Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-12-16
DIVERS suRJECrs.


i desire to call the attention of the congress to
aplain duty which the government owes to the
depositors Of the Freedmen's Savings and Trust
company. This company was chartered by the
congress for the benefit of the most illiterate
and humble of our people and with the intention
of encouraging them to industry and thrift. Most
OF It's branches were presided over by officers
holding the commissions and clothed in the
uniform Of the United States These and other
circumstances reasonably, / think, led these
simple people to suppose that the invitation to
deposit their hard-earned savings in this insti-
tuition implied an undertaking on the part of the
government that their money should be safely
kept for them When this company failed it
was liable in the sum of S2.929, 925. % to 81.
I3l depositors. Dividends amounting in the
aggregate to 81 per cent have been declared and
the sum called for and paid of such dividends
seems 70 be 81 GAS, ISL. This sum ABDUCTED
81, 29l ,744 so still unpaid. Past experience
has shown that a large part OF this sum will not
be called for There are assets still on hand
amounting to the estimated sum of $4,000
think the remaining 30 per cent OF such of these
deposits as hayeciaimants should be paid by tho
government upon principles OF equity and fair
ness. The report Of the commissioner, socn to
be laid before congress, will give moro salts
factory details on this subject. The control of
the affairs OF
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
having been placed in the hands Of purely ex.
eeutiye officers, while the congress still retains
all legislative authority relating to its govern
ment, IL becomes my dgsy to make known the
most pressing needs of che district and recon-
mend their Consideration. The laws of the dis
trict appear TO be In an uncertain and unsatis-
factory condition. and the codification of their
provisions ~ much needed. During the past
year one Of the bridges leading from The dis
trict TO the State Of Virginia became unfit for
use, and travel upon IL was forbidden. This
leads me to suggest that the improvement of
all the bridges crossing the Potomac and its
branches from the city OF Washington is worthy
OF the attention OF congress- The commission
ers OF the district represent that the laws regu-
lating tho. sale OF liquor and granting license
therefor should be az ones amended, and
define and enlarge the power OF charitable
and penal institutions within the district.
suggest that the commissioners be clothed with
the power TO make, within fixed limitations, po-
lice regulations. belieye this power granted
and carefully guarded would tend to subserve
the good order OF the Municipality IL seems
that trouble still exists growing out of the occu-
patton OF the streets and avenues by certain rail
roads having their ternini in the city 1t IL very
important that such laws should be enacted
upon this subject as will secure to the railroads
all the facilities they require tor the transaction
OF their business, and at the same time protect
citizens from injury to tier persons prop.
erty. The commissioners again complain thai
the accommodations afforded them for the nee
essary officers for district business and for the
safe keeping OF valuable books and papers are
entirely inefficient. / recommend that this con-
dtlon OF affairs be remedied by congress and
that suitable quarters be furnished for the needs
OF the district government, In conclusion,
earnestly invoke such wise action on the part OF
the peoples legislators viii subscrve the pub.
lac good and demonstrate. during the remaining
days of the congress as at present organized, its
ability and inclinations to so meet the peoples
needthat it shall be gratefully remembered by
an expectant constituency.
GROVER CLEVELAND
WASHINGTON, d. c., 1856