails to the South American |
states and to Central America and Mexico, and /
would pursue the same policy from our Pacific /
seapOrts to foreign seapOrts on the Pacific. 1t 4
might be demanded that vessels built for this ser
vice should come up TO the standard fixed by leg /
islatiOn, regarding tonnage and speed, and all !
other qualities looking to the possibility of the
Government recurring them at some time for war |
purposes The right also of taking possession of |
them in such emergency should be secured. | |
offer these suggestions, believing them worthy Of |
consideration, in all seriousness, affecting all |
sections and all interests alike. If any thing bet
ter be done to direct the country into course
of general prosperity, no one will be more ready
than ] to adopt this plan.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Forwarded herewith is the plan and report of
the commissioners appointed under anactof Con-
gress approved June 20, 1874, TO wind up the af-
fairs of the District Government. 1t will be seen
from the report that the total debt Of the District
of Columbia, less assets on hand and available,
is: Bonded debt lsshed piiof TO July, 1874, S.,
$50 $40. .43; bonds under act of Congress June 20,
1874. So OSS I6S. %; certificates of the Board of
Audit, S4,11O 5S 45. Total SIS, I42 ,66I 81; less
special improvement assessment, chargeable to
private property in excess of any demand against
such assessment, 81 GA 0Ji 81; less Chesapeake
and Ohio Cana bonds, 81 800 600, and Washing
ton and AleSardtia hcrds, - 800 900; in the
hands of the Commissioners Of the Sinking Futid J
81 ,74S ,0I.37, leaving the actual debt less said
fund Sl3 1894 ,6l34. In addition to this there
are claims preferred against the Board of the
the Board of Audit to S3, l47 ,1ST.4S, of which
the greater part will probably be rejected
ETY. be included in the debt of the Dis
trict Government than the thousands of claims
Against the General Government be included as
portion of the national debt; but the aggregate
sum thus stated includes something more than
the funded debt chargeable exclusively to the
District of Columbia. The act of Congress of
November2S, 1874, cOntemplates anapportonment
between the United States Government and the
District of Columbia in respect to the payment of
the principal and interest of the 3,65s bonds.
Therefore in computing with precision the bond
Of to
stated as respects 365 bonds now issued, the out
standing certificates of the Board of Audit and
the unadjusted claims pending before that board
should be reduced to the extent Of the amount TO
be appOrtiOned to the United States Government,
in the manner indicated in the act of Congress OF
June 2, 1874. | especially invite your attention
to the recommendations of the Commissioners of
the Sinking Fund relative to the ambiguity of the
actiOf June 20, 1874 the interest on the District
bonds and the consolidation of indebtedness to
the District. | feel much indebted 10 the gentle
men who consented to leave their private affairs
and come from a distance to attend to the bust
ness of this District, and for the able and salts
factory manner in which it has been conducted.
| am sure their services will be duly appreciated
by the entire country. 1t will be seen from the
accompanying full report of the Board of Health
that the sanitary condition Of the District is very
satisfactory. In my opinion the District of
Columbia should be regarded as the grounds OF
the National Capitol, in which the entire people
are interested. do not allude to this as urging
general appreciation to the District, but to
draw the attention of Congress, in framing law
for the government of the District, to the magnih-
cent scale on which the city was planned by the
founders of the Government; the manner in
which, for ornamental purposes, the reserya-
tions, streets and avenues were laid out, and the
proportion of the property actually possessed by |
the General Government. | think the proportion |
of the expenses of the Government and the I'M
provements to be borne by the General Govern
ment IN the cities of Washington and Georgetown |
and the country should be carefully and equitably
defined.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
In accordance with section 3, of act approved |
June %, 1874, appointed board to make |
survey of the mouth of the Mississippi River, /
with a view to determine the best method OF OBJ |
tanning and maintaining depth of water sufh- |
cent for the purposes of commerce, etc, and In /
accordance with an act entitled AN act to |
provide for the appointment of commission OF |
engineers to investigate and report permanent /
plan for the excavation of the alluyial basin OF /
the Mississippi River. subject 10 inundation. L
appointed a commission of engineers. Another |
board has not vet completed its labors. When its |
reports are received they will be forwarded to 1
Congress without delay.
[Signedl L. 5. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Dec. Z, 1874
Tar paiuhhorc of a very worthy laliV in 4