Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-01

salaries, of not more than go, GOO a year, winch
would certainly be small In comparison with
the objects TO be obtained.
The report of the Postmaster General bears
testimony to the general revival OF business
throughout the country. The receipts of the
Post Office department for the year ending June
30. 1879, were $50 041 ,9S2. Sc, being $l64 1864
more than the revenues Of the preceding year.
The amount realized from the sale of postage
stamps, stamped envelopes, and postal cards,
was SI64. 81 more than in the preceding year,
and 81 3SI, 559. % more than in 1877. The eXpen-
ditures of the department were S33 449 500 As, of
which the sum of 1916, 461. SO was paid on liabii-
ties incurred in the preceding year. The expen-
dtures during the year were sSO1 ,20917 less than
in the preceding year. This reduction is to be at
trtbuted mainly to the operation of the law pass
ed June k1I, 1873, changing the compensation
OF postmasters from commission on the
value OF stamps sold, to commission on stamps
Cancelled The amount drawn from the Treas
ury on appropriations, in addition to the
revenues OF the department. was g, OBJ ,454 81,
being s2,276, 1876 less than In the preceding
year. The expenditures for tbs fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1881, are estimated at S39, 800 90O
and the receipts from all sources at s32 PIC, 600
leaving deficiency to be appropriated for out
OF the Treasury Of s., 10000 The relations Of
been harmonized, notwithstanding the general
reduction by Congress of their compensation, by
the appropriation for special facilities. The
railway Post Office lines have been greatly ex-
tended especially in the Southern States. The
interests OF the Railway Mail Service and of the
public wOnld be greatly promoted and the ex-
penditures could be more readily controlled, by
the classification OF the employees of the railway
mail service as recommended by the Post
master General, the appropriation for salaries
with respect to which the maximum limit is
already fixed by law, to be made in gross The
Postmaster General recommends an amendment
of the law regulating the increase OF CON-
pensatfon for increased service and in
creased speed in star routes, so as to
enable him 10 advertise for proposals for
such increased service and speed He also sug-
geStS the advantages to accrue to the commerce
OF the country from the enactment Of general
law, authorizing contracts with American built
steamers, carrying the American flag, for trans
porting the mails between ports of the United
states and ports OF the West Indies and South
America, at fixed maximum price per mile
the amount to be expended being regulated
by annual appropriations, in like manner with
the amount to be paid for the domestic star SER
vice. 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 countries 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
3, 1872 under which this arrangement was
made, so as to apply to all other dutiable arti-
tries,
THE INDIAN WARDS.
The reports OF the Secretary of the Interior
and of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs set
ting forth the present state of our relations
with the Indian tribes on our territory, the
measures taken to advance their civilization
achieved by them, will be found of more than
ordinary interest The general conduct of our
Indian population has been SO satisfactory that
the occurrence of two disturbances which re-
suited in blOOdShed and destruction OF property,
Is all the more to be lamented. 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 this
difficulty will lead to such arrangements as will
prevent further hostile contact between the In
dams and the border settlements in Western
Colorado. The other disturbance occurred at
the MeScalero agency, in New Mexico, where
Victoria, the head of small band of marauders
after committing many atrocities, being vigOr-
ously chased by military force. made his way
across the Mexican border and is now ON for
eign soil.
While these occurrences, in which compare
lively small number of Indians were engaged,
are most deplorable vast majority of our In
dian population have fully justified the eXpecta-
tons of those who believed that, by humane
and peaceful influences, the Indian can be led to
abandon the habits OF savage life and to develop
capacity for useful and civilized occupations.
What they have already accomplished in The
pursuit of agricultural and mechanical work,
the remarkable success which has attended the
experiment of employing as freighters class of
Indians hitherto counted among the widest
and most intractable, and the general and
urgent desire expressed by them for the educa-
ton OF their children may be taken as sufficient
proof that they will be found capable of accom-
to be wisely and fairly guided The Indian
policy sketched in the report of the Secre-
tary. of the Interior-the object of which
ucation Of Indian youth to settle the Indians
upon farm lots in severalty. to give them title in
fee to their farms inalienable for certain num-
Der OF years, and when their wants are thus
provided for, to dispose by sale Of the lands on
their reservations not occupied and used by
them, a fund to be formed out Of the proceeds
for the benefit Of the Indians, which will gradu-
nyy
provided for by annual appropriationS-mu
commend Itself as just and beneficial to the In
dams, and as also calculated to remove those
distractions which the existence OF large reser-
yationS presents to the settlement and develop
ment OF the country. l therefore earnestly re-
commend the enactment of law enabling the
government to give Indians title in fee, ina
lienable for twenty-five years, to the farm lands
assigned to them by allotment. also repeat the
accommodation made in my first annual mes
sage that law be passed admitting Indians who
give satisfactory. proof OF having by their own
labor supported their families for num-
Der OF years, who are willing to detach
the benefit of the homestead act
and to grant them patents containing the same
provision of inalienability for certain period
The experiment OF sending number of Indian
children of both sexes to the Hampton Normal
and Agricultural Institute in Virginia to receive
an elementary English education and practical
instruction in farming and other useful indus
tries has led to results so promising that it was
thought expedient to turn over the cavalry bar
racks at Carlisle, in Pennsylvania, to the In
terror department for the establishment of an
Indian school On larger scale. This school has
now ISIS pupils, selected from various tribes and
is in full operation. Arrangements are also made
for the education OF a number of Indian boys
and girls, belonging to the tribes ON the Pacific
slope, in similar manner, at Forest Grove in
Oregon. These institutions Will commend them
selves to the liberalitv of Congress and to the
muniticence OF the American
people.
Last spring information was received of the
OF an extensive movement in the
western States the object OF which was the oc-
cupatiOn, by Unauthorized persons, OF certain
lands III the Indian Territory, coded by the
CherokeeS to the government Tor the purpose
OF settlement by other Indian tribes On the
29th OF April issued proclamation warning
all persons against participation in such an at
tempt and by the cooperation OF a military
force, the invasion was promptly checked 1t
Is my purpose to protect the rights OF the Indian
of that territory to the full extent
Of the executive power but it would be unwiSe
TO ignore the fact that a territory so large and
so fertile, with population so sparse and so
great wealth OF unused resources will be
found more exposed to the repetition Of such at
temptS as happened this year when the sur
states are more densely settled and
the westward movement OF our population looks
still more eagerly for fresh lands to occupy.
| nder such circumstances the difficulty OF
the Indian Territory in its present
state will greatly increase, and the Indian
tribes inhabiting it would do well to prepare for
such contingency. | therefore fully approve
OF the advice given to them by the Secretary of
Int -tF,n tn lfrriI 10