The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-11-24

He was sent to the insane asylum.
THE SIOUX COMMISSION.
Indian Commissioner Price Is informed
by Judge Edmunds. chairman of the Sioux
commission, that eight thousand Yankton
and Ogalla Sioux, Indians at Pine Ridge
agency, Dakota, have agreed to separate
reservations Of limited proportions. The
Indians at Rosebud agency had previously
agreed to separate reservations, and as the
Indians at these two agencies comprise more
than half the Sioux nation, the work of the
commissioner Is practically accomplished.
The object of the commission in having the
Indians agree to select separate reserva-
tons is to concentrate all the Indians in
about One-half the present reservation in
order that the other half may be thrown
yet located their intended reservations and
can not without authority from congress-
Congress will be called upon to pay them
for the land they surrender.
POSTAL MATTERS.
The blank agency division of the postOf-
flee department has so far furnished to 500
pOstOffices of the fourth class which are en-
titled to them letter-balances, marking and
rating stamps, and ink and pad, leaving to
be supplied about $500 offices. OF this
number $500 can not be furnished this year,
the appropriation for this object not being
sufficient. The cost of each outfit Is S4.39.
The delay of the contractor in furnishing
the articles has prevented the department.
supplying this outfit as rapidly as it was
hoped. Postmaster General Howe, in his
report, will recOmmend that uniform cancel
ing ink be supplied to all postoffices in the
country.
PATENT FEES.
Secretary Teller will not, in his annual
report recommend reduction in the cost of
obtaining patent. lie Is persuaded to this
course, it is said, from the fact that the pat
ent laws are now the most liberal OF any
country in the world. In England it costs
$1,000 to obtain fourteen-year patent; in
Germany over 5000; in Russia, about $500,
and in Canada, $40; while here it costs but
$50 for q seventeen-year patent. 1t Is not
thought by the commissioner of patents,
Marble, that reduction in fees would ma
terally increase the number of patents TAX
en- out or stimulate invention, as the small
fee Is now within the reach of all. He
thought that the largo revenue now derived
from this source is no argument in favor of
reduction unless it can be shown that
the fees bear heavily upon deserving invent
OrS.
POSTAL MATTERS.
An important departure in the policy of
the pOst-of1ice department will be inaugu-
rated on Jan. /, next. 1t consists in trans
ferring to the blank agency division, which
is under the supervision of the first assist
ant postmaster general, the purchase of all
supplies in the first and second class post
offices of the country. AS at present con-
Quoted, postmaster at one of these offices
purchases stationery and furniture for his
own office, selects such styles and tints as
may please his fancy, and sends his bill to
the department. where it is paid. 1t Is
thought by supplying these offices with
such material as they may need and have
paper uniform in size, ETC., that at least %
per cent. over the present cost can be saved.
With this object in view, prominent post
masters from all sections of the country have
been requested to assemble here, when
the question of uniformity in blanks, size
of paper, and postofiice books Will be dis
cuSSed.
THE GARFIELD FAIR.
At meeting of the executive committee
of the Garfield Monument Fair association,
it was decided to extend invitations to the
president and members of his cabinet, to
the justices of the supreme court, and to the
general of the army, and other distinguish
| ed persons To be present and participate in
the opening ceremonies. The managers OF
the fair have proceeded, so far as the CAPT.
toll is concerned, on the principle of taking
| an ell where they are given an in CHI. The
propriety of using the capitol for fair is
criticized a good deal in quiet way, but
the board of directors have prOce ded to Oc-
cupy all the space allotted to them and
some space that was not allotted They at
tempted recently to close the rotunda to- the
public on account of the operations OF the
carpenters, who are putting up the plat
forms and frames for the display of goods
Senator Miller, of New York, was victim
of this closure and made such disturbance
that he was passed through, and presently
all effort to keep people out of the rotunda
was resclnded.
ARMY EDUCATION.
The annual report of Chaplin Mullins, in
charge of education in the army, has reach
ed the secretary of war. 1t shows that l05
It.,.Ix
teachers, and the schools were attended
during the year by 1,5O0 enlisted men and
| loo children. At ~ posts there are no
teachers. At lat posts and camps there are
| libraries, with total of A., 100 volumes, be-
| ing 2h volumes to each enlisted man. In
the garrisOns, the number of books circu-
lated per month Is 81, S36, being an average
of IL volumes per man per month. A large
number of papers and periodicals are also
received and placed in the reading-rooms,
TO which. the average daily attendance
numbers 4,375. The report recommends the
passage by congress of a bill authorizing the
employment of $50 teachers with rank and
| pay OF cOmmiSSary sergeants, S34 per month
with allowance for ratiOns, room, ETC.
Chaplain Mullins joins in the recOmmenda.
ton of several officers that the system OF
compulsory education be enforced among q
certain class of men.
RIVER AND HARBOB IMPROVEMENT.
| Dtll. WTlRHU, CIllcl VI eIRlIlctTS, Ill fllS
annual report to the secretary of war rec
ommends the expenditure of the amounts
mentioned below during the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1884, For the Improvement Of
the western rivers and harbors, the Missis-
sippi river between the Illinois and Ohio
rivers, 81, 900, 900; appropriation asked for
to be applied to completing the works now
progressing and beginning new works be-
low Fosters island, removing snags from
the Mississippi from the mouth of the Mis-
souri, tOVicksburg, 100000; removing snags
from the Missouri river sos, 600; for mag
boat to be used above Omaha, $4,000; sur
vey of the Missouri mouth to Fort Benton.
Montana, $50, 600; improvement of the Mis-
souri, mouth to Sioux City, 81, 000,0 900; esti-
mated amount required to complete the ex-
listing project, 81, 10000; improving the
Mississippi from ST. Paul to Des MOines
Rapids, 1850, 900; from Des Moines Rapids
to the mouth Of the Illinois river, $500, 900;
reservoirs upon the headwaters of the Mis-
sssippi, s5O0OO0; improvements of theOhio
river, s9S0, 900; Duluth harbor, 100000;
Harbor of Refuge, Milwaukee bay, $780,
| al, ri, hav--