The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-04
llRma 2lg0IlI2619

ing upon it, and its very limited means
for necessary expenses. The debt OF
the District is as follows; Funded debt,
: S., 379, 691 SO, $3.50 bonds guaranteed by
the United States. $13,743, go; total
bonded debt, So, 122, 941. go; to, which
should be added certain outstanding
claims. as explained IN the report of the
report of the Commissioners. $I1e.224.-
81, making the total debt of the Dis
trict, 500, SIC, 146.4 AZ.
The Commissioners also ask attention
to the Importance of the Potomac river
and the reclamation of the marshes Dor
dering the city of Warrington, and their
views upon this subject are coneurredin
! by the members of the Board OF Health,
whose report is also herewith transmit
ted. 5rzaa Ell
Both the commercial and SANITARY in
terests of the District will be greatly
promoted, l doubt not, by this improve
ment. Your attention is directed to
the suggestions of the Commissioners
and of the Board of Health for the or
ganiZation of a Board of Charities to
have supervision and control of the dis
bursement of all money for charitable
purposes from the District treasury. 1
desire also to ask your especial atten-
ton to the need of adding to the efie-
iency of the public schools of the Dis
trict by supplemental aid from the ma
tional treasury This is especially Just
since so large number of those attend
ing the schools are children of employees
of the government. / earnestly com
mend to your care the interests of the
a. II.
ISOLATED with the government establish
ment and TO whose enterprise thegood
order and attractiveness of the Capital
are largely due. aft# Gag
And 1 ask yonr attention to the re-
quest of the Commissioners for .legisla-
ton in behalf of the interests entrusted
to their care, the appropriations asked
for the care of reservations belonging
TO the government within the city, by
the Commission created by the act APP
proved Aug. 2, 1876. An act providing
for the completion of the Washington
monument is also herewith transmitted,
with accompanying documsnts.o The
Board of Engineer Officers, detailed to
examine the monument, in compliance
with the second section of the act, have
reported that the foundation is INSULT
: eient. No authority exists for making
the expenditure necessary to secure its
stability. therefore recommend that
the Commission be authorized to ex-
pend such portion of the sum appropfi-
ated by the act as may be necessary for
the purpose. The present unfinished
, condition of the monument, begun so
! long ago, is a reproach to the nation. 1t
cannot be doubted that the patriotic
: sense of the country viii mainly re-
, spond to such prompt provisions as
may be made for its completion at an
> early day, and urge upon Congress the
propriety and necessity of immediate
legislation for this purpose. oe ls9g
The wisdom of legislation upon the
, part of Congress IN aid of the States for
! the sa5lsI1a a94
, EDUCATION OF THE WHOLE PEOPLE
in these branches of study, which are
taught in the common schools of the
country is no longer a question. The
intelligent Judgment of the country
goes still further regarding it, as both
|, constitutional and expedient for the
general government to extend to techni-
cal and higher education such aid as is
deemed essential to the general welfare,
and to our due prominence among the
enlightened and cultured nations Of the
world. The ultimate settlement of all
questions of the future whether of adj
mlnlstration or finance, or of true
nationality of sentiment, depends upon
the virtue and intelligence of the people.
1t is vain to hope for the success of a
free government without the means of
insuring the intelligence of those who
are the source ofpower. No less than
one-seventh of the entire voting popula-
ton of our country are vet unable to
read and write. 1t is encouraging to
observe in connection with the growth
, OF fraternal feeling In those States In
which slavery formerly existed, evil
dences of increasing interest in uni
versal education and ] shall be
glad to give my approval to any an
propr1ate measures which may be
enacted by Congress for the purpose of
!, experimenting with national aid the
!, local system of education in these
States, and in all the States, and having
already invited your attention to the
: needs of the District of Columbia with
! respect to its public school system I
here add that / believe it desirably. not
SO much with reference to the local
wants of the District but the great and
! lasting benefit of the entire country that
this system should be crowned with N
! university in all respects in keeping
with the national capitol, and
! thereby realize the cherished hopes
: of Washington on this subject.
also earnestly commend the request of
the Regents of the Smithsonian Insti-
tute that an adequate appropriation be
made for the establishment and conduct
of a national museum under their super
vision The request of providing for
the preservation and growth of the
library of Congress is also one of ma
e tional Importance. As the depository
o of copyright publications and records,
a this library has outgrown the provisions
/ for its accommodation, and the erection
{ OF such site as the Judgment of Con-
j gress may approve, of fire proof libra
e ~ building to preserve the treasures
: and enlarge the usefulness of this yalu-
{ able collection, is recommended. I
e recommend. ssalso, such legislation as viii
:. render available and efficient for the
: purpose of instruction. so far as is con-
h sistent with the public service, the cabi-
{ nets or museums of invention, of sur
{ gerry, of education, and of agriculture.
n and other collections, the property of
: the national government The capital
of the nation should be something more