Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-12-10
ooement adan,ed 10 the different phases

agement adapted TO the different phases
of development in which the different
tribes are, with the ultimate object Of
allotting to them all lands in severalty
and bringing them into the mass Of our
citizens. The energetic efforts OF the
land department under the present adj
ministration have succeeded in restor-
ing to the public domain two million
seven hundred and fifty thousand acres
of land wrongfully appropriated. and
almost as much more is now in litiga-
tion. The aggregation OF public lands
in large holdings ty persons. many OF
whom are foreigners, is commented upon
ms serious evil. 1t is recommended
that the presumption and timber culture
acts be repealed, and that the homestead
law be so amended as TO make the re-
onirements of residence and cultivation
much more strict. Restrictions upon
the alienation of homestead rights until
after patents have been issued are also
suggested. Much has been done to Sc
cure the removal of unlawful fences
from the public domain, but much still
remains to be done.
The report of the commissioner of
pensions shows net increase Of more
than 10000 pensioners during the year,
and the President points out the injus
tice done by indiscriminate pension leg
islation. The plan suggested by The
Secretary of the Interior and approved
by the government directors in the Pa
eific railroads for change in the method
of paying the Indebtedness Of those
roads to the government is referred to
with the comment that the "only mat
tiers" to be considered are the situat ion
of the government as creditor and the
surest way TO secure the payment OF
the principal and interest of its debt.
Federal legislation upon the subject Of
railroad rates for interstate commerce
is suggested in the light of the recent
ject worthy of consideration.
Upon the question of the relations of
labor and capital the recommendations
in the special message of last year that
the labor bureau be given powers to
arbtrate in cases between employers
anG employees voluntarily referred to
it are renewed, and it is declared that
after law has doEe all that it can "much
more remains to be accomplished in the
reinstatement and cultivation Of true
American sentiment which recognizes
the equality of American citizenship"
The work OF The department OF agricul-
ture is favorablv commented upon and
the extension of its function suggested.
The application by Congress of such
legislation as the constitutional limits
will permit to the extinction of the
pleuro-pneumonia among the cattle of
several States is recommended.
1t is stated that the continued opera.
ton of the law relating to the civil SER
vice has added the most convincing
proofs of its necessity and usefulness.
and the cheerful and ungrudging sup
port of Congress is invoked for the re-
form. An increase in the salaries of
the civil service commissioners is rec
commended.
The plain duty of paying the unpaid
claims of the depositors in the Freed
mems Savings and Trust Company is
called to the attention Of Congress, and
the message closes with certain recom-
mendations relating to the local affairs
of the District of Columbia. Baltimore
SIM.