Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-03

Union Army and Navy viii feel a grateful
sense OF relief when this worthy and suffering
class of their comrades is fairly cared for
There are some manifest inequalities in the
existing Law that should be remedied To some
OF these the Secretary Of the Interior has called
attention.
1t is gratifying to be able to state that by the
adoption Of new and better methods in the War
Department the calls Of the Pension Once for
information to the military and hospital
| records OF pension claimants are now promptly
answered. and the injurious aud vexatious de-
lays that have heretofore occurred are en-
| tirely avoided. This will greatly facilitate the
adjustment Of all pending claims.
THE SEw STATES.
The advent Of four new States, South Dakota,
North Dakota, Montana, and Washington, into
the Union under the Constitution. in the same
month, and the admission Of their duly chosen
representatives to our National Congress at the
same session, Is an event as unexampled as il
| is Interesting
The certification of the votes cast and of the
constitutions adopted in each of the States was
! nied with me as required by the eighth section
OF the act OF February %. 1889. by the COVER
nors OF said Territories respectively. Having.
aiter careful examination, found that the
| several constitutions and governments were
republican in form and not repugnant to the
Constitution Of the United States that all the
provisions OF the act OF Congress had been
SohitASu WIN anu tnat majority OF the
votes cast In each of said proposed States was
in favor OF the adoption Of the constitution
submitted therein, did SO declare by a sepa-
rate proclamation as TO each; as to North
Dakota and South Dakota on Saturday, Novem-
Der z as TO Montana on Friday. November 8,
and as TO Washington on Monday, November H.
Each of these States has within il resources
the development Of which will employ the en-
ergies OF, and yield a comfortable subsistence
to, great population. The smallest Of these
new States. Washington, stands twelfth, and
the largest, Montana, third, among the forty
two in area. The people Of these States are
already we'll trained, intelligent and patriotic
American citizens, having common Interests
and sympathies with those of the older States,
and a common purpose to defend the integrity
and uphold the honor of the nation.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
The attention of the Interstate Commerce
Commission has been called to the urgent need
Of Congressional legislation for the better pro-
lection of the lives and limbs of those engaged
in operating the great interstate freight lines
of the country, and especially of the yard-men
and brakemen. A petition, signed by nearly
ten thousand railway brakemen, was presented
to the Commission. asking that steps might be
taken to bring about the use of automatic
brakes and couplers on freight cars.
At a meeting of State railroad commission
ers and their accredited representatives,, held at
Washington in March last upon the invitation
OF the Interstate Commerce Commission, a
resolution was unanimously adopted, urging
the Commission Ito consider what can be done
TO prevent the loss of life and limb in coup
ling and uncoupling freight cars, and in
handling the brakes of such cars" During
the year ending June 80. 1888, over 1000 rail-
road employees were killed in service, and
more than 10000 injured. 1t is competent,
think. for Congress to require uniformity in the
construction of cars used in interstate COM
nf m oafa 4
ances upon such trains. Time will be necessary
to make the needed changes but an earnest
and intelligent beginning should be made at
once. 1t Is a reproach to our civilization that
any class OF American workmen should, in the
pursuit OF a necessary and useful vocation, be
subjected to peril Of life and limb as great as
that OF a soldier in time OF war.
THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The creation of an Executive Department, to
be known as the Department Of Agriculture
by the act of February 9, last, was a wise and
timely response to a request which had long
been respectfully urged by the farmers of the
country. But much remains to be done to per-
feet the organization of the Department SO
that 1t may fairly realize the expectations which
its creation excited. In this connection atten-
ton is called to the suggestions contained in
the report of the Secretary, which is herewith
submitted. The need of law officer for the
Department, such as is provided for the other
Executive Departments, is manifest. The fall
ure of the last Congress to make the usual pro-
vision for the publication of the annual report
should be promptly remedied- The public in
terest in the report and its value to the farm
ing community l am sure will not be dimin-
lshed under the new organization Of the De-
partment.
THE WEATHER BUREAU.
/ recommend that the Weather Service be
separated from the War Department and es-
%oll Aal - ~. -
Agriculture. This will involve an entire reor-
ganization both of the Weather Bureau and of
the Signal Corps, making of the first purely
civil organization and of the other a purely
military staff corps. The report of the Chief
Signal Officer shows that the work of the corps
on its military side has been deteriorating.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The interests of the people of the District Of
Columbia should not be lost sight of in the
pressure for consideration of measures affect
ing the whole country. Having no legislature
OF its own, either municipal or general its peo-
pie must look to Congress for the regulation of
all those concerns that. in the States, are the
subject of local control Our whole people
have an interest that the National Capital
should be made attractive and beautiful, and
above all that its repute for social order should
be well maintained. The laws regulating the
sale of intoxicating drinks in the District
should be revised with view to bringing the
traffic under stringent limitations and control
In execution of the power conferred upon
me by the act making appropriations for the
expenses of the District of Columbia for the
year ending June 80, 1889, / did, ON the 18th
day of August last, appoint Rudolph Herring, of
New York, Samuel NJ. Gray. of Rhode Island,
and Frederick p. Stearns, of Massachusetts
three eminent sanitary engineers, to examine
and report upon the system of sewerage exist
ing in the District of Columbia. Their report
which is not yet completed, will be in due
course submitted to Congress.
The report of the Commissioners of the Dis
trict is herewith transmitted, and the attention
of Congress is called to the suggestions con-
tanned therein.
THE EXPOSITION.
The proposition TO observe the four hun
dredth anniversary OF the discovery of America
by the opening of a worlds fair or exposition
in some one Of our great cities will be pre-
sented for the consideration Of Congress. The
well claim the promotion of the General Gov
ernment
THE CIVIL SERVICE Law.
On the 4th of March last the Civil Service
Commission had but a single member. The
vacancies were filed ON the 9TH day of Nav,
and since then the commissioners have been
industriously, though with an inadequate force,
engaged in executing the law. They were as
sured by me that a cordial support would be
forcement Of the statute and of the rules and
regulations adopted in aid of it.
Heretofore the book Of eligibles has been
closed to every One aycant carfifios fiaps