The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-12-04

rosVomco DePaItInent uuIlng tne nscal year
ending June 80, 1879, were $50, ,041 ,982S6,
being S764, ,465.91 more than the revenues of
the preceding year. The amount realized
| from the sales of postage stamps, stamped
envelopes and postal cards was S764, ,465.9l
more than in the preceding year, and 81 ,387,-
559.23 more than in 1877. The expenditures 4
of the Department were $33, ,449, ,Ss9.45, of
which the sum of s376,46l.63 was paid on
liabilities incurred ip preceding years. The
expenditures during the year were $SO1,
2O9.77 less than in the preceding year.
The amount drawn from the Treasury on ap-
| preparations in addition to the revenues of the
Department was So, ,031 ,454.96, being 1926,
| 1876 less in the preceding year. The ex-
| penditures for thes fiscal year ending June 80,
1851, are estimated at t39 1926, ,9OO and the re-
ceipts from oil sources at S32 ,210 900, leaving
| a deficiency to be appropriated for out of the
Treasury of 81 800. The relations of the
Department with Railroad Companies have
been harmonized, Notwithstanding the general
reduction by Congress of their compensation by
the appropriation for special facilities, and the
| Railroad Postofice lines have been greatly ex-
| tended, especially in the Southern States.
The Postmaster General recommends an
amendment of the law regulating the increase
of compensation for increased service and in
creased speed on Star routes, so as to enable
him to advertise proposals for such increased
| service and speed. The arrangement made by
the Postmaster General and the Secretary of
the Treasury for the collection of duty upon
books received in the mail from foreign coun-
tries has proved SO satisfactory in its practical
operation that the recommendation is now
| made that Congress shall extend the provisions
of the Act of March 8, 1879, under which this
arrangement was made, SO as 10 apply to all
other dutiable articles received in the mails
| from foreign countries.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The history of the outbreak on the White
River Ute Reservation in Western Colorado has
| become so familiar by elaborate reports in the
public press that its remarkable incidents need
not be stated here in detail. 1t is expected
that the settlement of the difficulty will lead
to such arrangements as will prevent further
hostile contact between the Indians and the
border settlements in Western Colorado.
The other disturbance occurred in the Mes
calero Agency, in New Mexico, where Victoria,
the head of small band of mauraders, after
committing many atrocities, being vigorously
chased by a military force, made his way
across the Mexican border, and is now on
foreign soil. While these occurrences, in
Indians were engaged, are most deplora-
1 BILE, vast majority. of our Indian popula-
ton have fully justified the expectations OF
those who believe that by humane and
peaceful influences the Indian can be
led to abandon the habits of savage life.
The Indian policy sketched in the report Of
the Secretary of the Interior, the object of
which is to make liberal provision for the edu-
cation of Indian youths, to settle the Indians
upon farm lots in severalty, to give them title
in fee in their farms, inalienable for certain
number of years, etc., must commend itself as
just and beneficial to the Indians. 7, there
fore, earnestly recommend the enactment of a
law enabling the Government to give Indians
a title in fee, unalienable for twenty-five
years, to the farm lands assigned to them
by allotment. also repeat the rec
ommendation made in my first annual mes
sage, that law be passed admitting Indians,
who can give satisfactory proof of having by
their own labor supported their families for a
number of years, and who are willing to de-
tach themselves from their tribal relations, to
: the benefit of the Homestead Act, and TO grant
them pat nts containing the same provision of
inalienability for a certain period.
THE FRONTIER.
The efforts made by the Department of the
Interior to arrest the depredations on the
timber lands of the United States have been
continued, and have met with considerable
success. A large number of cases of trespass-
ers have been presented in the Courts OF the
United States. Others have been settled,
the trespassers offering to make payment to
the Government for the value of the timber
taken by them. The proceeds of these prose-
cutions and settlements turned into the Treas
ury far exceed in amount the sums appro-
priated by Congress for this purpose. A
more important result, however, consists in
the fact that the destruction of our public
} forests by depreciation, though such cases still
occur, has been greatly reduced in extent
and it is probable that if the present policy is
vigorously pursued, and sufficient pro-
, vision to that end is made by Con
gress, such trespasses, at least those on q
large scale, can be entirely suppressed, ex-
cept in the Territories where timber for the
daily requirements of the population can not
under the present state of the law be other
, wise obtained. I, therefore, earnestly invite
the attention of Congress to the recommend,
alton made by the Secretary of the. Interior
that law be enacted enabling the Govern
ment to sell timber from the public lands
without conveying the fee, where such lands
are principally valuable for the timber thereon
such sales to be so regulated that as to con.
, form to domestic wants and business require.
/ ments, while at the same time guarding
against a sweeping destruction of thu
forests. The enactment of such law ap
pears to become a more pressing necessity
every day.
There is no branch of industry in which
labor, directed by scientific knowledge, yield
such an increased production in comparison
| with unskilled labor, and no branch Of tn,
public service to which the encouragement o
liberal appropriations can be more appropri
ately extended. The omission to render sucl
aid is not a wise economy, but on the contrar,
undoubtedly results in losses of immense sum
annually that might be saved through we'll
directed efforts by the Government to promot
q this vital interest. The results already &C
complished, with the very limited means here
tofore placed at the command of the Depart
A ment of Agriculture, is an earnest of what ma,
n be expected with increased appropriations fo
: the several purposes indicated in the report o
n the Commissioner. With view to placing tn
: Department on footing which will enable
to prosecute more effectively the objects fo
which it is established, appropriations ar
needed for more complete laboratory, for tn
y establishment Of veterinary division and
" division of forestry, and for an increase {
Ii force. The requirements for these and othe
n purposes indicated in the report of the Com
l. missioner under the head Of the immediat
, necessities of the Department, will not involy
>, any expenditure of money that the countr
"a ! can not with propriety now undertake IN IL
o. interests of agriculture.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
In former messages, impressed with the in
10 portance of the subject, have taken occasio
1t to commend to Congress the adoption of
A. generous policy toward the District of Colun
as bia. The report of the Commissioners of Il
l. District herewith transmitted, contains sugge
ID tions and recommendations, to all of which
ne earnestly invite your careful attention. 1 as
ar your early and favorable consideration of IL
8. views which they express as to the urgel
.. need of legislation for the reclamatit
or of the marshes of the Potomac and its easter
- branch within the limits of the city, al
for the repair of the streets of the Capt.
heretofore laid with wooden blocks, and
.. decay rendered almost impossible, and
- source of imminent danger to the health of
A citizens. The means at the disposal of t
~ ~ Commissioners are wholly inadequate for Il
as a accomplishment of these important works, ar
rs rs should be supplemented by timely appropri
ns tions from the Federal Treasury. The fill
~ of the flats in front of the city will add to t
no adjacent lands and parks now owned by t
~ " United States a/large and valuable domai
T. sufficient, it is thought, to reimburse its e
70 tire cost, end will also, as an incidental r
suit, secure the permanent improvement of Il
e . .afn ~