The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-12-18

Der, submit to the judgement of congress. |
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The attention of congress is invited to the
report OF the secretary of the interior, and to
the legislation asked for by him. The domes-
tic interests Of the people are more intimately
connected with this department than with
either OF the other departments Of the gov
eminent It's duties have been added to from
time tc time until they have become so onerous
that, without the most perfect system and or
der. it viii be impossible for any secretary of
the interior to keep trace of all the official
transactions having his sanction and done in
his nsme. and for which he is held personally
responsible. -a
HO1rEsTEADs FOR INDIANS
The policy adopted for the management Of
Indian affairs, known as the peace policy. has
been adhered to with beneficial results. 1t is
hoped that a few years more will relieve our
frontiers of Indian depredations I commend
the recommendation of the secretary for the
extension Of the homestead laws to the Indi-
ans, and for some sort of territorial govern
ment for the Indian territory A great ma
Jorlty OF the Indians occupying this territory
are believed to be incapable of maintaining
their rights against the more civilized and en-
lghtened men. Any territorial form of gov
eminent given them, therefore, should pro-
tect them IN their homes and property for
period of at least twenty years, and before its
hnal adoption should be ratified by majority
Of those affected.
Ths report of the secretary of the interior,
herewith attached gives much interesting sta
tis'ical information which abstain from Civ
ing an abstract of, but refer you to the report
itself.
sOoTHERN PENSIONERS OF 1872.
The acts of congress providing the oath
to which pensioners must subscribe before
drawing their pensions, cuts off from this
bounty a few survivors Of the war Of 1872,
residing in the southern states. I recon-
mend the resto alton of this bounty to all such
The number of persons whose names would
be restored to the list of pensioners Is not
large They are old persons who could have
taken no part in the rebellion, and the ser
vices for which they were awarded pensions
were in defence of the whole country.
THE CENTENNIAL.
The report of the commissioners of agricul-
ture, herewith, contains suggestions of much
interest to the general public, and refers to
the approaching cen5ennial and the part his
department is ready to take in it. I feel that
the nation at large is interested in having this
exposition success. and commend to congress
such action as viii secure a greater. general
interest in it. Already many foreign nations
have signifed their intention to be represent
| ed at it. 1t may be expected that every civil
lied nation viii be represented.
THE CIVIL SERVICE SHAM.
The rules adopted to improve the civil ser
| vice of the government have been adhered to
/ as closely as has been practicable with the
| opposition which they meet. The effect,
| believe, has been beneficial on the whole, and
| has tended to the elevation of the service but
L
| the direct and positive support of congress.
! Generally the support which this reform re-
ceives If from those who give it their support
only to find fault.
That the rules are apparently departed from
IN removals from Office without pTeferring
charges against the parties removed. are fire.
quentlv cited as departures from the rules
adopted, and the retention of those against
whom charges are made by irresponsible per-
sons and without good grounds, is also often
condemned as a violation of them. Under
these circumstances, therefore. I announce
that if congress adiourns without positive
legislation on the subject of civil service re-
form. I will regard such action as a disap-
proval of the system and viii abandon it, ex-
cept so far as to require examinations for Ger
tain appOintees to determine their fitness
Competitive examinations viii be abandoned
The gentlemen who have given their services
without conn eDsatiOn as members of the board
to devise rules and regulations for the govern
ment of the civil service of the country, have
shown much zeal and earnestness in their
work, and to them. as well as myself, it viii be
a source of modification if it Is to be thrown
away. But I repeat, that it is impossible to
carry the system to a successful issue without
general approval and assistance, and positive
law to support it.
THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM.
Ihave stated that the elements Of prosper
ity to the nations, capital and labor skilled
ana unskilled, and the products of the soil
still remain with To direct the employ
ment of these is a problem deserving the most
serious attention OF congress. If employment
can be given to all labor offering itself, pros
peritv necessarily follows. I have expressed
the opinion and repeat 1t, that the fret re-
quisite to the accomplishment of this end, is
the substitution of a sound currency in place
OF one of a tluctuating value. This secured,
there are many interests that might be fos-
tered to the great profit of both labor and
capital. How to induce labor to employ CAPT
tai Is the question.
CHEAP Observation-Disclosures
The subject of cheap transportation has oc-
cupied the attention of congress-. New light
on this question viii without doubt be given
by the committee appointed by the last con-
gress to investigate and report upon this sub
| iect. A revival of shipbuilding, and partiCu-
larly of iron steamship building, is of vast i'm
| portance to our national prosperity. The Uni
/ ted States Ia now paving over 81, 900, 900, 600
! per annum for freights and passage on foreign
/ ships to be carried abroad, and expended in
/ the employment and support of other people,
] beyond fair per centage of what should go to
! foreign vessels, estimating on the tonnage and
! draft of each respectively.
1t Is to be regretted that this disparity in the
| carving trade exists, and. to correct it,
would be willing to see great departure from
| the usual course of the government in sup
porting what might usually be termed private
| enterprise. would not suggest, a remedy,
| direct subsidies to American steamship lines,
but I would suggest the direct offer of ample
! compensation for
! CARRYING THE MAILS
! between the Atlantic and the seaboard cities
| and the continent on American owned and
| American built steamers. and would extend
/ this h6eraitv to vessels carrying the mails to
/ tile South American states and to Central
/ America and Mexico. and would pursue the
| same policy from our Pacific seapOrts to for
| eign seapOrts on the Pacific. 1t might be de-
manded that vessels built for this service
| should come up to a standard fixed by legisla-
/ ton in tonnage, speed and all other qualities,
! looking to the possibility Of the government
| requiring them at some time for war purposes.
| The right, also, Of taking possession of them
in such an emergency should be guarded.
| I Offer these suggestions, believing them
worthy of consideration, IN all seriousness, af-
fecting all sections and all interests alike. If
| anything better can be done to direct the
| country into a course of general prosperity,
none will be more ready than I to adopt this
plan.
Forwarded herewith is the plan and report
| of the commissioners appointed under act
| of congress approved June 90. 1874, to wind
/ up the affairs Of the district government It
/ debt of the District of Columbia less assets
/ on hand and available, is Bonded debt issued
prior to July 1, 1874, IS. S89, $40 43 365 bonds
/ act of congress June %, 1874 g, 0SS, 1GS 70 ;
certificates OF the board of audit "a nc, 558. As
! Total, 1912, 667. 81, less special improve
ments. Assessments chargeable to private
/ property in excess of any demand against such
| assessment, S1,6l4. O54.37, less CheFapea6e
aud Ohio canal bonds S75 600 and Washington
and Alexandria bonds $4,000; in the hands Of
! the commissioners of the sinking fund, ST.
! 74S. O54.37, leaving the actual debt less said
/ fund, S13. 9y4, 1924.
! In addition to this, there are claims pre-
ferred against the board of the district amount
/ ing in the aggregate, reported by the board
/ of audit, IS, 147, 787,48, Of which the greater
part will probably be rejected. This sum can
/ with no more propriety be included in the
/ debt of the district government than the thou
sands OF clsims against the general govern
ment be included as a portion of the national
/ debt But the aggregate sum thus stated in
4 cludes something more than the funded debt,