Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-23
OUR NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The Indian Question-The Geneva
Award-AbOut the Patent once Coru-
u1issiouershIp.
From our Regular Correspondent.

From our Regular Correspondent.
The Indian question and the Geneva
award bin have engrossed the attention Of
Congress during the greater part Of the
week. Both subjects are too well worn to
be very vigorously exciting. Millions are
expended every year to clothe and feed the
red men 50 that they will be peaceable and
refrain from taking scalps, and cattle, and
burning squatter's buts. Il Is possible
that II the same bribe were given the
burglars, foot-pads, and common thieves
all over the country, We would realize a
qnantnm Of domestic peace and security
that would prove the home charity the bet
ter Of the two, although no enthusiast.
even IN this sentimental age. will advocate
u. III then, nobody will defend the least
bad Of two policies what should become Of
the worse2 Il Isl principle long establish
ed IN nature, and written 10 law, that hu-
man beings must be honest and work, and
that mauFauders and brgands, no matter
how wide they pitch their tents, must
yield to the benign eneroachments Of civil
lization. In the light and might Of civili-
zation the Indian has no more right 20 the
soil over which he roams than the prairie
wolf and grizzly bear. II he is an animal
OF superior intelligence he Is also q friend
Of more diabolical cruelty.
The bill to carry out the agreement Of
the Interior Department with the Utes was
passed in the Senate on Monday by 81 to
10. This measure was most vehemently
resisted by western Senators, who desire to
open all available Indian reservations 10
white industry or cupidity. though, singn-
larly enough, the two Colorado Senators
we're found on opposite sides. It vas also
opposed, on the inal veto, by Mr.. Ed
munds, on the ground OF its unconstitu-
tionality asinfringing on the treaty making
power OF the executive. The agreement
requires the assent Of three-fourths Of Utes
and one Of the difficulties pointed out Ly
Mr.. Edmunds, is that they are divided in
TO three separate communities, compelling
any one Of which to bulge by force, be-
cause out voted by the remainder, would
seem great hardship Incidentally. also,
be showed how doubtful is the power to
exempt from State taxation the lands TO be
granted to the Indians in severalty. With
no prejudice against the experiment and
apparently unable to suggest better way
AiVAh Tue ulu " the new slELeuls ne c0ulQ
not overcome his scruples as to the legality
OF the bill.
The Office of Commissioner OF Patents is
about 10 be vacated by Gen. Paine, and it
is rnmofed that his designated successor is,
though lawyer. without any conadera-
ble special training and experience in pa
tent matters" His decisions on appealed
cases, in the capacity Of legal adviser to
the Department Of the Interior, have been
far from giving satisfaction. Gen. Paine's
administration has, in all respects, except
personal integrity, borne out the fear eI-
pressed at the time Of his appointment, and
strengthens theargument Of those who con.
tended then, as they contend now, that the
appointment should be in the line Of pro-
motion from within the Office, not only on
the theory Of sound civil service, but be-
cause the requisite experience and trained
Judicial faculty can only be found there.
Any difficulty which may arise from rival
ry and pressure on the part OF the body Of
examiners can surely be overcome, and at
least should be disregarded in face Of the
Importance of establishing the principle Of
the immense interests at stake. There is
even as in Gen. Paine's case, a physical
limit TO the tenure Of Office on the part Of
an untried man.