Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-12-16
Contiaued from LIST paqe.

I WIlEU
work, additional legislation IS asked by the post
master-general, tC whose recommendations espe-
cial attention Is called.
The suggestion Of the p0stmaster-g general that
II would be wise to encourage, by appropriate leg
islation the establishment of American lines Of
steamers by our own citizens, to carry the mails
between our own ports and those of Mexico. Cen
trail America South America, and of transit Pacific
countries Is commended TO the serious considera-
ton Of congress.
The attention OF congress i also invited to the
suggestions of the general in regard to
postal savings.
SUPREME COURT.
The necessity for additional provision, TO aid in
the transaction Of the business OF the federal
courts, becomes each year more apparent. The
dockets Of the supreme court, and Of the circuit
courts in the greater number OF the circuits are
encountered with the constant accession Of leases
In the former court and III many instances in the
circuit courts wears intervene before it is pract-
cable to bring cases to hearing.
Tie attorney general recommends the establish
ment Of an intermediate court of errors and ap-
pcals. 1t Is recommended that the number Of
Judges Of the circuit court in each circuit with the
exception Of the second circuit should be increased
by the addition Of another judge; in the second
circuit that two should be added; aud that an IN
teTInediate appellate court should be formed in
each circuit to consist of the circuit judges and
the circuit justice and that in the event Of the
absence Of either Of these judges the place Of the
absent judge should be supplied by the Judge Of
one of the district courts in the circuit. Such an
appellate court could be safely invested with large
jurisdiction and It's decisions would satisfy suitoTs
iii many cases where appeals would still be al
lowed TO the supreme court. The expense in
CURED for this intermediate court viii require q
very moderate increase Of the appropriations for
the expenses Of the department Of justice. This
recommendation is commended to the careful
consideration Of congress.
= fhat a e
stances oppressive and disastrous to sut0Is now
| necessarily occurs in the federal courts, which
will in this way viii be rcmedied.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
| The report of the secretary Of the interior, pre-
/ sents an elaborate account Of the operations OF
that department during the past year. Il gives
me great pleasure to say that our Indian affairs
| appear to be IN more hopeful condition now
| than ever before. The Indians have made graft
/ tying progress in agriculture, herding, and me-
| chauical pursuits. Many who few years
! ago IN hostile conflict with the government are
! quietly settling down on farms where they hope
/ to make their permanent homes building houses
/ and engaging in the occupations of civilized
/ life. The introduction of the freightmg business
among them has been remarkably fruitful of good
results. IN giving many of them congenial en-
/ ployment, and in stimulating their ambition to
earn their own support. Their honesty, fidelity
and efficiency carriers are highly praised. The
/ organization Of Il police force Of indians, has
/ been equally successful in maintaining law and
| erter upon the reservations and III exercising a
wholesome moral influence among the Indians
! themselves. | concur with the secretary Of the
! interior III the recommendation that the pay Of
/ this force be increased, rs an Inducc3neut to the
! hest class Of young men to enter it.
/ Much care and attention has been devoted to
| the enlargement of educational facilities for the
! Indians. The mcaHs available for this important
| object have been very inadequate 4 few addi-
| tonal boarding schools at Indian agencies have
! been established, and the erection OF building has
| been begun for several more, but an increase of
| the appropriations for this interesting under
| taking is greatly needed to accomodate the large
number of Indian children Of Sabotage. The
number offered by their parents from all parts Of
! the country for education III the government
! schools is much larger than can be accommodated
with the means ~ present available Tor that pur-
| pose. The number of Indian pupils at the Nor
mai school at Hampton, a., under the direction
| of Gen. Armstrong, has been considerably in
creased and their progress is highly encouraging.
The Indian school established by the interior de-
partment III 1879, at Carlisle, Pa, under the d-
rection of Captain Pratt has been equally sue
ccssful. 1t has now nearly two hundred pupils of
both sexes representing 4 great variety OF the
tribes east of the Rocky Mountains. The pupils
in both these institutions receive not only ee
mentaIy English education; but are also instructed
IN homework, agriculture and useful mechanical
pursuits \ similar school was established this
year III j. oEGSJ NFOhc. OEe- lOE lht cuuCdllOu VI
Indian youth on the Pacific coast. In addition to
| this, thirty-siX Indian boys and girls were
selected from the eastern Cherokees and
| placed in neutrality-suspicious. IN North Carolina,
| where they are to receive an elementary English
education and training III industrial pursuits The
interest shown by Indian parents, even among the
so-called wild tribes, IN the education Of their
! children, IS very gratifying, and gives promise
! that the results accomplished by the efforts now
making will be of lasting benefit.
! The expenses Of Indian education have so far
! been drawn from the permanent ciyilization-fund
at tie disposal of the dcpa tment of the Interior
but the fund Is now much reduced that the con-
tinuance Of this beneficial work viii in future de-
| pend on specific appropriations by congress toI
! the purpose, and | venture to express the hope
that congress viii not permit institutions so fruit
| ful Of good results to perish for want Of means
| for their support. On the contrary, an increase
! of the number of such schools appears to me
! highly advisable.
! The past year has been unusually free from dis
turbances among the Indian tribes. An agree
ment has been made with the Utes by which they
surrender their large reservation III Colorado in
| consideration of an annuity to be paid to them
and agree to settle in severalty on certain lands
| designated for that purpose, farmers, holding
individual title to their land in tee-smpe, lnaen-
/ able for certain period. In this way a costly
| Indian war has been avoided. which, at one time
seemed imminent, and for the first time in the his
! tory of the country, an Indian nation has given
up its tribal existence to be settled in severalty
and to live as individuals under the common pro-
lection of the laws of the country. The conduct
| OF the Indians throughout the country, during
the past year, with but few noteworthy exceptions
has been orderly and peaceful. The guerilla war
/ fare carried on for two years by Victoria and his
| band of southern Apaches, has virtually come to
an end by the death Of that chief and most Of his
| followers, on Mexican soil The disturbances
/ caused on our northern frontier by Sitting Bull
and his men, who had taken refuge III the British
| dominions, are also likely to cease. A large ma
] jority of his followers have surrendered to our
military forces, and the remainder are apparently
| in progress of disntegration.
| concur with the secretary of the interior in
| expressing the earnest hope that congress will at
this session take favorable action on the bill pro
viding for the allotment of lands on the different
reservations in severalty to the Indians with pat
entS comforting fee simple title inaienable for a
certain period and the eventful disposition of the
residue of the reservations for general settlement
with the consenC and for the benefit of the Indi-
ans, placing the latter under the equal protection
of the laws of the country. This measure, to-
gether with vigorous prosecution of our eduea-
| tional efforts will work the most important and
effective advance toward the solution of the Indi-
an problem, in preparing for the gradual merging
| of our Indian population in the great body OF
| American citizenship.
ssAGRICULTURE.
! The commissioner OF agriculture expresses the
confident belief that his efforts in the production
| of our own sugar and tea have been encouraging
| tanned have attracted marked attention at home
| and have received the special consideration OF
foreign nations. The successful cultivation of
| own tea and the manufacture of our own sugar
would make a difference of many millions of dol
lars annually in the wealth of the nation.