Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-04


| placed under a responsible bureau head. Thf
has resulted in the curtaiment of open pur
chases, which in the year 1884 and 1885,
| am united to over so per cent. of all the pur
! | chases o. the department to less than 1 L pei
! cent, so that at the present time about 80 PEI
cent. OF the total departmental purchases are
| made by contract, and of er competition. Al
the expenditures on the account book exceed
an av rage of twenty seven millions annually
It Is evident that an important fmprOvementin in
he system has been inaugurated, and su b. tan
tial economies introduced
| The report of the Postmaster General, which
reviewed at great length and all the recon-
mendations of the Postmaster-General heartily
| endorsed.-ED.l
DEPARTMENT OF JCsTIcR
The transactions of the department of Justice
! for the fiscal year, which euded June 3d. 1888,
are contained in the report of the Attorney
General as well as number Of valuable recon-
OF those previously made and ought to receive
| consideration.
1t is stated in this report that though judg-
ments in civil suits amounting to s55 .3O2, ,1O8,
we're recovered in favor of the Government
during the year, only the sum of S132, 1874 was
and drs wene mpossd neS
to $541 ,403 49, only slO9, GAS AZ OF that sun,
was paid on account thereof. These facts may
| extensively prevails that a debt due the Gov
ern ment should cause no Inconvenience TO its
| citizens.
| PoLYGAMy AT AN END.
| 1t also appears from this report that though
prior to March. 1885, there had been but six
| convictions in the Territories of Utah and
Idaho under the laws of 1862 and 1882, pun
ishing polygamy and unlawful cob abitation az
crimes, there have been since that date nearly
| six hundred convictions under those laws and
the statutes of 1887, and the opinion is ex-
pressed that under such firm and vigilant
| execution of those laws and the adva6ce of
| ideas opposed to the forbidden practices,
poiygamy within the United States is virtually
Suits instituted by the Government under
the provisions of the act of March g. 1887. for
| the termination of the corporations kno VI as
the Perpetual Emigrant Fund Company and
the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day
saints. have resulted in decree favorable to
these corporations forfeited and escheating
tnelr property: such property amounting in
It's its value to more than $SoOoOO, is in the hands
OF a receiver, pending further proceedings, an
appeal having been token to the Supreme
| Court Of the United States
In the report Of the Secretary of the Interior,
| Wnlcn VIII De la1d before you, the condition of
| tne various branches of our domestic affairs
connected with that Department and its opera
IONS oqring the past year, are fully exhibited,
| put brief reference to some OF the subjects
discussed in this interesting and able report
can be here made; but commend the entire
report to the attention of Congress and trust
| the sensible and valuable recommendations it
contains will secure careful consideration.
cannot too ktrenuously insist upon the i'm
portance OF proper measures to insure a right
disposition OF our public lsnds, not only as a
matter of present justice, but il forecast of the
consequence to future generations. The broad
rich acres Of our agricultural plains have been
long preserved by nature to become her un-
trammeled gift to people civilized and free,
upon which should rest, In well distr buted
equal and fraternal citizens.
We nave no excuse for the violation of prin-
ciples cogently taught by reason and example.
sometimes exposed our lands to colossal greed.
PUBLIC LANDS RECLAIMED.
1t is gratifying to know that something hss
people and check the perilous tendency of the
reckless waste of the national domain that over
80, OOO.o acres have been arrested from ille-
gal IL, urpation, improvident grants and fraudu-
lent entries and claims to be taken for the
homes.eads of honest industry, although less
than the greater areas thus unjustly lost, must
afford profound qualification to right feeling
citizens, as it is a recompense for the labors
and struggles of the recovery.
Our dear experience ought sufficiently to
legislation which will conine the future dis
position of our remaining agricultural lands
to ot, the use OF actual husbandry and genuine
Nor should the vast tracts of socalled desert
lahGs pe yielded up to the monopoly of corpo.
rauons Or grasping individuals. as appears to
s atute. The lands require but the supply OF
water to become fertile snd productive. It is
| problem OF great moment how most wisely
nished i cannot but think it perilous to suffer
either these lands or the sources of their rriga.
tion to fall Into the hands OF monopoiies. Wh:ca
py such means may exercise lordship over
areas dependent on their treatment for pro-
| ductiveness.
Already steps have been taken to secure accu-
Iate I,t and scientific information Of the CON
action; Until this shall be attained the course
| OF wisdom appears clearly to lie IN a suspension
OF luther disposal, which only promises to
est No harm can follow this cautionary CON
duct. The land will remain and the public
good presents no demands for hasty disposses-
sion OF national ownership and control.
commend also the recommendations that
appropriate measures be taken to complete the
adjustment OF the various grants to the States
overfowed lands. as well as to adjudicate and
nnally determine the validity and extent of the
numerous private land claims All these are
tiers upon the Localities affected; and now that
their xistence is more pressing :han ever, to fix
as soon as possible their bounds and terminate
the threats OF trouble, which arise from uucer.
| tainties.
TIE INDIAN POPULATION,
The condition of our Indian population cor.
that tSe 70 improve and the PROOFS multiply
which shall substitute for barbarism an en-.
lighted an civilizing education. is in favorable
progress. Our relations with these people dur
ing the year has been disturbed BY no serious
disorders, but rather marked by a better reali-
| zation OF their, true Interests and increa.ing
| testify to the value of the higher tons of con-
| sideration and humanity which has governed
| the latter methods OF dealing with them and I
| commend its continued observance.
Allotments in severalty have been made on
some reservations until all those entitled TO
land thereon have had their shares assigned.
the execution o. this duty. have not aimed
&c, much at rapid dispstch as to secure Just and
fair arran4 ements which shall best conduce to
the objects Of the law by producing satisfaction
with the results of the allotments made.
NO measure or general eff.ct has ever been
entered on from which more may be fairly
hoped II 1t shall be discreetly administered, it
pro1ers opportunity to that independence of
spirit and life which the Indian peculiarities
ne9ea, While at the same time the in.
allena6il1ty OF title effords security against
the risks OF his inexperience Of affairs
or weakness of character may expose him to in
dealing with others. Wherever begun upon
| any reservation, it should be made complete,
| SO That all are brought to the same condition,
ana as soon as possible, community in lands
Snoud cease by opening such as remain unal-
| iotted to settlement Contact with the ways OF
| industrious and successful farmers will per-
haps add healthy emulation which will both
| instruct and stimulate
| EDUCATION OF INDIANS
| But no agency for the amelioTation of this
people appears to me so promising as the ex-
tension urged by the Secretary Of such com.
plete facilities of education as shall at the
earliest possible day embrace teachable In
dian youths OF both sexes and retain them with
a kindly and benefit hold, until their charac.
ters are formed and heir faculties and disposi-
tiOns trained to such pursuits or to som form
of usefnl industry. The capacity of The Indian
no longer needs demonstration II is estab-
lished. 1t remains to make the most of il and
ana when that shall be done the curse will be