Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-12-15

ChIiy lDc Iulleu states mhI. lie only
alternative provided by the act OF congress, In
case Of refusal, Is for The postmaster general
to send the mail forward by pony express.
This Is but one illustration OF i'll fitting leg
~islation, reasonable and proper al the time OF
its enactment, but long since outgrown and
r%equirirg rea1yustment.
1t is gratifying to note from the carefully
prepared statistics accompanying the post
master generals report that Notwithstanding
the great expansion Of the service the rate OF
expenditure has been lessened and the ellie
iency has been improved In every branch;
that fraud and crime have decreased; that
losses from the mails have been reduced and
that the number OF complaints OF the service
made to postmasters and TO the department
are FAR less than ever before.
THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
The transactions OF the department Of jus
tice for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1888,
are contained in the report OF the a~ttorney
| general as well MS OF valuable recomm enda-
tions, the most OF which are repetitions of
those previously made and ought to receive
consideration IL Is stated In this report that
though judgments in civil suits amounting TO
800, POP, los were recovered In favor OF the
government during the year, only the sum OF
Sl32, 934 was collected thereon and that
though fine penalties aud forfettures were i'm
posed, amounting TO S541 SOS. AZ, only Sl09,-
Gas. AZ Of that sum was paid on account there
C's = o. " iiht "a III III oN'ph
OF thessentiment which extensively prevails,
that q debt due the government should
cause no inconvenience TO the ~citizens.
II also appears from this report that though
previous to March, 1885, there had been but
few convictions IN the territories OF Utah and
Idaho under he laws OF 1862 and 1889 punish
ing pOlygamy and unlawful cohabitation as
crimes. There have been since that date
nearly 600 convictions under those laws and
the statutes OF 1857, and the opinion is ex-
pressed that under such "A firm aud Wig
liant execution of these laws and the advance
Of ideas opposed TO the forbidden practices,
polygamy within the United states IS virtu-
ally at an end. Suits instituted by the gov
eminent urder the provisions OF the act Of
March 3, 1857, for the termination OF the cor
pOrations known as the Perpetual Imlnigrating
Fund company and the church Of Jesus
Christ OF Latter Day Saints have resulted, in
a degree, favorable to the government, de-
claring the charters Of these corporations
forfeited and cschcatipg their property. Such
property, amounting In value to more than
100000 is In the hands Of q receiver, pend
! ing further proceedings, M appeal having
been taken TO the supreme conrt OF the
United States.
II DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR.
In the report of tie secretary OF the utter
Tor, which will be laid before You, the condi-
ton OF the various branches Of our domestic
affairs connected with that department aud
! It's operations during the past year are fully
exhibited. Bat as brief reference to ONE OF
the subjects discussed in this able and inter
estiug report cannot here be- made, | com
mend the entire report 70 the attention OF
congress and trust that the sensible and val
liable recommendations It contains will Sc
cure careful consideration. | cannot too
~strenuously insist upon the Importance OF
proper measures to insure a right disposition
OF our public lands, not only as a matter of
present justice, but in forecasting the conse-
quence 10 future generations. The broad,
rich acres Of our agricultural plains have
been long preserved 10y nature to become the
Civilized and free upon w3Ich
should rest In wen distributed owner
ship the numerous homes Of enlightened,
equal and fraternal citizens. They came to
national possession with the warning exam
pie IN our eyes OF the entail Of iniquities In
landed proprietorship, which Other countries
have permitted and still suffer.
We have no e-cVse for the violation OF
principles c~ogently tsaght by reason aud ex-
ample, nor for tn allowance OF preteXts
which have sometimes exposed our lands to
colossal greed. Lsus which open the door
of fraudulent acquisition or administrator
which permits favor TO rapacious seizure by a
favored few of the expanded acres thst the
many should enjoy are accessory 10 Oifenses
against our national welfare and humanity
can not be too severely condemned or
punished.
II is gratifying TO know that something has
been done at last 10 redress the injuries to
our people and check the p|erilOus tendency
Of the reckless waste Of the national domain
that over $4,000, 900 acres have been
wrested from illegal usurpstion, improyidcnt
grants and fraudulent entries and claims to
be taken for the homestcsds Of honest In
dustry, although less than the greater areas
thus ~unjustly lost, must afford profound
qualification to right feeling citizens,
as 1t Is a recompense for the
labors and struggles Of their recovery.
Our dear experience ought sufficiently to
urge speedy enactment OF measures Of legis-
lation which will continc future disposition
OF our remaining agricultural lands 10 the
use Of actual hUsbandry and genuine homes,
nor should our vast tracts OF SO. called desert
lands be yielded up TO the monopoly Of
corporations or grasping individuals as sp-
pear5 TO be much the tendency under existing
statutes. The lands require hut the supply Of
water TO become fertile ana productive. 1t Is
a proolem OF great moment how most wisely
for public good that factor shall be furnished.
J cannot but think ii p~crilious 10 suffer
either these lands or the sources Of their
irrigation To fall into the hands Of m%onopol.
les which by such meRLs may exercise lord
ship over acres dependent on their treat
meut for their productiyeness. Already steps
have been taken 10 secure accurate and
scientific information OF the conditions which
is the prime basis Of intelligent action. Until
this shall be gained the course or wisdom
appears clearly TO be In tho suspension Of
further disposal which only promises 70
create rights a%ntagouietic 10 The common in
terest and no harm can follow this caution
airy conduct. The land Will remain and the
public good presents no demand for hGsty
dispossession OF the national ownership
and control. | commend also the recon-
mendatiops that approximate measures be
taken to complete the adjustment of the var
ious grants to the states for internal improve
ments and Of thesaying Of overlooked lands rs
well TO ~adiudtca'C and finally determine the
valikity aud extent OF the numerous private
land claims. Al these are clements OF
great injustice and peril To the settlers upon
the localities affected, and now that their ex-
tstence is sscertaiIed there is 40 more press
ing necessity than 10 tx as soon as possible
their BOUNDS and terminate the threats OF
trouble which arise from uncertainty.
The condition OF our lndian population
continues To improve, ard the proofs multi
ply that the transforming change, so much
10 he desired, which shan substitute for par
barism enrichment and c'yiliZlng education,
is in favorable progress. Oar relations with
these people during the year have been dis
turbed by ne sci. ous disorders, but rather
marked by "A better realization of their true
interests and increasing confidence and good
viii. These conditions testify 10 the value Ct
the higher tone Cf consideration and humaui-
~, which has governed the lat