The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-17
NO. SO

I are useless unless they combine all that
the ingenuity of man has up to this daT
brought forth relating to their construc-
ton.
1 earnestly commend the portion of thu
Secretary's report devoted to this subject
! to the attention of Congress, in the hope
that his suggestions touching the reorgan.
Izatlon OF his department may be adopted
as the first step toward the reconstruction
OF our navy.
THE POST OFFICE.
/ The message then takes up the reports
OF other departments, pausing to make
recommendations upon other subjects as
they arise. Speaking Of the postal service
! the PRESIDENT says: 1.-THE operation Of the
Post Office Department is for the eonve-
njence and benefit of the people, and the
methods by which they pay the charges of
this useful arm of their public service, So
that it be just and impartial, is Of less ini-
portance to them than the economical ex-
pendlture Of the means they provide for
It's maintenance and the due improvement
Of its agencies, so that they may enjoy its
highest usefulness. "
In explaining why it was deemed mex
pedient for the Post Office Department to
contract for carrying cur foreign mails un-
der the additional authority given by the
last Congress, the President says what.
ever may be thought Of Substituting any
line OF public conveyance or travel, am
satisfied that it should not be done under
cover 0f an expenditure incident to the
administration Of q department, nor should
There be any uncertainty as to the recip-
tents OF the subsidy, or any discretion left
TO an executive officer as to Its distribu-
tion. Ifsueh gifts Of thepublic moneys are
to be made for the purpose of aiding any
enterprise, in the supposed interest of the
public, cannot but think that the amount
TO be paid and the beneficiary might better
be determined by Congress than in any
other way.
UNITED STATES COURT.
The condition of business in the courts
of the United States is such that there
seems to be an imperative necessity for
remedial legislation on the subjects. Some
Of these courts are so overburdened with
pending causes that the delays in deter
mining litigation amount often to denial
OF justice. Among the plans suggested
for relief is one submitted by the AttOr-
ney General, Its main features are The
transfer of all the original Jurisdiction of
the Circuit Courts to the District Courts
and an increase of Judges for the latter
where necessary an addition of judges of
the Circuit Courts and constituting them
exclusively Courts of Appeal and reason
ably limiting appeals thereto: further re-
strictions OF the right to remove causes
from the State to Federal Courts permit
ting appeals to the Supreme Court from
the Courts Of the District Of Columbia
and the Territories only in the same cases
as they are allowed from State Courts, and
guarding against an unnecessary number
of appeals from the Circuit Courts. APP
prove the plan thus outlined and recon-
mend the legislation necessary for its ap-
plication to our judicial system.
| think Marshals and District Attorneys
should be paid salaries adjusted by rule
which will make them commensurate with
services fairly rendered,
THE INDIAN POLICY.
In the present condition of the Indians
no attempt should be made to apply fixed
and unyielding plan of action to the varied
and varying needs and circumstances. The
Indian Bureau, burdened as it is with
their general oversight and with the de-
tails of the establishment, can hardly pos
sesS itself of the minute phases of the
particular cases needing treatment, and
thus the propriety of creating an instru-
ment auXiliaryto those already established
for the care of the Indians suggests it.
self
d
authorizing the appointment of six COM
missioners, three of whom shall be de-
tailed from the army, to be charged with
the duty OF careful inspection from time
to time of all the Indians upon our reser-
yati0ns or subject to the care and control
of the government, with view Of discov-
ering their exact condition and needs and
determining what steps shall be taken on
behalf of the government to improve their
7
port and complete civilization that they
any, OF the reservations may be reduced in
area, and in such cases what part, not
needed for Indian occupation, may be pur-
chased by the government from the In
di3ns and disposed of for their benefit:
what, if any, Indians may, with their con-
sent, be removed to other reservations,
with view of their concentration and
the sale, on their behalf, Of their aban-
d0ned reservations what Indian lands,
now held i'll common, should be allotted in
Seyeralty in what manner and to what
extent the Indians upon the reservations
can be placed under the protection of our
laws and subjected to their penalties, and
which, il any indians should be invested
with the right of citizenship. The powers
and functions of the commissioners, In
regard TO these subjects should be clearly
defined, though they should, i'll c0njunc-
ti0n with the Secretary of the Interior, be
given all the authority to deal definitely
with the questions presented if deemed safe
and consistent
This plan contemplates the selection of
persons for commissioners who are inter-
ested in the Indian question. and who have
practical ideas upon the subject OF their
treatment.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
It is not for The common benefit Of the
States that large area of the public
lands should Ice acquired, directly or
through fraud, III the hands of a single
individual. The nations strength iS'in its
people. The nations prosperity is their
pros peTity. Tbs nations glory is in the
equality of her justice. The nation s per-
petuity is in the patriotism of all her peo-
pie. Hence, as far as practicable. the plan
adopted in the disposal of the public lands
should have in view the original policy,
which encouraged many purchasers Of
these lands for homes and discouraged the
massing OF large areas. Exclusive of Alas
ka. about three-hfths of the national do
main hes been sold or subjected to contract
or grant. OF the remaining twO-fifths
considerable portion is either mountain or
desert. y rapidly increasing population
creates a growing demand for homes and
the accumulation of wealth inspires an
eager competition to obtain the public
land for speculative purposes. In the fu-
ture this collision of interests viii be
more marked than in the past and the ex-
eeution of the nations trust in behalf Of
our settlers viii be more difficult. there
fore commend to your attention the re-
commentators contained in the report Of
the Secretary of the Interior with refer
ence to the repeal and modification Of GER
tain Of our land laws.
LAND LAWS AND GRANTS.
The nation has made princely grants
and subsidies to a system Of railroads pro-
jeeted rs great national highways to con-
meet the Pacific States with the East. IL
has been charged that these donations
from the people have been diverted to
private gain ard corrupt uses. and thus
public Indignation has been aroused and
suspicion engendered. Our great nation
does not begrUdge Its generosity, but it alb
hors peeulation and fraud. and the favora-
Die regard Of our people for the great cor