The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-12-09

witnessed in the past, of officers diving
suddenly, or being killed, leaving fam
lilies without even means of reaching
their friends, if fortunate enough to have
friends to aid them.
Third-The repeal of the law abolish.
ing mileage, and a return to the old sys-
TEN.
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,
thai we can have Hence it is advisable
to learn by experiment their best con-
struction and application, as well as
effect
Fifth-A permanent organization for
the Signal Service Corps This service
has now become a 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.
THE BLACK HILLS.
The discovery of gold in the Black
Hills, portion of the Sioux reservation,
has had the effect to induce large emf
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 large increase of such
emigration. The negotiations for the
REIMBURSEMENT of the gold fields having
failed, it will be Necessary for Congress
to adopt some measures to relieve the
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 a
full report of the condition of that Ter
ritory, and will make it the subject of
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 of that territory.
THE LAND OFFICE.
The report of the General Land Office
show that there were 2, ASS, ,401 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, ,322.2S than during the preceding
year. The entire surveyed area of the
public demain is $50, ,253, ,094 acres, of
which 26,077, ,53l acres were surveyed
during the past year, leaving ], 1,154, ALL
1852 acres still unsurveyed. The report
of the Commissioner presents many in
teresting suggestions in regard to the
management 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
consideration of Congress.
PENSIONERS.
The number of pensioners still con-
tinues to decrease, the highest number
having been reached during the year
ending June 80, 1873. During the last
year II, 1,557 names were added to the
rolls, and II 977 were dropped therefrom,
show net decrease of l, APO; but while
the number of pensioners has decreased,
the annual amount due op the pension
rolls has increased 81 473, ,313. This is
caused by the great increased average
rate of pensions, an increase in the aver
age rate of Is per cent. in the three
\ years. During the year ending June 80,
1875, there was paid on account of
pensions, including the expenses of
disbursement, 1888, 116, being $780,
962 less than was paid the pre-
ceding year. The reduction in the amount
of expenditures was produced by the de-
crease of arrearages due on allowed
claims, and on pensions, the rate of which
was increased by the legislation of the
preceding session of Congress. At the
close of the last fiscal year therewere ON
the pension rolls 234, ,S21 persons, of
whom 216,363 were army pensioners,
los, ,478 being invalids, and 104,8S5
widows and dependent relatives; 1920
were navy pensioners, of whom 1,646
were invalids and 1,7S4 widows and de-
pendent relations, 81 ,038 were pensioners
of the war of 1872, Is, ,S75 of whom were
survivors and 5, 163 were widows. 1t is
estimated that S29, ,535, 900 will be re-
quired for the payment of pensions for
the next fiscal year, an amount 1866, 600
| less than the estimate ior the present
year.
FAREWELL REMARKS.
As this will be the last annual message
which l will have the honor of transmit
ting to Congress, before my successor is
chosen, / will repeate or recapitulate the
questions which I deem of vital impor-
tance, which should be legislated upon
and settled at this session.
First-That the States shall be required
to afford the opportunity of good
common school education to every child
within their limits. ).
Second-That no sectarian tenets shall
be ever taught in any school supported
in whole or in part by the State, Nation,
or by the proceeds of any tax levied
upon any community. Make education
compulsory so far as to deprive all per-
sons who can not read or write from be-
coming votors, after 1890, DISTINGUISHING
none, however, on grounds of illiteracy
who may be voters at the time this
amendment takes effect.
Third-Declare Church and State for
ever 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-
ty such as polygamy and the importa-
ton 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 a most fit
ting time for these reforms.