The Springdale news., 1888-12-07

At first sight says the President "thiS would seem to be profitable and sensible transaction on the part of the Government but as sug g{ested by the Secretary of the Treasury, the surplus thus expended for the purchase of bOads was money drawn from the people ia excess of any actual need of the Government, and was so expended rather than allow 1t to remain idle in the treasury. If this surplus, under,the operation of just and eQuita- ble laws had been left in the hands of the people, 1t would have been worth in thelr bus ness at least six per cent. per annum Deduetlhg from the amount of interest upon the principal and premium of these bonds for the tune they had to run, at the rate of six per cent, the savng of two per cent. made for the people by the purchase of such bonds, the loss would seem to demonstrate that If excessive and unnecessary taxation is continued and the icy of purchasing It's own bonds at the premiums, which it will be neces. sary to pay. the loss to the people will be hundreds of millions of dollars Since the purchase of bonds Was undertaken men toned. nearly all that have been offered were at last accepted. It has been made quite ap parent that the Government Was in danger of being subjected to combinations to raise their price. Notwithstanding the sum thus paid ont, the surplus in the treasury on the 3Oth of No- vember, 1SSS, was S52, 2346i0.o1. after deducting about 2l,D0l0U just drawn out for the pay ment Of pensions.
 THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
 The Secretary or War reports that the army. 1t the date of the last consolidated returns consisted of s,lS9 officers and 2i5l9 enlisted men. The actual expenditures of the War De- partment for the fiscal year ended June 90 tSSS amounted to Ell, l,lG5,10107 ot which sum s9,15S 5f4.63 WIS exp ended for public works. including river ana har5or improvements.
 We shall have our own gun factory next year. Givil-Seryice reform Is recommended for the army service General Sheridan's death IS lamented as an irreparabie loss.
 Eighty.three men, 10 women, Q boys and g girls all Indians, are held as prisoners Of war. The Indian schools are doing nicely.
 PENSIONS REDUCE THE SURPLUS.
 The number Of pensioners added to the rolls during the fiscal year ended June 3O 1SSS. Is b},H53, and increase of pensions WAS granted n 4.1l6 cases. The names of l5,i3) pensioners Were dropped. The number Of persons reeeiv- ing pensions was 452.551 of these there were 6 snrvyors of the war Of 1872; 1o,I7T wld9"s of those who served in that war; 1b,a6) soli CTS of tine Mexican war and 3,lQf willows Of sai soldiers Or. hundred aud two d.Eere1t rates ef pensions are paid to these beneficiaries, ranging from S! 10 S416 66 per m )nth The amount pail for pensions dur ing the fiscal year was f1S.715 S5l. .92, being an increase over the preceding year of S53jS 281.22. The expenses attending the maintenance and operation of the Pension Bureau during that period were E, 26f f32l G1, making the entire exz pendtures of the bureau SS!.03s.326 51, being 5fi2 per cent. of the gross income and nearly Il per cent. of the total expenditures Of the Gov ernment during the year.
 T am thoroughly convinced that our general pension laws should b. revised aud adjusted 10 meet as far Is pass hle in the light Of our ex- perience all meritorions case~.n says Mr. Cleveland. The fact that 1gl different rates of pensions are paid cln not. in my opiniOn be made consistent with justice to the pensioners or 10 the Government. and the numerous pri. Vate pension BlllS that are passed prciicated they increase. in many cases existing inequal- tty and injustice, lend additional force to the recommendatton for revision of the general laws on this subject.
 THE NAVY.
 The reconstruction of the navy is being pushed forward rapidly. The Charleston, Bal tmofe, ! GOrStown NesuVius and Petrel are n the water and rapidly approaching completion. Bennington, Concord and the HarreShon tor pedo boat arr under contract. Eleven vessels Ill all will be incorporated Fl the American navy within the next twelve months.
 Notwithstanding the large expenditures for new construction and the ad titiOual labor they involve. the total ordinary or current expendI= ture of the department for The three years ending June 8, lSSS are less by more than twenty per cent than such expenditures for the three years, ending June 34 1sSi.
 THE POSTAL sERy CE.
 The number Of post-eniees on .Iulr 1, 1998 was 51.3i6, an increase Of 0.lA i'll three years and of 2,2l9 for the last fiscal year. The latter mentioned increase Is classified follows: New England States, ]: Middle States, 1Sl southern States and Indian Territory 4D 1 f.4U5. the states and Territories ot the Pacific coast l90 the ten States and Territories Of the West an@ Northwest, 435; D strict of Columbia, ?: total, 2,3I9 The railway mall and free delivery seryice and moueY-orler service have developed; so has the foreign ser. vice.
 DEPARTMENT OF THE INFERIOR
 Though prior 10 lrch. 1885, there had heen but X convictions m the Territories of Utah and Idaho, under the law, of ls6! and lss3 pun lshing polSglmy and unlawful co-habitatloH as crimes. there have been S5ucc that date nearly SIX hundred convictions under these laws and the statutes ot lS5., and the opinion is expressed that under such Il firm ana Ylglaut execution ot these laws and the a3V1uC" Ot il 'ts oppO,ed to the forbidden pr1ct ces, poiygamy within the United States is virtually at an end.
 PUBLIC LANDS.
 "I can not too strenuously insist on the inn portance Of proper measures to insure right dIspos tiou of our public lands" the President says not only as q matter of present justice but in forecast of the cOnsequences to future generations. The broad, rich acres Of our ;-rcultural plains have been long preserved by nature t9 become her un- tramtneled gift to < people civilized aud free upon wi oh should rest, iH wel-tistribut- ed ownership the numerous homes Of en- li8hteneu equal and frlternat cttilens- They ( me to National possession with the warning example in oHr eyes Of the entail miquit cs of landed proprietorship which other countries have permitted and stiH suffer. We coeeutly taught ny reason and example, nor for the allowance Of pretexts which have sometimes exposed our land to colossal greed. Laws winch open a door to i fraudulent aequts tion, or administration which l permits and faYors apdc1Ous seizure by favored | few of extended areas that mdny should en- /! lf,y, are accessory To OHenscs aga nst our Ma l uonal welfare anu humanity not tO be too | severely condemned OF punished.
 ALLOTMENT IN sEvERALTY TO INDIANS.
 The e0ntitlon or our Indian population con 1 tinues tO improve, and the proots multiply | that the transforming change much to be 1 desired which shall substitute for barbursm ! and cYiiizins education, Is in | favorable progress. Our relations with these | people during the year have been disturbed | by no serious disorders but rather marked by | q better realization of theIr true interests and | increasing confidence and good will. These | con ltions testify to the value Of the higher | tone of consideration and humanity which has 1 governed the later lncthous of dealing with i thcm and commend it's continued observance ] Allotments in severalty have been made on | some reservations until all those entitled to l lAnl thereon hANn hAl ihalr shares assLt.nel 1