The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-12-10

for the purpose of earn.
ing mileage and other fees
Aud the district attorneys. also, use
lcssly attend criminal examinations
far from their places of residences
for the express purpose of swelling
their account against the government
Actual expenses incurred In these
transactions, are also charged against
the government. Thus the rights and
freedom of our citizens are outraged
aud public expenditures increased
for the purpose of furnishing public
officers pretexts for Increasing the
measure of their compensation. |
think marshalls and districts attor
neys should be paid salaries, adjusted
by rule which made them common.
surate with the services fairly rem
dered.
In connection with this subject
desire TO suggest the advisability--i'
1t be found not obnoxious, and n
constitutional objection--of investing
United States commissioners with
power to try and determine certain
violations Of law within the grade of
misdemeanor. The multiplication of
the small and technical offices, espe-
cially under the provisions of the In
ternal revenue law, render some
change In our present system very
desirable In the interests of humanity
as well as economy.
The district courts are now crowded
with petty prosecutions involving n
punishment, In cases of conviction, of
only slight fine, while tho parties
accused are harrassed by an enforced
attendance upon courts held hundreds
of miles from their homes. Poor and
friendless, they are obliged to remain
in Jail during the months, perhaps,
that elapse before their cases arc
reached in court, and are finally
brought to trial, surrounded
by strangers and with but
little real opportunity for defense.
In the meantime, frequently, the
marshal has charged against the gov
eminent his fees for such items as the
transportation of the accused and the
expense of the same, for summoning
witnesses before commissioner, grand
jury, and of court. The witnesses
have TO be paid, from the public fund,
large fees aud travelling expenses, and
the commissioners or district .attor-
neys have also made their charges
against the government. This abuse
In the administration of our criminal
law should be remedied, and IL the
plan above suggested is not practica-
bic. some other should be devised.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report oil tue secretary of the
interior, containing an account of the
operations of that department and
much other interesting information,
will be submitted for your cousidera-
ton. The most intricate and difficult
subject in charge of this department
is tho treatment and management of
the Indians. l am satisfied that some
progress may be noted in their con-
dition, as result ofs prudent admin
istration of the present rules and reg
ulations for their control; but 1t is
submitted that there is lack of fixed
purposes or policy ON this subject,
which should be supplied. 1t Is use
less to dilate upon the wrongs of the
indians, aud as. useless to indulge in
the heartless belief that because their
wrongs are revenged in their own
atrocious manner, therefore, they
should be eNterminated. They are
within the care of our government,
aud their rights should be protected
from invasion by the most solemn
obligations. They are properly
enough called the wards of the gov
eminent, and it should be borne in
mind that this guardianship in
wolves, on our part, efforts for the i'm.
provement of their condition and
The enforcement of their rights.
There seems to be general concur
renee in the proposition that the
ultimate object their treatment should
be civilization and citizenship. Fitted
by these to keep pace in the march of
progress, with the advanced civiliza-
lion about them, they will readily as
simulate with the mass of our popula
ton, assuming the responsibilities
and giving the protection incident 10
this condition. The difficulty seems
to be IN the selection of the means TO
be at present EMPLOYED, to attain this
result.
Our Indian population, exclusive of
those in Alaska, is reported as mum.
bering 260, 900, nearly all being located
on lands set apart for their use and
occupation, which aggregate over
1874, 00O,0 900 acres. These lands are in
cluded in the boundaries of Ill iescr-
vations of different Dimensions, scat
tered In twenty-one states and terri
tories, representing great variations
OF climate and in the quality of their
soils. Among the indians upon these
several reservations, there exists the
,,,arlral lsnasaanaa In.
traits and disposition, and in
their progress toward civilization
While some are lazy, vicious and stu
pid, others are industrious, peaceful
aud INTEL igen;; white portion OF
them are Eelf.supporting and indie
pendent and have so far advanced in
civilization that they make their own
laws administered though officers
of their own choice, and educate their
children in schools of their own es.
adjustment and maintenance, others
still retain the squalo aud independ-
ence of their savage nature. In deal
ing with this question, the desires
manifested by the indians should not
be Ignored. Here again we find u
great diversity: With some of them
the tribal relations are cherished
with the utmost tenacity: while Its
hold upon Others is considerably rc
Taxed, the love of home is strong, with.
al, as yet, but there are those whose at
tachment TO particular locality is by
no means uuyielding. The owner.
ship Of their lands In severalty is
much desired by some while the
others-and sometimes again the
most civilized-by whom such dis.
tribution would be bitterly opposed
The variation of their wants, grow
ing out of and connected with To,
character of their several locations
should be regarded. Some are upoI
reservations most fit for grazing, bu
are without herGs, aud some who ar,
on arabic land have no agriculture
implements. Some of the reserva
tions are double the size necessary {,
4 4 Il. -. \