St. Landry democrat., 1888-12-15
THE MESSAGE.


45.716 cases. The names of 1879 pensioner
were dropped The number of persons receiv
ing pensions was 49,, 557; OF these th nss
were s u survivors Of the war Of 1912
| 107S7 widows ef those who served ii
that waf; 1866 Soldiers Of tile Mexican wal
and 5,10t widows Of said soldiers. One hundred
and two different rates of pensions gre raid tC
| these beneticiaries, ranging from - to S416 &C
per month. The amount paid for pensions dur
ing the fiscal year was 7S775;S51 % being ar
increase ovet the preceding year Of IS, 30S, $50 %
The expenses attending the ntaintenarce and
| operation of the Pension Bureau during that
| period were 3D. 26 !.52i67, making the entire ex
penditures of the bureau So, 1861, being
5lta per cent. OF the gross income and nearly II
| per cent. Of the total expenditures OF the Gov
| eminent during the year:
| II am tiotfughlr 1'+tnced that oi!r general
| pension laws should be revised and adjusted TO
meet as far as possible in the light Of our ex-
, u,,r-nce AL, mer1tyrryus ICES" says Mr..
Cleveland. "The fact that 1vs different rates
Of pensiors are paid san not. IN my opinion, be
| made fansistsrt With Justice, 70 the pensioners
or to tic GolGrIiu:eu,r arid. tic rrp'efd5s PIT,
vate pension bills that are passed rrGdiaattG
upon the lmperfection OF general laws while
| they Increase, in many cases, existing UNEQUAL
ity and Injustice, lead additional force to
! TIC Observation-Disclosures FIJI: u Il revision OF
| the general laws on tn s suDJecu.
| THE NAVY.
| The reconstruction of the navy is being
push d forward rapidly. The Charleston, Bal
| tinlOre Yorktown. Vesuvns and Petrol are in
| the Water ani rapidly approaching completion
The Fhilaiclpha, San ,Prancisco, Newark,
BenniugtGn; Concord and the Herreshof tor
| pedo Foat :dtc tpder contract, E:e4eq tesssls
in all wilt liz iticGt p6rsted ii tlis hmerfcari
navy within the next twelve months. s-.r.. =
Notwithstanding the large expenditures for
| new construction and the additional labor they
involFe the total ordinary Or current expendi'
ending June 81, 1888, are less by mole tssa,t
twenty per cent, than such expenditures for
the three years, ending June 30, 1884.
THE POSTAL SERv CE.
The number of post-of1ices July I, 1885,
was $3.50, 81 increase of 6,124 i'll three years
and CT 2,afJ for the last fiscal year. Tbs latter
mentioned incrcaso Is CLASSIFIED - fellows:
New England States 5; Middle States, ISL !
Southern States and Indian Territory 4lJ,
1906; the States and Territories OF the Pacific
coast, 13J; the ten States and Territories of
the West and Northwest, 435; District of
ColunSbia 2 total, 2,2l9. The railway mail
service have dcveloped, so has the foreign ser
vice.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Though prior 10 March, 1885, there had been
onS SIX convictions IN the Territories of Utah
and Idaho, under the laws of 1856? and 1882, pun
iSh;ng polygarny and unlawful co-habltatiOn as
crimes. there have been since that date nearly
six huiidfed convictions under these laws ana
the statutes OF 1857 and the opinion is expressed
that under such a frni and vigilant execution
of these Laws aud the advance of ideas opposed
to the forbidden praetiffs' polygamy within the
United States Is virtually at all cna.
PUBLIC LANDS.
"I can not too strenuously insist on the i'm
portance Of proper measures to insure right
disposition of our public lands the President
says. mot only as matter of present justice,
but in forecast of the consequences to future
generations. The broad, rich acres OF
our agricultural plains have been long
preserved BIZ nature to become her I'm.
tiarmelsd gift to a people civilized and
free, upon VII en- should rcst in ~ell-0istrlbut
ed ownership the numerous homes Of en-
lightened, equal and fraternai citizens. They
Mott ,l
example in our eyes of the entail lnlqult:es OF
landed proprietorship which other countries
have permitted and still suffer. We
have 70 excuse for the violation of
principles copeptly taught by reason and
example, nor fol The GllGwanee CT pretexts
which have sometimes exn0scd DIR iand 81
colossal greed, Laws which open door to
fraudulent acquis ton, Or administration which
permits and faVors araclous seizure by a favored
few OF extended areas that many should en-
JOY: are accessory to offenses against oar Ma
tional welfare and humanity not to be too
severely condemned or punished
ALLOTMENT IN sEvERALTY TO INDIANS.
The condition OF our Indian population CON
tinues to improve, and the proofs multiply
that the Transforming change so much to be
desired which shall substitute for barbariSm
Enlightenment ard elsili6ing education, IS in
favorable progress. Our t6iafiQns with these
people during the year have been disturbed
10y no serious disorders, but rather marked by
better al:zato1 of their true interests, and
increasing confidence and good will. These
con Iltl0nS TESTIFY To Inc value OF the H1gHer
tone of consideration and humanity which has
governed the later methods of dealing with
them; and commend Its continued observance.
aIiotments in sgveralty have been made on
some reservations until all those entitled to
land thereon have hal their shares assigned
and the work is still continued
But no agency for the amelioration Of this
people appears III me so promising as the cx'
tension urged by the secretary of such com
p.cte facilities of education Us shall at the ear
lest possible day embrace all teachafle Indian
h of h gry md A7EI II n
kindly and beneticent hold until their
characters are formed and their faculties
trained - ths sure pursuit OF some form
OF useful Industry The capacity OF the
Indian no longer needs demonstration
It is established. It remains to make the most
of It. and when that shall be done the curse
Will be lifted, the Indian race saved and the
sin Of their oppression redeemed. The time of
its accomplishment depends upon the spirit
and justice with which 1t shall be prosecuted.
II can not be TOO soon for the Indian nor for
the interests and good name of the Nation.
The average attendance of Indian pupils On
the schools increased by over nine hundred
reached 15,2l2. Tie cost of maintenance was
not materially raised The number of teach
able Iudan youth is now estimated at 10000.
or nearly three times the enrolment OF the
gchoola. j. IS believed the obstacles in the way
of instruction are all surmountable, and that
the necessary expenditures would be a meas
ure Of economy.
THE SIOUX RESERVATION.
The SIOUX trI pes on the great reSefV3EOuDy
Dakota refused to assent to the act passed of
the Congress at i.s lest session for opening q |
port on of their lands for settlement notwith- |
standing modification OF the terms was sng-
gested which met most of their objections. |
Ttreir demand is for immediate payment OF the |
full price OF S7.a5 per acre for the entire body
Of land. the occupancy Of which they are asked |
to relinquish.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The department Of Agriculture has continued |
with q good measure of success, its efforts to |
develop the processes, enlarge the results, and |
augment the profits of AMERICAN husbandry. 1t |
has collected and distributed practical infor-
nation, introduced and tested new plants, |
checked the spread of contagious dig
eases of farm animals, resisted the sd
yance of noxlous insects and destructive fun |
gus growtils and sought to secure to agrcult- |
lral labor the highest reward of effort and
,he fullest immunity from loss. It's records of
The year show that the season OF 1888 has been |
me of medium production. A generous supply |
If the demands of consumption has been
assured and a surplus for expectation, moder.
tie in certain produces and bouutiful in others.
Will prove benefaction alike to buyer and |
grower.
PLEtRo- PNEUMONIA.
Four years ago it was found that the great
,attle industry of the country was endangered
md those engaged in it were alarmed at the
'ap:d extension of the European lung plague OF
)ieuro pneuu16niR Serious outbreaks existed
n Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky, and in
Tennessee animals affected were held in quar-
milne. Five counties in New York and from one
% four counties in each OF the States of New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland
ere almost equally affected. With this great
hanger uron us and with the contagion already |
n the channels of commerce, with the enor-
nous direct aad indirect losses already being
aused by it, uud when only prompt and
Energetic action could be successful, there were
n none OF these States any laws authorizing
his department to eradicate the malady or CIV
ng the State officials power TO cooperate with
for this purpose. The department even lacked
10Th the requisite appropriation and authority.
BY securing State cooperation in connection
With authority from Congress the work OF
Eradication has been pressed successfully, and
his dreaded disease has been extlrpated from
he Western States and also from the Eastern
states, with the exception Of a few restricted
reas which are still under supervision. The
hn- hs,nr, cd md traGR and NJ |