Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-12-14


F, the annual amount due ON the pension rolls has
( increased SALTS -. This IS caused by the
Z greatly increased average rate OF pensions,
Y which BY the liberal legislation 0: Congress has
\ increased from $50 10 in 1872 TO sl05 vi IN 1879
Il TO each Invalid pensiOner an increase in tho
\ average rate Of fifteen pc. cent. al the three
\ years. During the year ending June 80, lS3S.
II there was paid on account OF pensions, including
\ ths expenses of disbursement, S9.oSS,
! Il6 beng S9l062 LEES than was paid
the preceding year THIS reduction N amount
I of expenditures was produced by the decrease
! In the amount Of arrearages due On allowed
/ claims and ON pensions. the rate OF which Was
/ increased by TIE legislation Of the preeealng
session Of Congress. 1T the elose OF the last
| fscal year there were on the pension rols
1 g3lS2i pensions. Of whom 2l0363 were Army
/ pensions, l05,i7s being inyahds, aud lOl so
widows and dependent relatvesi 1870 were
/ NAVY pensioners. OF whom l,6So were In-
/ valids and l,7S4 widows and dependent rcla-
tives; 2, US were pensioners Of the war OF 1872,
| 1875 OF whom were survivors and 5.lGS were
widows IL IS estimated that So SIS. 90 will DO
/ required for the payment OF pensions for the
/ next fiscal year. an amount S965,Op iess than
the estimate Tor the prcscrt year.
TIE INTERIOR SURVEYS
! The geological explorations have been prose-
/ euted with energy during the year, covering a
area of about 1000 square miles IN the Terri
/ tories Of Colorado. Utah and New-NeXico, de-
/ velOping the agricultural aud mineral resources
sud furnishing interesting scientific and topo-
! graphical details OF the Region.
THE INDIAN PEACE POLICY.
The method Tor the treatment of the Indians
\ adopted az the beginning ot my first term has
/ besn steadily pursued. an with satisfactory
! and encouraging results. II has been product
/ i've OF evident improvement IN the condition of
/ that race, and will b. coainacd, with only
/ such mod -at,oiss as further experience may
/ indicate 20 DC necessary.
.Gs CaNrENNIAL EXPO 5IT.OS.
The board heretofore appointed 10 take Charge
Of tie articles and materials pertaining 10
| tie War and NAVY, the Treasury, the Int
r,or. AMI the Post Ofice Departments, and
tho Department Of Agriculture, the Smith:
soniaa Institution. and the Commission 81
/ Yood Fishes. 20 be contributed. under the legs
/ IarOu OF last session, 70 the International Ex-
I hibition 70 be held at Philadelphia during TIE
/ Centennial year, 1876. has been diligeut IN the
/ diseharge OF the duties which have devolved
upon IL. and the preparations So lar made, with
| the means at command give assurance that thc
Governmental contribution VIII DC maze one %
the marked cha-acteristics Of tho Exhibition.
Tie board has observed commcldable economy
IN tie matter of the erection of buildings for
the Governmental exhibit. the expense OF
which. il Is estimated, viii not exceed, say
So COO This amount has been withdrawn
uAder the law. from the appropriations OF Two
Of the principal departments, which leaves
,cme OF those departments without sufficient
me- ans 20 render their respective practical eIho-
its complete and satisfactory. The EXhiol-
uCa being an International one, and the
Government being - voluntary contributor, II
IL nav opinion uat - contribution should be
OF a character IN quality and extent 10 sustain
the dignity and credit Ct 50 distinguished
contributor. The advantages 70 the country
Of a credItable display are, IN an International
point Of view Of the 1rst Importance. while n
indifferent OF disc rejitabe participation by tho
Government would &c hUmIa3tag 20 the lHtn-
otic feelings % our people themselves.
commend the estimates Of the board
for the necessary additional Appropriation.
20 the favorable consideration Of Congress
The powers of Europe. almos, without cx-
eeptiUn. many Of tie South Amerr IN
States and even the more distant + sierra
Powers have manifested their friendly Seutl'
nent toward the United States and the intcc-
eSts Of the world IN our progress by taking
stems q ioin with IN celebrating tae ceuteu-
ma Of the nation. and strongly recommend
that more National importance o. gwen u
THE exhibition by such legislation aud by such
appropriation as Will insure IL SUGGEST Is
value IN bringing to ouE shores IuuumCrable
uEefuI works OF art aud skill. tie commlnglins
Of the citizens Of foreign countries and oar own,
and the interchange Of ideas and manufactures
Will tar exceed any pecunlary outlay VIC may
male.
ACCOMPANYING REPORTS.
transmit herewith the report Of the Com
missioner Of Agriculture, together with the re-
port OF the Commissioners Of the Board OF
Audit and the Board OF Health Of the District
OF Coumtis. 70 all of which invite your atteE-
tiOn The Board of Agriculture has accom-
plshed much IN disseminating useful knowledge
60 the agricultural and also IN introducing new
and useful productions adapted % our soil and
Kllmste. and i worthy OF the continued en-
sSura-emcnt OF the Government. The report
Of the Commissioner of Education. which ac-
2onpaules the report OF the Secretary II the
3atsr,or. shows gratifying progress IN educa-
Gonal matters.
PoLTGAMY AND THE IMPORTATION OF
CHINESE WOMEN.
I In nearly every annual Message that | have
had the honor Of transmitting 20 Congress
have called attention 10 the anomalous, not 10
say scandalOus, condition OF affairs existing in
the Territory Of Utah. and have asked for def
nise legislation 20 correct il. That pOlygsmy
should exist IN q free. enlightened, and Christ
Ian country without the power 70 punish so IA
grant crime against decency and morality,
seems prepOsterouS. True, there Is no law To
sustaIn tins unnatural vice, but what i needed
IS a Law 20 punish IL As = csime, aud az the same
tune 20 TX the status OF the innocent children,
the offspring OF tins sVstem and OF the possibly
innocent plural wives. But as an institution,
pOlvgamy should be banished from the land.
While this is being done l invite the attention
OF Congress 10 another matter, perhaps no less
81 evil. the importation Of Chinese women. but
tew OF whom are brought 10 our chores 10 pur-
sue honorable sud useful occupations.
PUBLIC LANDS AND TIMBER.
Observations while visiting the Territories of
Wyoming. Utah. and Colorado during the past
Autumn convinced me that existing laws regu-
.lAting the disposition o. public lands, timber
'& c. aud probably the m.ains laws themselNSsI
are y.-y detective. AMI saOuid ba carethIy
amended al an early day. Territory where
cultivation o. the sou can only oe followed on
irrigation, and where thisis not praetlcabte the
LANDS can only &c used rs pastursge and TINS
only whore stock can reach water 20 qcench us
thirst. cannot he governed BY the same laws as
20 entire. IS lands every acre OF winch -
al indeue dent estate bT it.eiL LANDS must
be held n larger Quantities 70 JUSTIFY tne
expense Of conducting water upon II 10 make IL
fruitful OF 20 Justify dliilring 70 as pasturage'
The timber IN inoSt Cf ;he Territories Is prinei-
pally colhaed 20 the mountain regions, when
are held for entry iH anal quantities only, anu
az mineral laads. This timber IA the property
Of the United States. TO- The disposal OF which
there Is now NJ adequate law. The settier
must become a cO1IuIno- OF TINS timber. whether
be lives upon lie plains or engAges IN WORKING
tie mines. Hence every man becomes either q
tTespSsser ELEsef or knowingly patron OF
tTespasssrs. Ny opportunities for observing
were nos sufficient - Justify me ia recommending
AptS4-S &c ls41t V'A va. NHeSe suSJNN'sf -,
recommend that q joint committee OF the Two
houses Of Congress, sufficiently Large 10 DO
divided INTO subcommittees, be organized 10
visit all of the mining States and Territories
during the coming Summer, aud that the eoun-
mltiee shall report 10 Congress AZ the next SEES
sion such laws or am cnGments 10 laws rs II may
deem necessary 20 secure the best interests of
the Government AMI the people OF these
Territories who arc dong much for
their development. / am sure the citizen,
occupying the TERRITORY described do not wish
to DC Irespassers. nor wall they Delt legal ways
are provided for them 10 become owners OF
these actual necessities Of their position.