The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-12-18

viction is forced upon us with the
certainty of mathematical demonstration,
that before we proceed further in the restora-
ton of a navy we need thoroughly reorgan-
lied navy department. The fact that within
seventeen years more than 15,0000 900 have
been spent in the construction, repair, equip
ment, and armament of vessels, and the
further fact that, instead of an effective and
creditabe fleet we have only the discomfort
and apprehension of a nation undefended by
war vessels, added to the disclosures now
made, do not permit us to doubt that every
attempt to revive our navy has thus far, for
the most part, been misdirected, and all our
efforts in that direction have been little better
than blind groupings and expensive, aimless
folles.
Unquestionably if we are content with the
maintenance of a navy department simply as
shabby ornament to the government a
constant watchfulness may prevent some of
the scandal and abuse which have found their
way into our present organization, and its
incurable waste may be reduced to the mini
mum. But if we desire to build ships for
present usefulness instead of naval re-
minders of the days that are past, we
must have a department organized for
the work, supplied with all the talent and in
genuity our country affords prepared to
take advantage of the experience of other ma
tions, systematized so that all effort shall
unite and lead in one direction, and fully i'm
bued with the conviction that war vessels,
though new, are useless unless they combine
all that the ingenuity of man has up to this
day brought forth relating to their construc-
ton.
earnestly commend the portion of the Sec
retary's report devoted to this subject to the
! attention of Congress, in the hope that his
suggestions touching the reorganization of
his department may be adopted as the first
| step toward the reconstruction of our navy.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The affairs of the postal service are ex-
] tod nv fln = 80
general, which will be laid before you.
l approve the recommendation of the post
master-gencral to reduce the charges on
! domestic money orders of five dollars and less
| from eight to five cents. This change will
| materially aid those of our people who mo t
of all avail themselves of this Instrumental
ty, but to whom the element of cheapness is
of the greatest importance With this reduc-
: ton the system would still remain self-sup-
porting.
masteT-general that another assistant be pro-
vidcd for his department. | invite your CON
sheraton to the several other rcccmmenIsn-
tions contained in his report.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report of the encouragement contains
n history of the conduct of the department of
! justice during the last year. and a number of
valuable suggestions as to needed legislation
and | invite your careful attention to the
same.
The present mode of compensating United
! States marshals and district attorneys should
! i'll my opinion he changed. They are allowed
to 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 a
direct inducemcnt for them to make their
fees in criminal cases as large us possible
! in an effort to reach the maximum
sum permitted. As an entirely natu-
| raj consequence, INSCRIPTIONS marshalS are
found encouraging frivolous prosecutions
| arreSting 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 dis
/ trict attorneys uSecSSly attend criminal
| examinations far from their places of resi-
dence for the express purpose of swelling
their accounts against the government
The actual expense, incurred in these trans
! actions are also charged against the govern
| ment. Thus the rights and freedom of oul
| citizens are outraged and public expenditures
! Increased for the purpose OF furnishing pub
lie officers preteXts for increasing the meas
ure of their compensation.
| think marshals and district attorneys
should be paid salaries adjusted by a rule
which will make them commensurate with
services fairly rendered
THE INDIANS.
The report of the secretary of the interior
containing an account of the operations OF
! Il.
eSting information will be submitted for your
con ,idcration.
The most intricate and difficult subject in
chlrgc OF this department is the treatment
an management of the Indians. | am salts
fiji that some progress may he noted in theil
coalition as a result of a prudent admnistra
ton of the present laws and regulations fol
tn nir control.
But it is submitted that there is lack of g
Gte purpose or policy on this subject which
81 pJld be supplied. 1t is useless to dlatt
noon the wrongs of the Indians, and as use
Is, to indulge in the heartless belief that be
cause their wrongs are revengcd in their owl
trociOus manner, therefore they should b,
estermiuated.
They are within the care of our govern
ment, and their rights are, or should he, pro
tected from invasion by the most solemn obi,
cations, They are properly enough called
the wards of the government: and il should
be borne in mind that this guardianship in
wolves, on our part, efforts for the improve
ment of their condition and the enforcement
of their rights. There seems to be genera
concurrence in the proposition that th(
ultimate object of their treatment should
he their civilization and citizenship. Fitted
by these to keep pace in the march of pro
greSs with the advanced civilization about
them, they will readily assimilate with th'
mass of our population, assuming the respon
sibliteS and receiving the protection Incl
TO be in the selection of the means TO be a
present employed toward the attainment O
this result.
The history of all the progress which ha
been made in the civilization of the Indian,
think, will disclose the fact that the begin
ming has been religious teaching, followed 10y
or accompanying secular education. While
the self-sacIiticing and piouS men and womel
who have aided in this good worl. by thel
Independent endeavor have for their reward
the heneticcnt results of their labor and tn
consciousness of Christian duty well per
formed. their valuable services should be full,
acknowledged by all who under the law ar
charged with the control and management o
our Indian wards.
What has been said indicates that in tn
present condition of the Indians, no attenp
should be made to apply a fixed and unyield
ing plan of action to their varied and varying
needs and circumstances.
The Indian bureau, hurdened as 1t IS VIII
their general oversight and with the detail
of the establishment, can hardly possess ltsel
of the minute phases of the particular case
needing treatment; and thus the propriety o
creating an instrumentality auxiliary t
those already established for the care OF tn
Indians suggests itself.
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