The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-12-06

TO DC done, which its permanent inhabitants
are not able, and ought not to be expected, to
do.-E8o impose on them large
proportion of the cost required for public
improvements, which are in great measure
planDed and executed for the convenience OF
the NoNernment and the many thousands OF
VISITORS from all parts of the country who
temporarily reside in the capital of the Ma
tloni Is an eyfdentiuipstice. Especial atten-
ton - asked by u; Commissioners OF the
Dlser1etv- in their report which is herewith
transmitted, to the importance of a perma-
nent adjustment by Congress OF the financial
relations between the United States
and the District involving the
regular annual contribution by the United
states OF its just proportion of the expenses
o. the DistTict Government and of the outlay
Tor All needed public improvements, and such
measures of relief from the burden OF taxa
ton now resting on the people of the District
as IN the wisdom Of Congress- nav 4e deemed
Just The report of the Commissioners shows
tnat the affairs ofthe District arein q condl-
tloh as satisfactory as could be expected, IN
view OF the heavy debt resting upon it. and
rs very limited means for necessary expenses.
me debt OF the District is as follows; Old
funded debt, SS.779,69l; S-65 bonds guaran-
teed by the United States, $50; total
bonded debt, -, l22 94l; to which should be
adued certain outstanding claims explained
IN the report of the Commissioners, amount
1 de5t TO H'lS2 sH making the he >, total IA
me commissioners ask attention to the inn
loftance OF the Improvements of the Potomac
flNer and the condition of the marshes Dor
uellng the City of Washington, and their
Nlews upon the subject are concurred in by
the members OF the Board of Health whose
report Is also herewith transmitted. Both
the commercial and sanitary interests of the
District viii be greatly promoted, doubt
not by this Improvement. Your attention is
invited to the suggestion of the Commission
ers and of the Board of Health for the organi-
cation OF a Board of Charities, to have Su-
pervision and control of the disbursement of
all moneys for charitable purposes from the
District Treasury. wish also to ask your es-
pecial attention to the need of reducing the
deficiency of the public schools of the District
by supplemental aid from the National
Treasury. This is especially Just, since so
large number of those attending the schools
are children OF employees of the Government.
l earnestly commend to your care the inter
ests of the people Of the District, who are so
intimately associated with the Government,
and TO whose enterprise and good order the
attractivcness of the capital are largely due,
and ! ask your attention to the request OF
the Commissioners for legislation in behalf
of the interests intrusted to their care. The
appropriations asked for the care of the
reservations belonging to the Government
within the city, by the Commissioner of Pub
lie Buildings and Grounds, are also COM
mended to your favorable consideration.
The report OF the Joint Commission created
by the act approved August >, 1876, an act
providing for the completion Of the Wash
ington Monument, is herewith transmitted,
with accompanying documents. The Board
OF Engineer Officers detailed to examine the
monument, i'll compliance with this section
. OF the act, nave reported tndJ NhS lOlhudtiOH
is insufficient. No authority exists for
making the expenditure necessary TO
secure its stability. i therefore recon-
mend that the Commission be au
thorized to cNpend such portion
of the sum appropriated by the act as may
be necessary for the purpose. The present
unfinished condition of the monument,beSun
I so long ago, is q rcprOach to the Nation II
can not be doubted that the patriotic sense
I OF the country Will mainly respond to such
prompt provision as may be made Tor IT'S
completion at an early day, and urge upon
/ Congress the propriety and necessity OF I'm
mediate legislation for this purpose.
A NATIoSAL SCHOOL FUND.
The wisdom of legisIation upon the part o.
Congress in aid of the States for educating
| the Whole people in those branches OF study
which are taught in the common schools o.
the country is no longer Question. The IN
tclligent judgment of the country goes still
further, regarding it as constitutional ana eN
pedient for the General Government to extend
: to technical and higher education such alo
as Is deemed essential to the general welfare
and to our due prominence among the en-
lightcned and cultured nations OF the world
The ultimate settlement OF all questions
of the future, whether of admins
tTatiOn or finance, depends upon the
virtue and intelligence of the people, and IL IL
vain to hope to perpetuate tree Govern
mcnt without means of inSuring the lntSll
gence of those who are the source of power
No less than One-seventh of the entire voting
population of our country are yet unable tt
:
T in connection with the growth OF haterna
! feeling in those states in which slavery for
merry existed, evidences of increasing inter
/ est in universal education, and l shall be glat
. to give my approval TO any appropriate
! measures which may be enacted by Congress
] for the purpose of experimenting with M
/ tional aid the local systems of education il
/ these States and all the states.
.. \ NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
/ Having already invited your attention t.
/ the needs of the District OfColumbia with re
/ spect to its public school system, here ado
/ that / believe it desirable, not so much witt
( reference tOthc local wants Ofthe District, bu
TO the great and lasting benefit OF the entire
country that this system should be crowned
with a University in all respects in keeping
/ with the National Capital, and thereby rea
/ lie the cherished hope otWashington on tht
. subject.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.
/ l also earnestly commend the request o
] the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution
that an adequate appropriation be mad'
/ for the establishment of 4 National Museum
/ under their supervision. FLA.
The request of providing for the preServa
/ ton and growth OF the Library OF Congress
Is also of national Importance. As the de
pOsitOry of all copyright publications an'
records this library has Outgrowl
the provisions for its aceommo
] datiOn. and the erection upon Sucl
a site a. the Judgment OF Congress may ap
/ prove. of a fire proof library building to pre-
/ serve the treasures and enlarge the usefulness
/ of this valuable collection, is recommended
( l recommend also such Legislation as vii
| render available and efficient Tor the purpos
7 of instruction, so far rs Is consistent will
I public service, the Cabinets or Museums o
/ Invention, of surgery, of Education, and q
4 Agriculture and other collections, the prop
. ertv of the National Government.
The Capital of the Nation should be some
| thing more than Il mere political center. W.
I should avail ourselves Of all the opportunit
which Providence has placed at our com
mand to cultivate he general intelligence o
. the people and increase the conditions mos
/ favorable to the success and perpetuity o
. our Institutions .. -.... .ly-t-.. -...
(Signcd) X. Il. HAYES.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, d. c.
/ Dec. 3, ls11. .....+... ..-F ..... -