The Jasper weekly courier., 1874-12-18
lcoNrr~unp rnoN rnIRp rAGr.

tiers ~ Indian dsprs,iations I commend the re
cotnmen,ation ~ The SECRETARY for the extension
of the Homestead laws ~ the Indians and for
sort Of territorial government Tor the Indian
Territory 4 great majority oi the Indians
cupying This trrit"ry arr lslieNed a. h. incapa-
bile "a maintain their rights against the more
civilized ami enlightened white man. ANY terri
toria form oi government given them, therefore,
should protect them IN their homes and property
for period oi AZ lesrt twenty years and before
IT. nnal adoption should be ratified by majority
Of those Affected.
The report 0f the Secretary ~ the Interior
herwith attached, gives much Interesting statis
tirsl nfcrmation which abstain from giving AN
sh-trart Of, but refer you 10 the report Itself.
The act of Congress providing the oath Ia which
pensioners must subscribe before drawing their
pensions cuts on from this bounty few suryiy-
orr of TIE war of l-le residing IN the southern
states. l recommend the restoration Of this
bounty o. all such. The number of persons
whose names would be rcstorcd % the LIST ~ pen
sioners l. not large. They all OLD persons,
who could have taken no part in the rebellion,
and the services for which they We're awarded
pensions We're In defense Of the whole country.
THE CENTENNIAL.
The report IT the Coinmiss ssiOner II Agriculture
herewith. contains suggestions Of much interest
10 the general public, and refers "a the approach
ing Centennial and the part his department j.
ready o. take in il. feel that the nation at large
il interested in having this exposition success
and commend 20 Congress such action a will Sc
cure a great general interest in it, Already many
foreign nations have signified their intention TO
be represented al IT, It may be 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 "a close
~ a. has been practicable with the opposition
with which they meet. The effect believe. has
been beneficial on the whole and has tended the
elevation 81 the sice but il L. nnpractcahle to
maintain them without the direct and positive
support ~ Congress. Generally the support
which this reform receives is from those who give
IL their suppor; only to ind fault when the rules
apparently departed from. Removals from
sha
removed arr frequently citeSt a. departures from
the rules adopted. and the retention Of those
against " HON charges are made by responsible
persons without good grounds i also condemned
a violation II them. Under these cirrum-
stances, therefore. announce that II Congress
adiOurn- without positive legislation on the sub
ject ~ Civil service reform, | Will regard such
action a disappr0val Of the system and will ahan-
don Il except - far a a. require examination
FOR certain appointee- 70 determine their fitness.
Competitive examinations will he abandoned The
gentlemen who have given their services without
compensation. a. members oi the board 70 devise
rules and regulations for the government of the
Civil Service of the country. have shown much
zeal and earne-tness in their work. and 10 them.
as 10 mysen Il will be a source of modification II
IL = 10 b. thrown away. But repeat that II j. i'm
possible a. carry this system % n successful issue
without general approx al and assistance and posi-
tive Law 70 support IL.
THE LABOR PROBLEM.
have stated that the elements 10 the prosperity
of the nafion-capital. labor, skilled and un-kill
ed and products OF the soil-still remain with Us.
deserving the most serious attention Of Congress 7
III employment can bee given o. all labor Offering
itself prosperity necessarily follows. have
pressed the opinion. and repeat II, that the first
requisite to the accomplishment 0f this end H. the .
substitution of n sound currency in place of one .
OF hnctuating value. This secured, there are .
many Interests that might be fostered 10 the great
profit Of bath labor and capital. How t. induce
capital 10 employ labor il the question.
rHR TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.
The subject ~ cheap ran-porsaton has occupied
the attention nf t'OUwrft-- New lfEltgn this
ton viii. without doubt be given the committee
appointed by the lat Congress 70 investigate and
report upon this subject. Arevivalof ship huild
ing and particularly Of iron steamship building,
l. OF vast importance t. our national prosperity.
The United states y nov paying over slo,o9,-
ships. to he carried abroad and expended .
in the employment and support Of other
people l-ay oni a fair percentage 81 what
should - - foreign vessels. estimating on the
tonnage ami travel II each respectively. IL It. 20
be regretted that this disparity in the carrying
trade exists. and 10 correct Il would b. willing
g see a great departure from the usual course Of
Government in supporting what might usually be
termed private enterprise. would not suggest
as a remeviy direct subsidy to American steam
ship lines hut would suggest the direct offer Of
ample compensation for conveying the mails be
tween Atlantic and -eaboari cities and the Con
tncnt on American owned and American built
steamers. and would extend this liberality 10
vessels carving mails to the South American
states and e. Central America and Mexico. and
would pursue the same policy from our Pacific
ssaports % foreign Seaport- on the Pacific. II
might he demanded that vessels built for this ser
vice should come up % standard fixed by egIs-
lafion, regarding tonnage and speed. and all
other qualities looking % the possibility Of the
Government requiring them at some time for war
purposes The right also Of taking possession OF
them in such emergency should be secured 4
offer these suggestions believing them worthy of
consideration, in all seriousness, ans~ting all
sections and all interests alike. Hany thing bet
ter can be done to direct the country into course
Of general prosperity, no one will be more ready
than u adopt this plan.
COITMHTA
Forwarded her With i the plan and report of
the commissioners appointed under an act " Con
gress approved June -. lsI4. 10 wind up the af
fairs Of the District Government. II will be
from the report that the total debt Of the District
Of Columbia, less assets on hand and available,
is Bonded debt issued prior 70 July, ls1f, ss,-
scs $40 4s. bonds under act II Congress June 20.
lsss. e., ,0-- .l6- 3 certificates Of the Board 81
Audit sf go SIS IS. Total, els. .7is, ,sl7 81 less
special improvement assessment, chargeable 10
private property in excess Of any demand against
such assessment. . .5ll ,o5l 81. less Chesapeake
ton and Alexandra bonds as 900 900; in the
hands u the Commissioners Of the sinking Fund
sl, ,s4s asa 81, leaving the actual debt less said
fund sB .sa4 ,Gl3 "a. In addition % this there
are claims preferred against the BOARD Of the
District amounting in the aggregate reported
by the Board of Audit % s3,lE, - y, 81 which
This rum can with no more Propri
ETY. he included in the debt of the
District Government than the thousands Of claims
against the General Government be included as n
portion Of the national debt, but the aggregate
Hum thus stated includes something more than
the funded debt chargeable exclusively 10 the
District of olumhia. The actof Congress ~ No
vember =, 1874 contemplates an apportionment
between the United states Government and the
District of Columbia in respect Of the payment ~
the principal and interest Of the ,65- bonds.
Therefore. in computing with precision the bond
ed debt Of the district, the aggregate sums above
stated a. RESPECTS gij bonds issued the out.
standing certificates Of the Board of Audit and
the unadiuste claims pending before that board
should ~ reduced TO the extent of the amount 10
be apportoned to the United states Government,
IN the manner Indicated in the act Of Congress Of
June ?. ls7s. | especially invite your attention
o. the recommendations u the Commissioners Of