Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-12-16

tho department by numerous merchants ana
service to tho Argentine Republic, and for semi
monthly dispatches 70 the empire Of Brazil,
and the subject is commended to your con-
provide the means Of postal communication
which our Commerce requires, and, with pru-
dent forecast OF results, the wise extension Of IL
may lead to stimulating intercourse and be-
come the harbnger OF n profitable traffic. which
will open new avenues for the disposition OF the
products OF our industry. The circumstances of
the countries at the far south OF our continent
are such to invite our enterprise and afford
tho promise Of sufficient advantages TO justify
an unusual effort to bring about the closer rea-
tions which greater freedom Of communication
would tend to establish.
I suggest that as distinguished from q grant
or subsidy for the mere benefit OF any line Of
trade or travel, whatever outlay may be re-
quired TO secure tho additional postal service
necessary and proper and not otherwise attain.
able, should be regarded as within the limit Of
legitimate compensation for such orvice.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The extension OF the free delivery service as
suggested by the Postmaster General has here
tofore received my sanction, and 1t is TO be
hoped suitable enactment may soon be agreed
upon.
Tho request for an appropriation sufficient TO
enable the general inspection Of fourth-class Of
haes has. .rpx yappFobation.-
| OF the Postmaster General that another assist
ant be provided for the Postoffice Department,
and invite your attention to tho several other
recommendations in his report.
FEDERAL PENITENTIARY.
The conduct OF tho Department Of Justice for
the last fiscal year is duly detailed in the report
Of tho Attorney General, and invite tho
earnest attention Of Congress to the same,
and due consideration OF the recommendations
therein contained. In the report submitted by
this officer to the last session OF Congress
ne strongly recommended the erection OF a
penitentiary for the confinement OF prisoners
convicted and sentenced in the United States
courts, and he repeats the recommendation IN
his report for the last year This is a matter Of
very great importance and should at once re-
| ceive Congressional action. United States pris-
L.. klsot.
| ferent State prisons and penitentiaries situated
| in every part Of the country. They are sub
| jected to nearly as many different modes OF
| treatment and discipline, and are far too much
| removed from the control and regulation OF the
| Government So far as they are entitled to
humane treatment and opportunity for improve
ment and reformation, the Government is re-
sponsible to them and society that those things
| are forthcoming. But this duty can scarcely be
| discretion than is possible under the present
| system.
Many of our good citizens have Interested
| themselves, with the most beneficial results, on
the question snoRa 81 Rgaisqnn ns reform mne General
| there must be United States prisoners, to fur
| nish important aid in this movement. and
should be able TO illustrate what may be prac.
tically done in the direction Of this reform, and
to present example in the treatment and
improvements Of its prisoners worthy OF nnita-
ton With prisons under its own control, the
vexed question of convict labor so fur as its con-
victs were concerned, according to q plan OF its
own adoption and with due regard to tho rights
| and interests of our laboring citizens, instead
| of sometimes aiding in the operation OF sys-
| tenn which causes among them irritation ana
| discomfort Upon consideration OF this subject
| It might be thought wise to erect more than one
OF these institutions, located in such places rs
i would best subserve the purposes Of conven-
| ience and economy in transportation The con-
| siderable cost of maintaining these conv!cts, as
at present in State institutions, would bo saved
| by the adoption of the plan proposed, and by
i ytV,o ham IN fhn nj In
| articles rs were needed for use by the Govern
| ment, quite u largo pecuniary benefit would DO
realized in partial return for our outlay.
| THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
again urge a change In tho Federal judicial
| system to meet the wants OF the people and OBJ
viate the delays necessarily attending the pres
ent condition of Affairs in our courts; All arc
mnch favor r. sbown by thoso -oii .%ia a. ana ma
wise, to the plan suggested by tiIo Attorney oon-
eral at the last session OF Congress, and recon-
| mended in my last annual message This rec
| ommendation is here removed, together with an
| other made ut tho same time, touching
| change in the manner OF cOmpensating district
| attorneys and marshals, and the latter subject
| is commended to Congress for its action in
| the interest OF economy to the Government and
humanity, fairness, and justice to our people.
| THE INDIAN BUREAU.
Tho report OF the Secretary OF tho Interior
/ presents acomprehensive summary OF the work
| OF the various branches OF tho public service
connected with his department, and the sugges-
| tions and recommendations which it contains
| for the Improvement OF tho service should re-
i
| made Of the condition of our Indian population
| and the progress of the work for their en-
lightenment. notwithstanding the many
| embarrassments which hinder the bet
| ter administration OF this important
branch Of the service is gratifying and hopeful
one. The funds appropriated for the Indian
service for the fiscal year just passed, with the
| available income from Indian land and trust
| moneys amounting in all to T,S50,775 ~, wero
restrictions OF laws regulating their ex-
| penditure. There remained balance
on hand on June 30, 1886, Of s1,660,02a.3O.
| for fuifiiment OF treaties and other like pur-
poses, and the remainder, $500 $500, is subject
to be carried TO the surplus fund required by
| law. The estimates presented for appropri-
/ ations for tho ensuing fiscal year amount to
IS 90s 673G4 S442 1856 20 less than those laid be-
agencies, while absolutely necessary and we'll
| adapted for tho management of Indian af-
/ fairs and for the ends in view when
it was adopted, is, in the present stage OF Indi-
| an management, Inadequate, standing alone,
/ for the accomplishment OF an object which has
| become pressing in importancc-the more rapid
/ transition from tribal organizations to citizen
| ship of such portions Of the Indians as are ca
| pable of civilized life. When the existing sys-
/ tenn was adopted tho Indian race was outside
Of the limits of organized States aud Territories,
/ and beyond the immediate roach and operation
Of civilization. and all efforts wero mainly di-
| rected to the maintenance OF friendly re-
| lations and the preservation Of peace
| and quiet on tho frontier. All this
is now changed. There is no such thing as the
| hum of industry and the influence of Chris
| tianity, surrounds those people mt every point
None of the tribes are outside OF the bounds OF
| organized government and society, except that
| the Territorial system has not been extended
| over that portion OF the country known as the
/ Indian Territory. AS a race the Indians are no
/ longer hostile, but may be considered rs sub
| missive TO tho control OF the Government, as
| fow of them only are troublesome. Except
the fragments Of several bands, oil nre now
| gathered upon reservations 1t is no longer pos
| sible for them to subsist by the chase and the
| 81 ontanoous productions Of the earth. With an
| abundance Of land. IL furnished with the means
| and implements for profitable husbandry, their
| life of entire dependence upon Government ra-
! tions from day to day is no longer defensible.
| Their inclination, long fostered by defective
| system Of control is TO cling TO the habits and
| customs of their ancestors, and they struggle
| with persistence against the change OF life
| which their altered circumstances press upon
| them But barbarism and civilization can not
| live together. It is impossible that such in
| congruous conditions should co-exist on the Same
| soil. They are 8 portion of our people, are
| under the authority Of our Government. and
| have peculiar claim upon, and are entitled
| to- the fostering caro- and protection of the
| nation. The Government not relieve
itself of this responsibility until they are so far
trained and civilized as to be able wholly to
| manage and care for themselves. The patn in
| which they should walk must be clearly marked
| out for them, and they must be led or guided
| until they are familiar with the way and COM
ties of our citizenship Progress in this
| great work will continue only ut the
| present slow pace and at great expense.
1 unless the system and methods Of man
agement are improved TO meet the changed
/ conditions and urgent demands of the service.
| The Agents having general charge and super
vision, in many cases. OF moro than 5000
Indians, scattered over large reservations, and
| burdened with details Of accountability for
/ funds and supplies, have time to look after tho
| industrial training and improvement Of n few