The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-12-14

OF einciency OF tne postmnstcrs, would grentl
: | improve tho service. A pressing necessity ex
Z lists for the erection OF q building for the Join
: use OF the Department and the city post-oflice
I 1.-THE President indorses tho report Of tn,
I. Secretary OF tho Navy1 1t is important tina
wo should have more rapid increase in tn,
number OF servit cab'o ships concur in tn,
! recommendation OF the secretary that the con
struction OF eight armorcd ships, three gun
boats and FIVE torpedo boats, be authorized
J The bravery OF the American scamen at Apt
Is oulogized
The President deals with the recent purchase
Of reservation lands and advises that school at
tendance on the part OF the Indian children be
made compulsory. He expresses the hope that
the Cherokees will rclinqush their outlet" fol-
settlement by the whites.
With reference to the Oklahoma boomers he
says that care will be taken that those who en-.
tered in violation OF the law do not secure the
advantages they unfairly Sought.
very urgently recommend that Congress nj
once provide Territorial Government for
oklahoma. Serious questions, which may at
any time lead 10 violent outbreaks arc await
ing the institution OF courts for their peaceful
adjustment
We have fortunately not extended to Alaska
| the mistaken policy of establishing res
orvations for the Indian tribes and can deal
! with them from beginning ms individuals with, I
| am sure, better results. But any disposition
of the public lands and any regulations relat-
| ing TO timber and to the fisheries should have a
kindly regard to their interests
An appropriation for education should neither
| be overlooked nor stinted The smallncss OF
the population and the great distances between
the settlements offer serious obstacles to the
| establishment OF the usual territorial form OF
government. Perhaps the organization of sew
| eral sub.districts, with small municipal coun-
Gil of limited powers for each, would be safe and
| useful.
Attention is called In this connection to sug
gestions of the secretary of the treasury relat-
| ing to the establishment OF another port of
entry in AlnslSn and OF other needed customs
facilities and regulations.
The manifest purpose OF tho homestead and
presumption laws was to promote the settle
ment OF the public domain BY persons having
bona.fldc intent to make home upon the Sc
lcctcd lands. Where this intent is well cstab-
lishcd and the requirements OF the law have
been substantially complied with. the claimce is
entitled to Il prompt and friendly consid-
GRAFTON OF his case. But where there is reason
TO believe that the claimant is the mere agent
OF another who is seeking TO cvade n law in
tended to promote small holdings. and to Sc
cure by fraudulent methods large tracts of tim
ber and other lnnds, both principal and agent
should not only be thwarted, but should be
made to feel the full penalties OF our criminal
statutes. The laws should be so administered
rs not TO confound these two classes and to
visit penalties only upon tho latter.
The unsettled state of the titles TO large
bodies OF lands in the Territories of New Mex
leo and Arizona has greatly retarded the de.
velopment OF those Territories. Provision
should be made by prompt trial and final adj
tustment before a judicial tribunal commits
on OF all claims based upon Mexican grants.
The law now provides pension for every sol
dier and sailor who was mustered into service
OF the United Statcs during the late civil war
and is now suffering from wounds or disease
having an origin In the service and the line OF
duty. Two or three necessary facts. viz: Mus
ter and disability are usually susceptible OF
easy proof but the third. origin in tho service,
is often difficult and in many deserving cases,
impossible to establish. That very mpnv OF
those who endured the hardshps OF our most
bloody and arduous campaigns are now dis.
ablod from di'eases that had real
not iraceable, origin in service do not doubt
besides there are another class composed OF
men, many OF whom served on enlistment OF
three full years. and OF re.enlisted veterans
who added n fourth year Of service who escaped
tho casualties of battles and tho assaults OF |
disease, who were always ready for any detail |
who were in every battle line OF their COM |
mand. and were mustered out in sound health |
and have, since the close OF tho war, while
fighting with the same indomitablo and indie. |
dependent spirit the contests OF civil life, been
overcome by disease or casualty.
I am not unaware that the pension roll nj
ready Involves q very largo annual expendi-
that Congress grant n pension
TO such honorably discharged soldiers and sail |
ors OF the civil war rs, having rendered sub. |
stanial service during the war, are now de- |
pendent upon their own labor for main
and by disease or casualty are incapac-
itated from earning II. Many of tho men
who would be included in this form OF
relief arc now dependent upon public aid, and
II does not, in my judgment, consist with the
national honor that they shnll continue to sub
sist upon the local relief givon indiscrimnately
10 paupcrs instead OF upon the special and gen
erous provision of the nation they served so
md unsenshly Our people will, /
Am sure, very generally approve such leeisla-
tion And am equally sure that the survivors
,f tho Union army and navy will feel q grateful
sense OF relief when this worthy and suffering
Glass OF their comrades Is fairly cared for.
There are some manifest inequalities in the
existing law that should bo rcmeded. To some
of these the Secretary OF the Interior has called
attention.
IT is gratifying TO be nble to state that by the
adoption OF new and better methods in the War
Department the calls OF the Pension ONCE for
Information ms TO the military and hospital
eeords OF pension claimants now promptly
answered. and the Injurious and yeSatious de-
ays that have heretofore occurred nre entirely
welded. This will greatly facilitate the ad.
ustment OF all pending claims
The advent of four new States, South Dako.
a, North Dakota, Montana and Washington
nto the Union under the constitution In the
ame month. and the admission nj their duly
chosen representatives, 10 our National Con-
.ress at the same session, is an event as uncr- !
implied MS II Is interesting.
The attention of the Interstate Commerce
'oIn mission has been called TO the urgent need
{ congressional legislation for the better pro.
cction of the lives and limbs OF those engaged 1
n operating the great interstate freight lines q
the country. especially OF tho yardrncn and :
rakemcn. ,
During the year ending June 30. Sss. over ..
GOO railroad employees were killed in service
nd more Than 20, 900 injured. II is competent, I
think, for Congress TO require uniformity in Il
be construction OF ears used in Interstate COM q
'ercc. and tho use OF improved safety appii. =
nceb upon such trains. Tine will be neces. y
'rv To make the needed changes. but an earn.
Il End intelligent beginning should bo made n
once. IL IS y rcproach to our civilization | n
iat any class OF American worsmcn should. in
10 pursuit OF 4 necessary and useful vocat ion. !"
e subjected 10 peril OF life and limb rs great u
that OF q soldier In lime OF war tl
Tho creation OF an executive department, to -
known AS The department OF agriculture. by .,
le act OF Feb. last, was y wise and timely =,
sponsc 10 n request which had long been re. u
'ectfuly urged by the farmers OF tho country; v
II much cma ms 10 be done.
Attention Is called TO The suggestions con. o,
mod in the report Of the secretary which is :.
rewith submitted. ~
The need OF II law oflicer for the department | II
oh AS Is provided Tor tho other executive de- | fu
rtmcnts Is manifest. The failure Of ihe last al
ngiess o make the usual PROVISION for he -
DlicatiOn OF the annual reDort SHOULD be "