Thomas County cat., 1889-12-05
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INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.
The subject Of An international copyr'Sns
has been frequently commended to the as-
tention Of Congress by my predecessors
The enactment of such law would be emi-
nently wise and just.
NATURALIZATION.
Our naturalization laws should be SO re-
vised as to make the inquiry into the char
acter and good disposition toward our Gov
ernment Of the persons applying for citizen
ship more thorough. This cnn only be done
by taking fuller control OF the examinations
by fixing the time for hearing such applica-
tion and by requiring the presence OF some
one who shall represent the Government In
the inquiry. Those who are enemies OF
social order or who come to our shores to
swell the injurious influence and to extend
the evil practices Of any association that de.
fes our laws. should not only be denied
citizenship but a domicile.
THE POST OFFICE.
The report of the Postmaster. General not
only exhibits the operations Of the depart
ment for the past fiscal year, but contains
many valuable suggestions for the improve
ment and extension OF the service. which are
commended to your attention. No other
branch of the Government has SO close q con-
tact with the daily life Of the people. AL
most every one uses the service il offers, ana
every hour gained in the transmission OF the
great commercial mails has AN actual and
possible value that only those
engaged in trade can understand.
The saving of one day in the transmission OF
mails between New York and San Francisco.
which has recently been accomplished, is
an incident worthy of mention. The plan
suggested OF q supervision OF the post Offices
IN separate districts that shall involve in
struction and suggestion and range of the
Sk,a I h..N
no doubt, greatly improve the service.
The unsatisfactory condition of the law re-
latng to the transmission through the mails
of lottery advertisements and rcmttances
is clearly stated by the Postmaster General.
aud his suggestion as to amendments should
have your favorable consideration.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
shows a reorganization OF the bureaus of the
department that will, I do not doubt. pro-
mote the efficiency of each. In general.
satisfactory progress has been made in the
construction of the new ships Of war author
ized by Congress. The first vessel of the
new navy, the Dolphin, was subjected to
very severe trial tests and to very much
adverse criticism. But it is gratifying to be
able to state that cruise around the
world. from which she has recently
returned. has demonstrated that she is a
the Secretary shows that while the effective
force of the navy is rapidly increasing by
reason OF the improved build and armament
of the new ships, the number of our ships
tit for sea duty grows very slowly. We had
on the 4th of March last thirty seven ser.
viceable ships, and though four have since
been added to the list the total has
not been increased, because in the
meantime four have been lost or con.
demned. Twenty six additional vessels
have been authorized and appropriated for,
but it is probable that when they are com.
pleted our list will only be increased to 62, q
gain of five. The old wooden ships are dis.
appearing almost as fast as the new ones are
added. The facts carry their own argument.
One Of the new ships may in fighting
strength be equal to two of the old, but it
can not do the cruising duties OF two.
1t is important, therefore, that we should
have a more rapid increase in the number OF
serviceable ships. / concur in the recon-
mendation of the Secretary that the con-
srruction of eight armored ships, three gun
boats and five torpedo boats be authorized.
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
exhibits the transactions of the Government
with the Indian tribes. Substantial progress
has been made in the education of the chill
dren of school age and in the allotment OF
lands to adult Indians. 1t is to be regretted
that the policy of breaking up the tribal re-
lation and of dealing with the Indian as an
individual did not appear earlier in our leg
islation. Large reservations used in COM
mon and the maintenance of the authority
OF the chiefs and headmen have deprived the
individual of every incenti to the exercise
of thrift and the annuity has contributed AN
affirmative impulse towards \ state Of con-
6rmed pauperiSm.
laws relating to negotiations with the Sioux
Indians of Dakota for a reinquishment of Il
portion Of their lunds to the United States
and for dividing the remainder into separate
reservations. Both were approved on the
same day, March 2. The one submitted to
the Indians was a specific proposition. The
other tSec. OF the Indian Appropriation
act) authorized the President to appoint
three Commissioners to negotiate with these
Indians for the accomplishment Of some gen.
eral purpose and required that
any agreement made should he
submitted to Congress for ratification.
On the 18th day of April last appointed
Hon. Charles Foster, of Ohio, Hon. William
Warner, of Missouri, and Major General
George Cook, OF the United States army.
Commissioners under tho last named law.
They were, however, authorized and direct.
ed first to submit to the Indians the definite
proposition made to them by the act first
mentioned and only in the event of a failure
to secure the assent of the requisite number
to that proposition to open negotiations for
modified terms under the other act. The
work OF the Commission was prolonged and
arduous but the assent OF the requisite num-
Der was, it is understood. finally Obtained to
the proposition made by Congress.
The Commission provided for by section Il
OF the Indian Appropriation bill to negotiate
with the Cherokee Indians and all other In.
dians owning or claiming lands lying west
of the ninety sixth degree Of longitude, for
the cessOn to the United States of all such
lands. was organized on June -
| last. Two conferences have been
held, but no definite results have appeared
The cattle syndicate now occupying the
lands for grazing purposes 10 clearly one of
the agencies responsible for the obstruction
OF our negotiations with the Cherokecs The
large body of agricultural lands constituting
what Is known as ''the Cherokee Outlet"
ought not to be, and indeed can not long be-
| held for grazing and for the advantage OF a
| few against the public interests and the best
advantages of the Indians themselves. The
United States has under the treaties certain
rights in these lands. These will not be used
oppressively, but il can not be allowed that
| those who by Sufferancc occuny ihcse lands