Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-08

order. epong the indiana, And Trey are nov
az an sS we, fssasss .ssa
q eossss Is p 81 szrpi;oss tnexs . !ss sia
and opeeed to settlement unaer tke Med sasss
s 90 ase Sssd SITES 80 ,s sS. Tbs 1ssp
Alarmed The sIea4 Edsns. whs esslDsa 90,
s hfri,ory thsf r a Ysas
alter careful investigation, to be well iounocS;'
and consequently the Executive order reterred
g was " RrSsla%nsen Of APral -; ass2 MI
persons upon the land were warned t0 ienve.
with.
'rHE NATIONS STRENGTH Is IN THE rEo.
PLE"-THE PUBLIC LANDs-REPEAL OF GEE
TAIN LAWS. - ,s@ 81 --;e
Inc public domain had Its origin In cessfons
OF land by the States to the Genefaa Govern
ment The Arst cession was made by the State
Of New York, and the largest, which in area ex.
ceeded all the others, by the State Of Virginia.
The territory, the proprie4orship Of which BE-
came thus vested In the General Government,
extended FROM the western line OF Pennsylva-
MIA to the Mississippi River. These
patriotic donations OF the States were in
numbered with no condition, except that
they should be held and used ~for the common
benefit of the United Stales." BY purchase
with the common fund Of all the people, addi-
tions were made to this domain until 1t ex-
tended to the northern line OF Mexico, the
Pacific Ocean and the Polar Sea. The original
trust "for the common benefit or the United
States, attached to all. In the execution Of
that trust the policy Of many homes, rather
Government That these might be easily OBJ
tanned, and be the abode OF security ana con-
the laws tor their and
i'm their character. But the pressure of
local interests. eombined with speculative
trG% hnaso OF. rod flpn
passage OF laws which marred the harmony Of
the general plan and encumb ered the system
with Of genera and a a,,s
subject the titles to uncertainty, and the pur-
chasers often to oppression and wrong. Laws
have been perverted SO that large Quantities OF
land are vested In single OWnershtps From
the multitude and character Of the laws, this
consequence seems incapable OF correction by
mere administration.
1t Is not for the "eernmon benefit of the
United States that large area OF pull lie lands
should be acquired, directly or through fraud.
in the hands of Il single individual. The Ma
tons strength is in the people. Inc Nations
glory is in the equality of her justice. The Ma
tons perpe.uity is in the patriotism Of oil her
people hence as far practtsabie the plan
should have In view the original policy. which
encouraged many purchasers of these lands for
homes and discouraged tine massipg of large
areas Exclusive OF Alaska, about three-fitths
of the national domain has been sold or cub
tecteG to contract or grant. or the remaining
two-fif hs considerable portion Is either moun-
tain or desert. n rapidly increasing population
creates \ growing demand for homes, and the
accumulation OF wealth inspires eager COIN
petition to obtain the public land for specuia-
tive purposes. In the future this collision o
interests will be more marked than In the past,
;AIC tie execution OF the Nations trust IN be-
half Of our settlers Will be more difficult. |
therefore commend to your attc2,t!on the rec
concentrations contained In the report Of Tie
Secretary of the Interior wiki reference to the
repeal and mUdiica tiou O.; certain of our land
laws
The nation has made princely grants and
subsidies to /. system of railroads projected
as great national highways To connect the
Pacific Suites with the East. 1t has been
charged that these donations from the people
have been diverted 10 private gain and corrupt
uses. and thus public indignation has been
aroused and suspicion cHgend"red. Our great
nation does not begrudgc its generosity, but it
abhoTs pccuatiOn and ir:tud and the :itv,'iblc
regard OF our people for the great corporations
70 which ahese grants were mage, "a ",,.s
10 be secured by their constant, uncquivu-
cal, and clearly manifested Integrity. A iaith-
full application OF the updiminIshed proceeds
OF the grants to the construction and periectiiig
of their roads, an honest discharge OF their OBJ
legations, and entire Justice to all the people in
the enjoyment OF their rights Oh these high
ways vi travel is al the public ask land II will
be content with no less. To secure thes. things
should be tile common purpose Of the officers OF
the Government, as well as OF the corporal ions.
With this accomplishments, prosperity would
be permanently secured to the roads, ana ma
complaint
THE PENSION ROLL AND REFORM.
1t appears fioui the report OF the Commits
sioner OF Pensions that there were, On the LIST
day OF July, 1855, :i45 125 persons borne upon
the pension rolls, Who were classified as follows
Army iny;,lids, 24I ,456; widows. minor chill
dren and dependent reiatives Of deceased sol
diers, Ts,s4l; Navy invaiids, 2,745; Navy.
widows, minor children and dependents, l, 1928;
ny n: he "a of 4 q \
OF those who served in that war, II PIP. About
one man in ten Of all those who enlisted in the
late war are reported as receiv ing pensions, cx-
elusive OF the dependents of deceased soldiers
On the Isl 0: July. Isl 5, The humber OF pen
>ioners was 23l, o21 |. aud the Increase within
the ten years next thereafter was 10000.
While there is no expenditure OF the public
funds which the people more cheer,uily APP
prove than that made in recognition OF the SER
vices OF our soldiers living and dead. the senti-
ment underlying the subject should not be viii
practices. Therefore it is fully as important
that the rolls should lie cleansed OF all those
VINO by irand have secured place thereon as
that lneritorious claims should lie speedily ex-
a;niI,ed aud adjusted. The reforms In the
methods of doing the business OF this bureau
which haze lately been inuugurated promise
better results III both these directions.
THE PAINT OFFICE
The operations of the Patent Office demon
strate the activity Of the inventive genius OF
the country. For the year ended June 30, 1885,
the applications for patents, including reissues,
and Tor the registration OF trademarks and
labels, numbered 356SS. During the same
period there were 22,92S patents granted and
feissaed, and ,429 trademarks ana labels
registered The number of patents Issued i'm the
year 1915 was Ii. 3S7. The receipts during the
last fiscal year were S1,O74 ,974. So and tile to
tai expenditures. not including contingent ex.
pense>, 1854 123.11.
There were 1,7ss applications for patents
pending Oh the LIST day OF July. 1SS1 and
5,7S6 ON the same date in the year Sss5. There
has been considerable Improvement made in
the prompt determination OF applications and
consequent relief TO expeetant Inventors
A number OF suggestions and Recommended.
tons are contained in the report of the Gam.
missioner of Patents w.ictl are entitled to the
consideration OF Congress-.
THE MORMON QUESTION
In the Territory of Utah the law Of the United
States passed for the suppression Of polynatny
has been ehergetfcaily and faithfuliy executed
during the past year, with measurabiy GOOD re-
suits. a number Of convictions have been So
cured for unlawful cohabitation,~ and In some
eases pleas OF guilty have been entered and q
slight punishment imposed, upon q promise by
the accused that they would not again offend
against the law, nor advise, counsel, aid, or
sbet, in any way, its violation by others.
The Utah Commissioners express the opinion.
based upon such Information az they are aoie
to obtain, that but few poly gusuQus marriages
have taken place in the Territory during The
Last year. They further report that while there
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