The Lake County star., 1875-12-09


suddenly, or being killed, leaving fam.
lilies without even means of reaching
their friends, IL fortunate enough to have
friends to aid them.
ThiId-The repeal OF the law abolish.
ing mileage, and a return to the old sys.
tenn. rgff-u
Fourth-The trial with torpedoes un-
der the Corps Of Engineers, and the
appropriation for the same. Should war
ever occur between the United States
and any maritime power, torpedoes will
be among, If not the most effective and
cheapest auxiliary for the defense of har-
bOrs, and also in aggressive operations,
that we can have. Hence IL is advisable
to learn by experiment their best con-
struction and application, as we'll as
effect. sR asasts
Fifth-A permanent organization for
the Signal Service Corps. This service
has now become necessity of peace as
well as war, under the advancement
made by the present able management.
Sixth--A renewal of the appropriation
for compiling the official records Of the
war, etc. rn
THE BLACK HILLS.
The discovery of gold in the Black
Hills, portion of the Sioux reservation,
has had the effect to induce q large emil
grafton of miners to that point. Thus
far the effort to protect the treaty rights
of the Indians of that section has been
successful, but the next year will GER
tainly witness a large Increase Of such
emigration. Tie negotiations for the
REIMBURSEMENT Of the gold fields having
failed, it will be necessary for Congress
embarrassment growing out of the causes
named. The Secretary of the Interior
suggests that the supplies now appropri-
ated for the sustenance of that people
being no longer obligatory under the
treaty of 1868, but simply a gratuity,
may be issued or withheld at his discre-
ton.
THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
The condition of the Indian Territory,
TO which have referred in several of my
former annual messages, remains practi-
cally unchanged. The Secretary of the
Interior has taken measures to obtain q
full report of the condition of that Ter
ritory, and will make it the subject of a
special report at an early day. 1t may
then be necessary to make some further
recommendation in regard to the legisla-
tion for the government 0fthat territory.
THELAND OFFICE.
The report of the General Land Office
show that there were 2, 459, 4O1 acres less
disposed of during this than during the
last year. More than one half of this
decrease was in lands disposed of under
the homestead and timber culture laws.
The causes Of this decrease is supposed
to be found in the grasshopper scOurge
and the droughts which prevailed so ex-
tensively in some of the frontier States
and Territories during that time as to
discourage and deter entries by actual
settlers. The cash receipts were less by
$500, ,322.23 than during the preceding
year. The entire surveyed area of the
public demain is 68O,253, ,O94 acres, of
which 26,077 ,53l acres were surveyed
during the past year, leaving !, ,154 ALL
1852 acres still unsurveyed. The report
of the Commissioner presents many in
suggestions in regard to the
and disposition of the pub
lie domain, and the modification of ex-
isting laws, the apparent Importance of
which should insure for them the careful
of Congress.
PENSIONERS.
The number of pensioners still con-
tinues to decrease, the highest number
having been reached during the year
ending June 30, 1873. During the last
year IL, ,557 names were added to the
rolls, and 2,977 were dropped therefrom,
show net decrease of ,420; but while
he number of pensioners has decreased,
The annual amount due op the pension
rolls has increased $4473,313. This is
caused by the great increased average
rate of pensions, an increase in the aver
lge rate of Is per cent. in the three
years. During the year ending June 80,
1875, there was paid on account of
including the expenses Of
$29, ,633, 116, being $780,
,62 less than was paid the pre-
,eding year. The reduction in the amount
If expenditures was produced by the de-
,rease of arrearages due on allowed
claims, and OH pensions, the rate of which
vas increased by the legislation of the
preceding session of Congress. At the
lose of the last fiscal year there were on
he pension rolls 2S4,S2l persons, of
whom 216,363 were army pensioners,
O5,47S being invalids, and 1O4,SS5
Widows and dependent relatives; 1920
we're navy pensioners, of whom 1,646
we're invaiids and 1,784 widows and de-
,endent relations, 81 ,038 were pensioners
# the war of 1872, 1876 of whom were
urvivors ID 5,163 were widows. 1t is
stimated that $29, 9,535, 900 will be re-
Iuired for the payment of pensions for
he next fiscal year, an amount 1865, 900
ess than the estimate for the present
'ear.
FAREWELL REMARKS.
As this will be the last annual message
which will have the honor of transmit
ing to Congress, before my successor is
,hosen, will repeate or recapitulate the
luestions which / deem of vital impor-
ance, which should be legislated upon
md settled at this session.
First-That the States shall be required
o afford the opportunity of a good
COMMON school education to every child
within their limits.
SecOnd-That no sectarian tenets shall
,e ever taught in any school supported
n whole or in part by the State, Nation,
,r by the proceeds of any tax levied
iron any community. Make education
so far as to deprive all per-
ons who can not read or write from be-
coming votors, after 1890, DISTINGUISHING
hone, however, on grounds of illiteracy
who may be voters at the time this
takes effect.
Third-Declare Church and State for.
,ver separate and distinct, but each free
within their proper sphere, and that all
church property shall bear its own pro-
portion of taxes.
Fourth-Drive out licensed immorali-
" such as polygamy snd the importa-
ion of women for illegitimate purposes.
To recur again to the Centennial year,
It would seem as though now, as we are
about to begin the second century OF our
National existence, would be most fit
ting time for these reforms.
Fith-Enact such laws as will secure
s,aady rafurn IN a cOv,ud c,,rropcv s,,ch