The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-12-04

throughout the country. The receipts of the
Postofice Department during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1879, were $50, ,041 ,982.S6,
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 $764 ,465.91
more than in the preceding year, and $2,3s7,-
559.23 more than in 1877. The expenditures
of the Department were $33, AS, ,899.45, of
which the sum of 1876 ,461.63 was paid on
liabilities incurred in preceding years. The
expenditures during the year were $s01,-
209.77 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 $2,276,-
SO less in the preceding year. The ex-
penditures for thexfscal year ending June 80,
1881, are estimated at $39 1920 900, and the re-
ceipts from all sources at $32, ,2lo 900, leaving
a deficiency to be appropriated for out of the
Treasury of 81 ,710 300. 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 Postoffice 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, 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 to apply to all
other dutiable articles received in the mails
from foreign countries.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The history of the outbreak 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. It 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
| which comparatively small number of
Indians were engaged, most deplora-
| BILE, vast majority of our Indian popula-
tion 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. I, there
| fore, earnestly recommend the enactment of a
| law enabling the Government to give Indians
| title in fee, unalienable for twenty five
| years, to the farm lands assigned to them
by allotment. I 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 patents containing the same provision o
inalienability for 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 beer
continued, and have met with considerable
success. A large number of cases of trespass
ers have been presented in the Courts OF tht
United States. Others have been settled
the trespassers offering to make payment tt
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.
more important result, however, consists il
the fact that the destruction of our publi
forests by depreciation, though such cases still
occur, has been greatly reduced in extent
and it is probable that if the present policy il
vigorously pursued, and sufficient pro
vision to that end is made by Con
gress, such trespasses, at least those on
large scale, can be entirely suppressed, ex
cept in the Territories where timber for tn
daily requirements of The population can no
under the present state of the law be other
wise obtained. I, therefore, earnestly invit
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 land
| without conveying the fee, where such land
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 guardn
against a sweeping destruction of tn
forests. The enactment of such law ap
pears to become more pressing necessit
every day.
| THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
In former messages, impressed with the i'm
portance of the subject, I have taken occasio
to commend to Congress the adoption of
generous policy toward the District of Colum
bia. The report of the Commissioners of th
District herewith transmitted, contains sugges
tions and recommendations, to all of which
earnestly invite your careful attention. as
your early and favorable consideration of th
views which they express as to the urger
need of legislation for the reclamatio
of the marshes of the Potomac and its easter
branch within the limits of the city, an
for the repair of the streets of the Capt.,
heretofore laid with wooden blocks, and b
, decay rendered almost impossible, and
source of imminent danger to the health of i
citizens. The means at the disposal of tt
Commissioners are wholly inadequate for tt
accomplishment of these important works, an
should be supplemental by timely appropri,
tions from the Federal Treasury. The fllin
Of the fats in front of the city will add to IL
adjacent lands and parks now owned by IL
Y United States a large and valuable domain
t sufficient, it is thought, to reimburse its ell
] tire cost, and will also, incidental RI
q suit, secure the permanent improvement of tt
= river for the purposes of navigation. The Cor
= stitution having invested Congress with 8,
!, preme and exclusive jurisdiction over the Dil
d trict of Columbia, its citizens must of necessit
!. look to Congress alone for all needful legisli
= ton affecting their interests /; and as the terr
], tory of this District is the common property
a the people of the United States, who equal
o with its resident citizens are interested in Il
I prosperity of their Capital, cannot doubt th
: you will be amply sustained by the gener
s voice of the country in any measures you ms
: adopt for this purpose.
d RUTHERFORD B. HAYES,
q Executive Mansion, December 1, 1879.
l. 4