Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-12-11

pOfIcy pUDIIC
ance or travel, l am satisfied should be done I'M
der cover Of an expenditure incident VI the ad-
minstration of a department nor should there be
any uncertainty as to the recipients OF SUBSIDY or
any discretion left to executive officer as TO
the distribution.
If such gifts of public money are to be made
for tie purpose of aiding any enterprise IN tne
supposed interests of the public cannot but
think that the amount to be paid and the beneh-
aries might better be determined by congress
than Ia any other way. The international con-
gress Of delegates from
THE POSTAGE UNION COUNTRIES,
convened at Lisbon, in Portugal, in February
last, and after session Of some weeks the dele
gates signed a condition amendatory OF the
present postal union The convention. in some
particular designed to advance its purposes. This
additional act has had my approval and will be
laid before you with the department reports.
I approve the recommendation Of the post
master general that
ANOTHER ASSISTANT
b. provided for his department / invite your
consideration 10 the seAeral other recommenda
tiOns contained in his report.
TIRE REPORT OF THE ATTcI.NEY GENERAL
sontan5 n history OF the conduct Of that depart
mrut Of justice during the last year, and mum
Der Of valuable suggestions as 10 the needed leg
Is alton, aud invite your careful attention 10 the
same. The condition OF business in the courts
OF the United States Is such that there seems TO
he imperative necessity for remedial iegIsla-
tiOn on the subject.
with pending causes that the delays in determin
ing litigation amounts in time to deninal OF jus
tee. Among the plans suggested for relief IS
one submitted by the Attorney General Its main
features are the transfer of all the original Juris
dictions OF the circuit courts to the district courts
and an increase Of Judges for the latter when
necessary and additions Of judges t. the circuit
courts and constituting therein exclusively courts
of appeal and thus reasonably limiting appeal
thereto.
Further restrictions Of the right to remove
the cause from the state courts to the federal
courts permitting appeals to the supreme court
from the courts of the District OF Columbia ami
the territories only in the same cases as they
are allowed from state courts, and guarding
against an unnecessary number or appeals from
the cffcuit courts. i approve the plan recon-
mended and the legislation necessary for its
application TO our ludialal system.
MARsuAL's FEES
The present mode of compromising United
States marshals and district attorneys should, IN
my opinion, be changed They are allowed and
charge against the government certain fees for
services, their income being measured by the
amount Of such fees within a fixed limit as to
their annual aggregate This is direct induce
ment for them to give their fees in criminal cases
large as possible, in an effort to reach the max
imum sum permitted an entirety The natural
consequences is, Inscriptions marshals are found
encouraging frivolous prosecutions, arreStlng
people on petty charges OF crime and transporting
them to distant places for examination and trial,
for the purpose Of earning mileage and other fees
and district attorneys uselessly attend criminal
examinations far from their places o. residence,
for the express purpose OF swelling their accounts
against the government. The actual expenses
incurred in these transactions are also charged
against the government Thus the rights and
freeC or OF our citizens are outraged, and pubic
expenditures increased for the purpose OF fur
nishing public officers pretexts for increasing the
measure OF their compensation. ! think mar
shals and district attorneys should be paid Sala'
ries adjusted by rule which will make them
commensurate with the services fairly rendered.
In connection with this subject desire to slIg-
gest the ACCESSIBILITY, IL it be found not obnoxious
10 constitutional objection OF investing the Uni
ted States commissioners with the power to try
aud determine certain violations OF law within
the grade Of misdemeanors. Such trials Right
be made TO depend upon the option OF the &C.
cused. The multiplicity OF small and technical
otfenses, especially under the PROVISIONS OF our
internal revenue laws, render some change in our
present system very desirable in the interests or
humanity rs well as economy.
The district courts are now crowded with prose
cutions involving punishment on conviction OF
only IL slight fine. The parties accused are
harrassel by an enforced attendance upon courts
held hundreds Of miles from their homes IL
poor and friendless they are obliged to remain In
jail during months perhaps tuat elapsed before
n session Of the court is held, and finally
brought to trial surrounded by strangers, and
with but little real opportunity for defense
In the meantime frequently the marshal has
charged Egainst the government his fees for an
arrest for the transportation of the accused and
the expense of the same, and for summonng
witnesses before n commissioner or grand jury
and court The witnesses have been paid from
the public funds large fees and travelling expers-
o., and the commissioner and district attorney
have also made their charges against the gov
crumeut I his abuse IN the administration OF
our criminal law should he remedied and II the
plan above suggested is not practicable some
other should be devised.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the secretary of the interior con.
tanning account OF the operations Of this i'm
portant department and much interesting infor-
NATION will be submitted for your consideration
The most intricate ana difficult subject in charge
OF this department is
THE TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF INDIANS.
/ am satisfied that some progress may be noted
in their condition as u result of prudent admin
istraton of the present laws and regulations for
their control
But it is submitted that there is lack of fix
ed purpose Of policy ON this subject which should
DO supplied. IL is useless to dilate upon the
wrongs of the Indians, and as useless to indulge
in the Eeartless belief that because their wrongs
are revenged in their own attrGcious measures
therefore they should be extermiHated. They
are within the care OF our government, and their
rights GTe, or should be protected from invasion
10y the most solemn obligation. They are prop
erly enough called the wards OF the gov ernment.
And it should be borne in mind that this guard
ianship involves our part an effort for the I'M
provement OF their condition and the enforce
ment of their rights.
There seems to he i = .aeral concurrence in the
proposition that ths ultimate object of their
treatment should be their civilization and citizen
ship. Fitted by these to keep pace in the march
OF progress with the advanced civilization about
them will readily assimilate with the MASS of
population assuming the responsibilities necessary
To the protection incident to their condition. The
difficulty appears to be in the selection of the
means To be at present employed toward the at
taIument OF this result.
our Indian population exclusive Of those in.
Alaska, is reported as numbering 100000, nearly
NIL being located ON land set apart for their IS'
aud occupation, agEregating over 13lNO0toO Of
acres These lands are included in the hOundar-
les of III reservations of different dimensions
scattered in II states and territories presenting
great variation in climate and the kind and quail
lily of their soils. Among Indians upon these
several reservations there exist the most marked
differences in national traits and diSpo-
Sttlnn and in their progress towards civilization.
White some are lazy, vicious and stubborn others
are industrious. peaceful and intelligent, while Il
p rtIuu of them self supporting and indie
pendent, and have so far advanced in civilization
that they made their own laws. administered
through officers of their own choice and edu-
Gated their children in schools Of their own Is.
adjustment and maintenance. Others still re
tain in squallor and dependence almost the say
agery Of their natural state.
In dealing with this question the. desire mani
Tested by the Indians should not be ignored. Here
again We lind great diversity. With some of the
the ribnl relations is cherished the utmost te-
naciiy, while its hold upon others is considerably
relaxed. The love of home is strong within all,
AMI yet there are those whose attachment to
particular Socality is by no means unfolding The
ownership of their land in severalty is much de
sired 10y some while 10y others, and sometimes by
AT the most civilized, such distribution would be
bitterly opposed
The variation of their wants growing ont of and
connected with the character OF their several 10
cations should he regarded. Some upon
locks or herds, and some ON arabic land having
no agricultural implements, while some of tke
reservations are double the size necessary to
maintain the number of Indians now upon them.
IN Few cases perhaps they should b" enlarged
Nod to al this difference in the administration of
the agencies; Mhle the same duties are devolVed
upon all. the disposition of the agents and the
manner of their control with the Indians have
much TO do with their condition and welfare
The agent who pertunCterily performs his duty
and Siothtully neEleCts all opportunities to adj
vance their moral and physical Improvement and
things. viii accomplish nothing in the direction
at their civilizations while he who feels the burden
Of his important trust, and has an interest in his
" urk, will by consistent example, from vet cOII-
siderate treatment, and wei directed aid ana en-
CuuragrmGnt constantly lead those under his
charge toward the light II tkeir entranChiSc-
ru"ut-
The history of all the progress which has been
made IN the civilization Of the Indian, think
Viii disclose the fact that the beginning has
been religious teachings followed by an accom-.
panNinE secular education, while the Self-sacri-
tGluS ana piouS men and women who have aided
m this EuOd work by their independent endeav-
UrS nave Tor their reward. the benehcent results
If their labor and tire consciousness of Christian
should hr fully acknowledged by all who under
Tn" laws are charged with the control and man.
aSrmeut If our Indian wards.
What has been sah indicates that in the pres
eit condition Of the Indians no attempt should
te made 70 apply fixed and unyielding plan Of
action 10 their varied and varying needs and
cltcl instances, an the Indian bureau, burdened
A. Is with their general oversight and with the
details ~ the establishment, can hardly pcs sesS
nee diHk treatment, and thus the rropriety OF
creating ustrumeutaty auxiliary to thoSa