Connecticut western news., 1881-12-14

} vestment of surplus revenue withou | the ,payment of premiums. Unles
 these bonds can be funded at g muc
 lower rate of interest than they no,
 bear, I agree with the Secretary of tn
 Treasury that no legislation respecting
 them is desirable. ~
 TEE LIQUOR TAX. + It is perhaps doubtful whether tn
 immediate reduction of the rate of tax
 ation upon liquors and tobacco is ad
 vlsable.r Especially in view of the drail
 upon the Treasury which must attent
 the payment of arrears. of pensions. 4
 comparison, however, of the amount O
 taxes collected under the varying rate
 of taxation which have at different time prevailed suggests the intimation tha J some reduction may soon be made with
 out material diminution of the revenue | REVISION OF TARIFF.
 The tariff laws also need revision
 but that due regard may be paid tt
 the conflicting interests of our citizens important changes should be made witt caution. If a careful revision cannot bt made at this session, commission sucl as was lately approved by the Senate and Is now recommended by the Secre l tary of the Treasury, would doubtless tighten the labors of Congress whenever this subject shall be brought to its con. sideration.
 | THE ARMY.
 The President concurs in the recon mendation of the Secretary of War in. creasinR the army to 30, 900 men. sF l."5 THE INDIAN BUREAU.
 ely o%k A.. Al l. the Secretary of War regarding the acquisitions frequently made by the In dian Bureau upon the subsistence de- partment of the army for the casual support of bands and tribes of Indians whose appropriations are exhausted. The War Department should not be left, by reason of inadequate provision for the Indian Bureau, to contribute for the maintenance of Indians.
 ~, ,. THE sTAR-RoUTE CASES.
 As has been already stated, great re- auctions have recently been made in the expense of the Star-route service. The Investigations of the Department of Justice and the Post Office Department have resulted in the presentation of in dlctments against persons formerly con nected with that service, accusing them of offenses against the United States. I have enjoined upon the officials who are charged with the conduct of the cases on the part of the government aud upon the eminent counsel, who, before my accession to the Presidency, were called to their assistance, the duty of prose- cutting with the utmost vigor of the law all persons who may be found charge able with frauds upon the Postal ser vice. -,.. s..r .f t.'ry .e.... , -.'r. r if PUBLIC EDUCATION. '.re
 Although our system of government does not contemplate that the nation should provide or support system for the education of our people, no measures calculated to promote that general in- telligence and. virtue upon which the perpetuity of our institutions so greatly depends, have ever been regarded with indifference by Congress or the Executive A large portion of the public domain has been, from time to time, devoted to the promotion of education. There is now 8 special reason why, by setting apart the proceeds of its sales of public lands or by some other course, the govern ment should aid the work of education. Many who now exercise the right of suffrage are unable to read the ballot which they cast. Upon many who had just emerged from condition of slavery were suddenly devolved, the responsi- bilities of citizenship in that port tion of the country most impoverished by war. l, have been pleased to learn from the report of the Commissioner of Educa- tion that there has been lately com mendable increase of interest and effort for their instruction, but all that can be done by local legislation and private generosity should be supplemented by such aid as can be constitutionally afforded by the national government.
 l would suggest that if any fund be dedicated to this purpose it may be wisely distributed in the different States, according to the ratio of Hitter acy, as by those means those locations which are most in need of such assist ance will reap its especial benefits.
 '... AGRICULTURE.
 The report of the Commissioner of exhibits results of the ex- perlments in which that department has been engaged during the past year, and makes important suggestions in refer ence to the agricultural development of the country.
 THE INDIANS.
 The President devotes much space to the Indian question. He advises liberal appropriations for the support of h. dian schools, because of his confident belief that that course is consistent with wisest economy.
 THE HORIZONS. For many years the Executive in his annual message to Congress has urged the necessity of stringent legislation for the suppression of polygamy in the ter ritories, and especially in the territory of Utah. The existing statute for the | punishment of this odious crime, so re- 7olting to the moral and religious sense of | Jhristiandom, has been consistently and | violated ever since its en- | 'ctment. Indeed, iu spite of commenda- ole efforts on the part of the authorities | who represent the United States in that territory, the law has in very rare in- stances been enforced, and, for cause o which reference will presently be nade,, is practically 8 dead letter. recommend the passage of an act that in the territories of the United States the fact that woman has oeen married to person charged with 'iganny shall not disqualify her as a witness upon his trial for that offence.
 ,z .:.." PENSIONS. ,'.
 It appears from the report of the Commissioner of Pensions that, since S60, 789,063 original pension claims lave been filed 450, ,949 of these have 'een allowed and inscribed on the pen ion roll 72, ,539 have been rejected and being thirteen plus per cent. f the whole number of claims settled. ,here are now pending for settlement 65, 575 original pension claims, 227, ,04O f which were filed prior to July l, 1880. ,hese, when allowed, will involve the ayment of arrears from the date of dis hai.oa in casa of Lan inoxralid nr,d Rroxa Il