Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-07
Presidents Message.
1Continued from First Page

PUBLIC DEBT AND SILVER COINAGE.
The statistics as to the public debt and the
coinage Of silver dollars are given from the
Tressurer's report.
The amendment of the customs laws to pre-
vent disputes and law suits between import
ers ard government is recommended. and in
the meantime the proprietv Of passing Law
for the appointment of additional judges in
courts where large numbers of these suits
have accumulated, 10 urged.
The WAR DEPARTMENT.
In regard to the report of the war depart
ment the President emphatically directs the
attention Of Congress To the recommendation
that officers BE- required to submit TO examin-
alton preliminary to pro lotion.
The defenceless condition of our sea coat is
stated ss being very palpable, but the rec
omms ndati0us Of the investigation commit
tee cannot be carried out owing to the delay
of Congress. and the President hopes that
effective steps may be taken TO remedy the
existing state Of things.
The final disposition Of the hostile Apaches
is noted and the report of the Secretary of
the Navy quoted with recommendation that
the wants Of the department should be rea-
sonably met.
0UR Posi- OFFICE.
The Postmaster Generals report is next
taken up and various recommendations Tor
increased facilities of postal service APP
proved.
UNITED STATES PEsITESTIARIEs.
Congress is earnestly invited to give its
attenti ion to the report of the Attorney ten
eral and due considerations therein contained
including the erection of pententiaries for
the United States prisoners now confined in
over-thickly populated State prisons. The
government is responsible TO them ard To
society for humane treatment and opportuni-
" for reform. With prisons under its own
control, government could deal with the
somewh hat vexed question of convict labor,
so far as its own convcts were concerned.
Our FEDERAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
A change in the federal judicial system is
strongly urged, in order to meet the want, of
the people and obviate delays necessarily At
tending the present condition of Affairs in our
courts The plan sugg, sted by the Attorney
General al the last session of Congress, and
recommended in the Presidents last annual
message, is favored, and another touching
the change in the matter OF the compensation
of district attorneys and marshals, is APP
proved ia the interests of economy.
IsDlAN AFFAIRS.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
with relation to Indian affairs is considered
gratifying and hopeful, Notwithstanding the
endorsements which hinder the better ad-
m ni,tratioD of this department. The present
system of agencies is inadequate. With
abundant land. if furnished with the means
of profitable husbandry, their life of entire
dependence on the government is no longer
defensble, but The government cannot re-
lieve itself of the responsibility Of their care
until they are so far trained and civilized as
to be able wholly to manage and care for
themselves. Progress in this great work will
continue only at the present slow pace and
great expense, unless the system and meth
DDS of management are changed to meet the
changed condition and urgent demands of the
service.
There isa necessity for a supplementary
agency or system directed to the end of pro-
noting the general and rapid transition of the
tribes from the habits and customs of bar
barism to ways of civilization. "By the aid
of such commission as recommended in my
last message" says the President "much
unwise and useless expenditure of money.
waste of material and unavaIiug efforts may
be avoided, and il is hoped that this or some
measure which the wisdom of Congress may
better devise to supply the deficiency of
scientific system NAV receive the considera-
ton of Congress and appropriate legislation
be provided.
The time is ripe for the work of such an
agency. There is less opposition to the ed
ucation of the Indian youth and there is
yielding tendency toward individual holding
of land, but there is no authority of law for
making alloments on some of the reserva-
tons, and on Others the alotments are too
small. Inequalities in special laws and trea-
ties should b. corrected and some general
legislation on the subject should be provided
so that more progressive m smbers of tribes
may be settled upon homesteads and by their
example lead Others to the breaking away
from tribal customs and substituting therefor
love of home, interest of the family and rule
of the State. The settlement of these mat
tiers will remove many endorsements to the
progress of the Indians
He also recommends the repeal of desert
land laws, unless Congress should desire to
amend their abuses. There should be more
guards and checks upon alienation of home
stead rights and lands covered thereby until
patents are issued. Private land claims
and the increased efficiency of the public
land service are comm n led to the attention
of Congress Perverslon of the original
simple public land system is referred to and
il is shown how that law and those which fol-
low ed it have been so evsded and violated
that their beneficent purpose is threatened
with entire defeat.