The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-12-14

route service, it is estimated, will cost
for the fiscal year, S5, SOC, 800, which is
more than two hundred thousand dol
lars less than the cost of this service |
for the last fiscal year, and 1,175 900 |
IS than the amount appropriated for
t current year.
That portion of the message which |
relates to the War Department is of
interest, chiefly because of the concur
renee by the President in the views of
the Secretary touching an increase of
the army and the curtailment of ap
prOpriations for public works. The
President advises Congress that the
amounts appropriated in the last river
and harbor bill, there remains on hand
a large uneXpended balance, which
could not be applied during the year
because of the late day at which these
amounts became available. Proceed
ing on the theory that taxation is to
be reduced, the Presid4nt joins with
the Secretary of War in the hope that
Congress for the next fiscal year will
make no appropriations on account of
rivers and harbors, except in SO far as
may be necessary to prosecute work
already begun, and for which the ap
preparations will have been exhausted
at the end of the fiscal year.
The operations of the Navy Depart
ment are very briefly reviewed. The
attention of Congress is invited to the
report of the Board of Advisors of the
Navy, in various recommendations
advanced to promote Its efficiency.
The President concurs with the Secre.
tary of the Navy in his recommenda-
tions for placing the Navy on better
footing, both as to ships and armament
He also endorses the recommendation
that the Revenue Marine and Life
Saving Service and Coast Survey be
transferred from the control of the
Treasury Department to the Navy De-
partment, as means of combining
under single head all similar services.
The policy of the Secretary of the
Interior with regard to Indian affairs
meets the Presidents approval. He
urges that such treatment of the In
dians as will tend to civilize them
should be encouraged, and calls atten-
tion to the firm and yet humaniZing
influences which have been thrown
about them during the past year, re.
sultiDg in an exceptional season OF
freedom from turbulence. The i'm.
portance Of the law to allow to the
Indians to hold their lands in severalty
is also. urged on the ground that il
would best tend to promote the welfare
and permanent advancement of the
Indians
The President congratulates Con
gress upon the passage of last session.
laws for the suppression of polygam,
in the Territory of Utah. The com
mlssloners appointed under the Law
have engaged in their labors in Utah
and have made commendable progres
There were, and remain, obstacles G
no mean order to overcome, which tn
President hopes may disappear with
, out occasion for more stringent legis
ton. The failure of the people of ths
, Territory to accept the law in it's fu
: spirit, Was, he says, perhaps to hav
: been expected to some extent, becaus
l of the radical change in the electio
t system heretofore prevailing, and tn
f natural aversion to the law of the gres
e majority of the people of the Territor,
r He recommends the continuance of til
e commission until it shall have bee
demonstrated that there is no longe
+ practical necessity for its use.
g The estimates required for the pay
= ment of pensions for the current yea
e is SlOO,500,0OO This is an increas
i over last years estimates, accounte
!. number of claims because of the il
/ creased clerical force authorized at tt
, last session of Congress.
The President recalls the prosecl
: ton OF the star route cases under tt
If Department of Justice, announcir
= the progress already made, and the
v termination of the administration
:. secure full investigation and sati
}, factary outcome in the courts. He d
n clares it to be his purpose, as it is tn
e OF the department, to obtain only
l. just result; and one that will cor
= mend itself to intelligent and tai
+ minded opinion. But the administr
"a ton will not suffer obstruction at ii
q hands of its own officials, as has be-
l. shown by removals from Office as Il
J. penalty Of official departure from
correct course OF action. The Pres
). dent takes care to emphasize the i
r Fiction of these penalties as haYil
J. been prompted wholly i'll spirit
70 loyalty to the reasonable demands
- the government, and he commends t.
!, action of the Department OF Justice
:, this respect, referring To the AttOrn
r, Generals report and correspondent
,e transmitted from the Department
Justice.
G. Nor does the President forget t
At civil service. He is still in favor of
j. elevation, and some plan which W
is improve it by reason of more stat
az tenure.
le The message concludes with
ID view of the operations of the Comm
Je sioners of the District of Columbia.
~ recites under this caption, the fact til
the i'm provement of the. .Potomacsfi'
ar has been begun, and that it will
~ prosecuted to the earliest completi
S. in the interest of both the CONNER
as and health of the national capital.