Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-12-08

; UPnslOIS, Whlcn. IIUeTaT IeglSTaIION
gress, has increased from 5000 in 1872 TO SlO39
In 1875 to each invalid pensioner, an increase il
the average rate of fifteen per cent. in the thre
years During the year ending June 80 1870 Their
was paid on account of pensions, including the ex
penses of disbursement. 500 6s3 lie. being 500 IS
| less than paid the preceding year.
| This reduction in amount of expenditures wa
| produced by the decrease in the amount Of ar
| rearages due on allowed claims. and on pensions
the rate of which was increased by the Legislation
| of the preceding session of Congress. At tn,
close of the last fiscal year there were on the pen
sion rolls %. ST. persons, of whom PIC, 1858 wer
| army pensioners. l0547S being inyalids and l04,S
| widows and dependent relatives; 3.420 were navy
pensioners, of whom 1885 were inyalids, and LIS
widows and dependent relatives: 21,oSS were pen
sioners of the war of 1872. 1850 of whom wer'
survivors. and 5.l63 were widows.
1t is estimated that so. 535 900 will be required
| for the payment of pensions for the next hsca
year, an amount s965,O0o less than the estimat'
| for the present year.
The geological explorations have been prose
cuted with energy during the year, covering al
area of about 10000 square miles in the Territories
| of Colorado. Utah and New Mexico. developing
| the agricultural and mineral resources and fur
nishing interesting scientific and Typographical
details of that region.
The method for the treatment OF the Indians
adopted at the beginning of my first term has beer
| steadily pursued and with satisfactory and en-
couraging results. 1t has been productive OF evi
| dent improvement in the condition of that race
| and will be continued. with only such modtca
| lions as further experience may indicate to be
| The board heretofore appointed to take charge
| of the articles and materials pertaining to the
| War, the Navy, the Treasury, the Interior anC
| the Post Office Departments, and the Department
! of Agriculture, the Smithsonian Institution ana
| the commission of food fishes to be contributed
under the legs iaton oil last session 70 the inter
national Exhibition to be held at Philadelphi;
| during the Centennial year 1876 has been aili
| gent in the discharge of the duties which have de
yolved upon il, and the preparations so far made
/ with the means at command give assurance tina
| the governmental contribution will he made ont
! Of the marked characteristics of the exhibition
| The board has observed commendable economy il
| the matter of the erection of building for the
| governmental exhibit the expense of which, it il
estimated, will not exceed, say $4,000
| This amount has been withdrawn, under th'
| law, from the appropriations of five of the prin
cipal Departments, which leaves some of those De
| partments without sufficient means to render the
| respective practical exhibits complete and salts
| factory. The exhibition being an internationa
| one, and the Government being voluntary con
should be of character, in quality and extent, t
sustain the dignity and credit of so distinguished
| a contributor.
| The advantages to the country of a creditable
display are, in an international point of view, o
| the first Importance. while an indifferent or in
creditable participation by the Government woult
| be humiating to the patriotic feelings of on
| people themselves. l commend the estimates o
the board for the necessary additional appropria
tons to the favorable consideration of Congress.
The Powers of Europe, almost without eXcep
| ton, many of the South American States, ano
even the more distant Eastern Powers have man
Tested their friendly sentiments toward the Uni
progress. by tn king steps to join with us in cele
brating the Centennial ofthe nation, and strong
ly recommend that n more national Importance b,
given to this exhibition by such legislation and by
such appropriation as Will insure its success. lts
value in bringing to our shores innumerable useu
works of art and SKILL the commingling of citizens
of foreign countries and our own, and the inter
change of ideas and manufactures will far exceed
any pecuniary outlay we may make.
L transmit herewith the report OF the Commits
| soner of Agriculture, together with the reports OF
the Commissioners, the Board of Audit, and the
Board of Health of the District of Columbia, to all
of which invite your attention.
The Bureau of Agriculture has accomplished
much in disseminating useful knowledge to the
agriculturist, and also in introducing new and
useful productions adapted to our soil and climate
and is worthy of the continued encouragement OF
the Government.
The report of the Commissioner of Education
which accompanies the report OF the Secretary OF
the Interior shows gratifying progress in edu
catiOnal matters.
In nearly every annual message that 1 have
had the honor of transmitting to Congress have
called attention to the anomalous not t0
say scandalous condition of affairs existing in the
Territory of Utah, and have asked for definite
legislation to correct it. That polygamy should
exist in free, enlightened and Christian country
without the power TO punish so hagrant crime
against decency and morality. seems prepos-
ferrous True, there is no law to sustain this unnat
ural vice, but what is needed is Il law to punish
it as crime and at the same time to fix the status
of the innocent children the offspring of this sys
TEN, and of the possibly innocent plural wives
But, as an institution, polygamy should be ban
ished from the land.
While this is being done. l invite the attention
of Congress to another, though perhaps no less
| an evil-the importation of Chinese women, but
| few of whom are brought to our shores to pursue
honorable or useful occupations.
Observations while visiting the Territories OF
Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, during the past
| autumn, convinced me that existing laws regu-
latng the disposition of public lands timber, &c,
and probably the mining laws themselves, are
very defective, and should be carefully amended,
and at an early day.
In TO xyh at q oil
only be followed by irrigation, and where irri-
CATION is not practicable, the lands can only be
used as pasturage, and this only where stock can
reach water Ito quench its thirsty cannot be gov
erned by the same laws, as to entries, as lands
every acre of which is an Independent estate by
itself. Land must be held in larger quantities to
justify the expense of conducting water upon it TO
make it fruitful or to utilize ii as pasturage
The timber in most of the Territories is prnci-
pally confined to the mountain regions which are
held for entry in small quantities only and as
mineral lands. The timber is the property of the
United States, for the disposal of which there is
now no adequate law. The settler must become
a consumer of this timber whether he lives upon
the plain engages in working the mines. Hence
every man becomes either trespasser himself or
knowingly patron of trespassers.
My opportunities for observation were not suffl-
cent to justify me in recommending specific legis
lation ON these subjects, but do recommend that
a joint committee of the two Houses of Congress,
sufficiently large to be divided into sub-commit-
tees, be organized to visit all the mining States
and Territories during the coming summer and
the next session such laws or amendments to laws
as 1T may deem necessary to secure the best inter
est of the Government and the people of these
Territories who are doing so much for their de-
velopment.
l am sure the citizens occupying the territory
described do not wish to be trespassers, will
they be if legal ways provided for them to be
come owners of these actual necessities Of their
position.
As this will be the last annual message which /
shall have the honor of transmitting to Congress
before my successor is chosen will repeat re
capitulate, the questions which / deem of vital
Importance which may be legislated upon and set
tied at this session:
First. That the States shall be required to af
ford the opportunity of good common school cd
ucation TO every child within their limits
Second. No sectarian tenets shall ever be
taught in any school supported in whole in
part by the State Nation by the proceeds OF
any tax levied upon any community. Make edu-
cation compulsory, so far as to deprive all per
sons who cannot read and write from becoming
voters after the year 1890, DISTINGUISHING none
however, on grounds of illiteracy who may be
voters at the time this amendment takes effect
Third. Declare Church and State forever sep
arate and distinct. but each free within their
proper spheres, and that all church property shall
bear its own proportion Of taxation.
Fourth. Drive out licensed immortality, such as
polygamy and the importation of women for lille
Ultimate purposes.
To recur again to the Centennial year. it would
seem though now. as about to begin the
be a most hitting time for these reforms.
Fifth. Enact such laws as will insure speedy
return to a sound currency, such as will command
the respect of the world.
Believing that these views will commend them
selves to the great majority of the rigbt-thinkine
and patriotic citizens of the United States sub
NIT the rest to Congress. u. ). GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION December I, 1875.