Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-12-05

stehu OF depr1Ning them NJ their oppoftunitias ,o
Wm eleii heipihg hand. cordially approve
' ape poncy regarding the management of Indian
ali"is outlined Ia the reports NJ the Secretary al
ue interior and of the Commissioner of InJinn
An"is, me faithful performance OF our prom
~ " tne hIst condition III good UNDERSTANDING
with the Indians cannot Too nrgnn,ly racn,,,s
neh1 70 Congress that PROMPT and liberal nrovi
SION ne made Tor the conscientious fnI6llmant ~
III i,s S"GaSeients entered into by the government
win indian tribes To WITHHOLD tbe n,nens
necessary Tor the performance nj ,ro,,,,a 10
ntN"!e lhlse economy, and In ant 10 n,nve
DISASTROUS IN It's consequences. EsneriaIsv ~
~ 'e, i 70 provide for Indians settled
on their reservations cattle ard agricnI,n,ai
implements To aid them In whntevsr ar,nrs.
tney may make ~ support thefnselyes and hs
the establishing Mt and maintenance Of schonis
70 bring them under the control ~ ciriii.aa
influences. ! see no reason why Indians who
can give satisfactory proof of having by their
uwh labor supported their families for n mum
! yer OF years, and who are willing 10 detach
themselves from their tribal relations sbould
not he admitted to the benefit Of The hnmes,oad
act ana the privileges Of citizenship and recon-
menu the passage Of "a law to that effect fl viii
we ~ act vi Justice IA well AS measure Of en-
coufageinent. Earnest efforts are beinV made 10
purify tile Indian service 80 that every dniiar a,,
P,ulIlateh ny Congress will rebound 10 the heneHt
OF the Indians as intended Those efforts ,,ilI
nn aSe ly nrln support with an improved service
a'u every possible encouragement held ont to the
lndians tn better their condition and IN elevate
themselves III the scale of civilization.
DETERMINATIONS on GOVERNMENT TIMBER IANDs
invite tne attention Of Congress 10 the i'm.
pofianre of the statements and snggestlons n,ade
~ .n1 secretary Of the Interior concerning the
uepTedatlolls committed upon the timber lands ~
the nited States and the necessitv TO- Tho 80.
erNHtloh oil forests. II Is believed tba, tba
ne''Su,ss u'keh ~ pursuance Of existing laws IN
~ te expectations will eentirely successful
II congress, by AN appropriation for that purpose
renders Then continued enforcement nnssiIIa Tba
eNpeIlence OF other nations teaches lis that n
ooun'lE ctnnot be stripped Of it, forests with i'm
pra,as,, a,u we shall expose ourselves 10 the
sINest consequences unless the wasteful and i'm
HNlueht nanner In which the forests in the
hted Su'tes are destroyed be eilectn,ll v checked
! earnestly recommend that the measures sug-
gested by the Secretary of the Interior Tor tho suS
preston Of depfedatons on the nuhlic tinhar
ANUS OF TIE United States. for the selling of tino
per lruh the public lands and for the nreservation
~ forests be embodied in u law, and that con-
slderbg the urgent necessity of enahiin,, tho
people OF certain states and Territories M nnrbsse
uhiper from the public lands In a leyAI manner
Mhch NJ present they cannot do such a law be
passed without unavoidable DELAY -
DESERT LANDS.
would also call the attention Of Compress To
statements made bv the Secretary of the Interio,
concerning the disposition that might lie made 81
the desert lands not irrigable west Of the one hnn
dredth meridian. These lands are practicably nm
shieaole I'm er existing laws, and the suggestion
u worthy ni consideration. that a system of
ieasehod tenure would make them A source of
front To the United States while at the same time
leEhlZing the business of cattle raising which il
~ present carried on upon them
ouR AGRICULTURE
The report Of the Commissioner of Agriculture
contains the CRAFTY ling announcement of the eY
traordinarS success which has rewarded tho agri
cultural industry of the country for the mast wear
With the fair prices which obtain for the products
"i the soil especially for the surplus which our
PEOPLE have Ia export, we may confidentlv tnrn In
,1f all
Tor the revival of the depressed industries of
tile country. The report shows our Agricultural
progress during the year, and contains state
ii'"ht OF the work done by this department for the
advancement Of agricultural industry uton which
NE prosperity OF our people largely depepds
Matters OF Information are included Of great in
teIest I" all who seek, by the experience Of Others
10 improve their own methods Of cultivation The
tnults OF the department TO increase the uroduc-
non OF Important articles Of CONSUMPTION will IL
IL hoped improve the demand for labor and adj
vance the business of the country and eventually
Jesuit IN saving some Of the many millions that
are now annually aid to foreign nations for sugar
ana other staple products which habitual use has
'''ade necessary in our domestic, everyday life.
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
The board on behalf of the United States ex-
ecntlye department of the Int irrational Exhibition
OF 1876 has concluded its abors The final report
OF the board was transmitted to Congress by the
PRESIDENT near the close Of the last session As
these papeis are understood to contain interesting
ana valuable information and will constitute the
only report enIanaiing from the government on
the subject OF the Exhibition invite attention to
ne matter and recommend that the report be pub
lshed Tor general information.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
| Congress is empowered by the Constitution with
Tie authority OF exclusive legislation over the Dis
tIict of Columbia III which the seat of povern-
ment of the nation is located The interests of
| tue district having no direct representation in
t"ngfe's' are entitled to especial consideration
ana care At the hands Of the general government
| The Capitol ui the United States bel,urs Ia the
nation and it is natural that the American people
should take pride in the seat of their national
government and desire to I've an ornament to their
country. Much has been done to render it health
| iul, convenient and attractive but nuch remains
to be done which its permanent inhabitants are
not able and ought not tn be expected to do To
| impose upon them large proportion of the cost
| required Tor public Improvements, which are in a
great measure Planned and exe'uted for the con-
Ntuiente of the government and of the many
thousands OF visitors from all parts of the country
"h" temporarily reside at the Capital of the ma
toh' Is AN evident injustice. The report of the
COMMISSIONERS shows that the affairs of the dis
trct are i'll condition rs satisfactory as cuuld be
| expected in view Of the heavy debt resting upon
II, and its very limited means for necessary ex-
'tnsts. The debt of the district is as follows.
Old funded debt, IS, $40 6gl 81: . 6fl bonds puar-
| nnteed by the United States Sl3743 $50, total
| bonded debt, So, ~, al B; to which should be
| iuhed certain outstanding claims, as ca planned
/
WHhlhs the ta debt OF the district S23 80 li6 As
| Inc commissioners also ask attention to the iu-
| i"rlance OF tile improvement of the Potomac
| river and tie reclanng of the marshes border
ing the CltA of Washington, and their views ulSon
| TINS subject are concurred in by the members of
| tie Boaid OF Health, whose report il also here
with transmitted Both the commercial and sani-
utry Interests of the district will be greatly pro-
NOTED, doubt not, by this Improvement Your
attention Is invited To the suggestions Of the Com
nissoners of the Beard of Health for the orpaniza-
| ton OF a board OF charities 10 have SUPERVISION
ana control of the disbursement of all MONEYS for
charitable purposes from the District Treasury
desire also to ask your especial attention 10 the
| hetd oi adding to the efficiency Of the public
schools 81 the district by supplemental aid from
| the National Treasury This is especially Just
since 10 large II number of those attending the
schools are children of the employees OF the gov
rlnment ! earnestly commend to vour care the
interests of the !eolle OF the district who are so
Ultimately associated with the government estab-
lishment, aud To whose enterprise the good order
ana nttrtci,oness of tile Capital are largel, due
and ask your attention to the request of the
commissioners ioi legislation in behalf Of the
Interests Entrusted to their care. The appropria-
tons asked for the of the reservations belong
ing To the government withn the city by the Com
missioner of Public Buildings and Grounds are
also commended to your favorable consideration
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
The report of the joint commission created
by the act approved August 2, 1876 entitled AN
ton monument" is also herewith transmitted with
accompany Ing documents. The board of en-
slneers, officers detailed 10 examine the monu-
nent in compliance with the second section of the
act, having reported that the foundation is insult
hcient no authority exists for making the expen-
dltures necessary to secure its stability. there
lore recommend that the commission be author-
zcd to expend such portion Of the sum appropri-
ated by the act as may be necessary for the pur-
lose The present unfinished condition Of the
monument begun 50 long ago, Is reproaeh To
the nation Ii cannot be doubted that the patri-
ptic sense Of the country will warmly RESPOND TO
such prompt provision as may be made for It's
completion mt an early day and urge upon Com
gress the propriety and necessity OF immediate
legislation for this purpose,
THE PUBLIC EDuCATIoN
The wisdom of legislation upon the part of Con-
gress IN aid of the states for the education of the
whole people in those branches Of study which are
taught in the common schools of the country is no
longer question. The intelligent Judgment of
the country goes still further, regarding II as both
constitutional and expedient for the general gov
erDnient To extend to technical and higher educa-
ton such aid as h deemed essential to the gem
eIal welfare and to our due prominence among
the enlightened and cultured nations of the world
the ultimate settlement oi all questions OF the flu
lure, whether Of administration OF finance, or of
true nationality Of sentiment, depends upon the
virtue and Intelligence of the people. 1t is vain Ia
hope for the success of a Tree government without
who are the source of power. No less than one
seventh OF the entire voting population of our
country are yet unable to read and write 1t is
encouraging to observe ia connection with the
growth OF iraternal feeling III those states ia which
siaNer! formerly existed, evidences ut increasing