Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-12-18


suddenly or being killed, leaving their famif-
les without even the means of reaching their
friends, if fortunate enough to have friends
to aid them,
mileage and return to the old system.
Fourth--The trial with torpedoes under the
corps of engineers and an appropriation for
the same Should war sn ever oG ;s! between
torpedoes will be among. ii not the most eff
fective, cheapest auxiliary for defense Of
harbors and also for aggressive operations,
| that we can have. Hence it is advisable 30
learn by experiments their best construction
and application as well as their affect.
Fifth--Permanento organization ofthe signal
service corps: This service has now become
necessity Of peace as well as war, under ad-
vancement made by present able manage
ment.
completing the official records Of war, etc.
THE INDIAN POLICY.
The method for the treatment of the Indi-
ans adopted at the beginning of my first term
has been steadily pursued, and with satisfac-
tory an encouraging results. 1thas been pro-
ductive of evident Improvement in the condi-
ton of that race, and will be continued with
only such notifications as further expert
ence may indicate to be necessary.
THE CENTENNIAL.
The board heretofore appointed to take
charge of articlesand matters pertaining to the
war, the treasury, the interior and the post
agriculture of the Smithsonian institution and
the commissioners of food, and the fish COM
mssioners to be contributed under the legs-
lation OF last session to the International ex-
Centennial year 1875, has been dilligent the
discharge of the duties which have devolved
upon it and the proportions so far with the
means at command, give assurance that the
Governments contributions will be made one
of the marked characteristics of the exhibit
ton. The board has observed considerable
economy in the matter of the erection of build
ings for the exhibition, the expense OF which
it is estimated will not exceed say 49, 600: This
amount has been withdrawn under the law
from the appropriations OF three Of the depart
without sufficient funds to render their re-
spective practical exhibits completely satisfac-
tory. The exhibition being an international
one and the Government being voluntary
ton should be of q character in quality and
in extent to sustain the dignity and credit
of so distinguished contributor. The ad-
vantages to the country of creditable display
| importance, while Indifferent or uncreditable
participation by the government would be
humiliation to the patriotic feelings Of our
mates of the board for the necessary addition
al appropriations, to the favorable considera-
ton of Congress. The powers of Europe,
with few exceptions, and many of the South
American States, and even the more distant
| eastern powers have manifested their friendly
sentiments toward the United States and the
interest of the world in our progress, by join
ing with us in the celebration Of the Centen-
NAL of the nation, and 1 strongly urge that
impetus be given to this exhibition by such
legislation and appropriations as will insure
its success, Its value in bringing to our
the commingling Of citizens of foreign coun-
| tries and our own, the intermingling of ideas
| and manufactures, will farexceed any outlay
we may make prudently.
AGRICULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER RE-
PORTS.
transmit herewith the report of the Com
missioner on Agriculture. together with the
| reports of the commissioners of the Board Of
Audit and the Board Of Health of the District
of Columbia, to all of which call attention.
The Bureau of Agriculture has accomplished
| much in the dissemination of useful knowl-
| edge to the agricultural interest and in intro
to our soil and climate, and is worthy the
continued encouragement Of the government.
The report of the Commissioner of Educa-
ton, which af &C; accompanies the report Of the
| progress in educational matters.
TEE MORMON QUESTION.
In nearly every annual message have had
the honor of transmitting to Congress, / have
| called attention TO the anomalous If not to
say scandalous condition Of affairs existing in
the Territory of Utah, and have asked for def
mite legislation to correct it. That polygamy
| should exist in Q free, enlightened and Chris
tan country. without the power to punish so
~, seems preposterons. True. there Is no law
to sustain this unnatural vice, but what is
needed, is law to punish 1t as q crime, and
cent children, the offspring of this system,
and of the possibly innocent plural wives; but
as an Institution, polygamy should be BAN
| ished from the land.
| IMPORTATION OF CHINESE WOMEN.
While this is being done. I invite the atten-
<.FN TO-
| no less an evil, the importation of Chinese
women but few Ofwhom are brought to our
shores to pursue useful or'honorable occupa-
| lions.
PUBLIC LANDS In THE TERRITORIES.
<,5a,r Foiioas, w,ajis, x;sit3ag a.se Territory
last autumn, convinced me that existing laws
regulating the disposition of public lands,
timber &c, and probably the mining laws
themselves, are very defective, and should
A Territory where cultivation of the soil can
| only be followed by such irrigation as is prac-
ticable, where the lands can only be used as
pasturage, and this only where stock can
erned by the. same laws as every acre of
which is.an independent state by itself. Land
must be held in large quantities to justify the
it fruitful, or to justify utilizing IL as pastur-
| age.
| TIMBER AND MINING LANDS.
! The timber in most of the territories is
principally confined to mountain regions,
which are held by entry in small quantities
| only, and as mineral lands. The timber is
the property of the United States. in the dis
! posal Of which there is no adequate law
The settler must become consumer of this
| timber whether he lives upon the plains or
engages in working the mines. Hence every
man becomas trespasser himself or know
| ingly patron of the trespasser. NV oppor-
tunities for observation were not sufficient to
Justify me in recommending specific legisla-
ton on those subjects but do recommend
that Joint committee of the two Houses of
Congress, sufficiently large to be divided in
to subcommittee be formed, authorized 10
visit all the miningS States and Territories dur
ing the, coming summer, and that the COM
mittee shall report to Congress at its nextses-
sion such laws or amendments to laws AZ IL
may deem necessary to insure the best inter-
est of the government and the people ofthese
Territories who are doing SO much for their
devslopement. ] am sure the citizens oc-
cupying the Territories described do not wish
to be trespassers, nor will they be ifthe laws
are nroYided for them to become o,una.a ~