The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-08

and collectors as ~ the Interpretation of
our complex ami Indefinite revenue laws
aud an am nimont of tbs laws i recon-
IN iteI, bat pending such amen lmegt, the
pres ut coBditiO III tins litigation should
b" relieved by permitting III. appointing VI
AL iIt.o1ai federal Jlds ia Kew York,
where tlese casea have accumulated, recon
mendations Of the attorney general Tor "A
change in the federal Juaieiai systsn, "
obsIate the delays necessarily attsnii,49 the
pres NJ condition If a.faIrs ia our courts.
Az INDIAN COMMISSION.
u Indian affairs, be ,ays the present sys-
ten If agencies standing alone is made
quat1 for the accomplishment Of an object
which has become pressing in It's inpgr-
tanee-the more RAPID transition from tribal
organization 10 citizenship OF sueh portions
Of the lndians rs ar 'aphbls u eiyilil-d
life. and hence the ne .sity Tor supple
mental agency, a commit - Of si1 int-ili-
gent persons -thre. from the army
charged with the management Of such
matters Of detail a. cannot with the pres
ent organization be properly AMI succ-.,-
fully conducted. The t.me Is ripe, til pres
agency.
LAND LAWS
The president recommends the repeal Of
tue presumption and timber culture acts,
aud that tn homestead laws DC 50 am nj d
as to better cur compliance with th-ir re-
quirem-nts u residence, improgem mt and
cultivation for five year, from date OF en-
speculative REIMBURSEMENT
PENSIONS
Referring to the satisfactory exhibit Of
the operations Of the pension bureau during
the last fiscal year and to pension matters
gen rally the president says the usefulness
and the justice II any system Tor ths dis
tribution of pensions depends upon thu
equality and uniformity OF its op, rations,
aud as long We adhere to the principl. OF
granting p nsions for service aud disability
as tn, result OF the service the allowance
OF pensions should be r. stricted to cases
pres nting these features.
Every patriotic h. art he SAYS re
spends to a nder consideration for thoss
who having served til if country long and
well, are reduced to destituton and depend
with advancing age or misfortune. We are
all tempted by the contemplation Of such
condition to supply relief, and are often
impatient of tn. limitations of public duty.
Yielding to no one in the desire to indulge
this feeling of consideration, 1 cannot ri1
myself of the conviction that if these ex-
soldiers are to he relieved they and their
cause are entitled to the ben fit of all enact
ment under which relief may be claimed as
a right, and that such relief should be
granted under the sanction OF law, not in
evasion of it, nor should such worthy OBJ
jects of care, all equally entitled, be re-
miltel to the unequal operation of sym
PATTY or the tender mercies of social and
political influence with their unjust DIS
elimination
ARMY AND NAVY.
OF coast defences and Notifications the
president says the defenseless condition of
our sea coast and lake frontier is perfectly
payable, and the work laid out 10y the board
on Notifications, is delayed in default of
congressional action. The absolute neces-
sty OF our preparation for etfectual
sstance against armed ships and steel guns
which may threaten US, is so apparent that
he hopes effective steps will be taken in
that direction at once. The condition of
our navy as shown by tn secretary of that
department should challengs the earn st at
tention of congress. The produ tion in
the United States-of armor and gun steel
it seems necessary to settle at
an early day if the armed war vessels are
to be completed with these materials OF
home manufacture. In the event that the
present invitation of the departn nj for bids
to furnish such of this material Us is now
authorized, shall fail to induce domestic
manufacturers to undertake the large ex-
pendture required to prepare for tins new
manufacture, and no other steps are taken
by congress at its coming session, the secre-
tary contemplateS with dissatisfaction the
necessity of obtaining abroad the armor and
gun-steel for the authorized SHIPS.
1t would seem desirable, the president
adds, that the wants of the army and navy
in this regard should be reasonably met,
and that in making their contracts such
inducements might be Offered as would re-
suit in securing the domestication of these
interests
PACIFIC RAILROAD DEBT.
OF the Pacific railroad debt extension pro
position, he says, congress is considering the
plan suggest ID by the secretary of the in
terror and endorsed by the board of gov
eminent directors The sole matters which
should be taken into account are the situa-
ton of the government as creditor and
the surest way to secure the payment OF
the principal and interest of the debt.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
OF interstate commerce, he says, that by
a recent decision of the supr me court of the
United States 1t has been adludged that
the laws of the several states are mop
erative to regulate rates of transportation
upon railroads, If such regulation lnterieres
with the rate of carriage from one state
into another This important field OF con
troll and regulation having been thus left
unoccupied, the exp-diency OF federal ac-
ton upon the subject Is worthy of consider
alton.
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
OF the relations of labor to capital the
president thinks that when these differences
between employers and employed reach such
a stage as to result in the int, Eruption Of
commerce between the states, the appliea-
ton OF arbitration by the general govern
ment might be regarded as entirely within
its constitutional powers, and he thinks we
might reasonably hope that such arDltra-
tors, if carefully selected and II entitled to
the confidence of the parties to be effected,
would be voluntarily called to the settle
ment OF controversies OF less extent and not
necessarily within the domain OF federal
regulation.
The president recommends as a plain
duty on the part of the government the
payment of a million and Il quarter dollars
still uue 20 FreeImen'e saNIoas bank de-
posltors.
civil SERVICE REFORM.
Civil service reform the last important
topic discussed III the message. The con
tinued operation Of the evil service law,
he asserts, has added the most convincing
proofs of its necessity and usefulness.
Every public officer VIM has Just id,a OF
his duty to the peopls, tesJIhes to tine value
of tins reform. it, stauncnest friends are
found among those VINO understand 1t best
and its waruIest supporters are those who
are Restrain d and projected by lts T.
quruments.
The meaning of such restraint and pro-
tactluu Is not appreciated by lhuse VINO