River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-12-05


meat OF the public domain by person. having
bona fiae intent 10 make home upon the
selected lands. Where this intent Is well
established ana the requirements OF the law
have been substantially complied with the
claimant Is entitled 10 prompt and
friendly consideration OF his case But where
there IS reason 10 believe that the claimant is
the mere agent OF another who is seeking TO
evade u law intended 10 promote small hold
tngs and TO secure by fraudulent methods large
tracts OF timber and other lands both principal
and agents should not only be thwarted IN their
fraudulent purpose but should be made TO feel
the full penalties OF our criminal statutes. The
laws should lie so administered as not to con
found these two classes and To visit penalties
only upon the latter.
PENSIONS.
am not unaware that the pension roll al
ready Involves a very large annual expenditure.
neither am deferred by that fact from recon
mending that Congress grant pension to such
houorably discharged soldiers and sailors OF the
civil war as, having rendered substantial service
during the war, are now dependent upon their
own labor for "a maintenance and by disease or
casualty are incapacitated from earning IL.
Many Of the men who would be included ia
this form OF relief are now dependent upon
public aid, and IL does not in nay judgment con
sist with the National honor that they shall
continue 10 subsist upon the local relief
given indiserinlinately To paupers instead OF
upon the special and generous provision OF the
Nation they served 50 CALAMITY and unselfshly.
oar people will, ! am sure, very generally ap
prove such legislation
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. II Is gratifying To be able 10 state
that by the adoption OF new and better
methods iE the War Department the calls OF
the Pension Ohice for Information to the
military and hospital records of pension
claimants are now promptly answered and the
injurious and yexatiOus delays that have here
tofore occurred are entirely avoided. This will
greatly facilitate the adjustment of all pending
THE NEW STATES
The advent OF four new States, South Dakota
North dakota, Montana and Washington. into
the Union under the constitution ID the same
month. and the admission Of their duly chosen
representatives, To our National Congress al the
same session Is an event as uneNampled a. IL
Is interesting.
the development OF which will employ the en-
ergies OF and yield comfortable subsistence
10 great population. The smallest Of thest
new States Washington, stands twelfth. ans
the largest Montana third among the forty
two in area The people of these States are al
ready well trained, intelligent and patriotic
American citizens, having common interests
and Sympathies with those Of the older States
ana common PURPOSE L. defend the integrity OF
and uphold the honor OF the Nation.
SAFETY OK RAILWAYS.
The attention OF the Inter State Commerce
Commission has been called 10 the urgent need
OF Congressional legislation FOR the better pro
lection 81 the lives and limbs OF those engaged
in operating the great inter State freight lines
OF the country During the year ending June
- 1879, over 600 railroad employees were killed
IN service, and more than 9gO IN
Congress 10 require uniformity il
the construction OF ears and the use of improved
safety appliances upon such trains. Time will be
necessary TO make the needed changes, but al
earnest and intelligent beginning should be made
at once II is a reproaeh TO our civilization
that any class OF American w"rkmen should, II
the pursuit OF u necessary and useful vocation
be subjected TO a peril OF life and limb as great
as that OF a soldier in time OF war.
THE NEW EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
ftn ere faFt Nf ENA fftsan Nowffr 20
be known as the Department OF Agriculture.
by the act OF February last, wise and
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 II fairly realizes the expectations which
its creation excited. In this connection atten-
tion IS called TO suggestions contained in the
report OF the Secretary.
lee be separated from the War Department and
established bureau in the Department OF
Agriculture. This, he says. will involve an
entire reorganization both Of the Weather Blu
reau ana the Signal Service making of the frst
a purely civil organization, while the other will
be purely military.
THE WORLDS FAIR.
The proposition to observe the four hundredth
anniversary of the discovery OF America by the
opening OF "A Worlds Fair or exposition in some
one Of our great cities will be presented for the
consideration OF Congress. The value and in
terest OF such an exposition may well claim the
promotion OF the general Government.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
A considerable portion Of the message is de-
voted TO a consideration Of the civi-Scrvice
question and after detailing the facts regarding
the appointment OF the present commission the
President says that the reform OF the civil
service will make no safe or satisfactory ad-
vance until the present law and its equal adj
ministration are we'll established in the con-
hdence Of the people. The message then con
tinues as follows:
The duty of appointment is deyolved by the
constitution or 10y the law, and the appointing
officers are properly held to q high responsible
ity an its exercise, The growth OF the country
and the consequent increase OF the civil list
have magnificd this function OF the Executive
disproportonately II can not be denied however.
that the labor connected with this necessary
work is increased. often to the point Of actual
distress, by the sudden and excessive demands
that are made upon an increasing administra-
ton for removals and appointments. But, on
the other hand il is not true that incumbency
Is conclusive argument for a continuance
In Office. Iinpartiality, moderation fidelity
To public duty and a good attainment in the
discharge of il must he added before the argu-
ment Is complete. When those holding admin
istrative offices so conduct themselves as TO
convince just political opponents that no party
consideration or bias affects in any way the dis
charge of their public duties we can more easily
stay the demand for removals.
I am satisfied that both in and out OF the
classified service great benefit would accrue
from the adoption of some system by which the
officer would receive the distinction and benefit
that in all private employment comes from ex-
ceptional faithfulness and efficiency in the per
Torrance OF duty.
AID To EDiEAItON.
National aid TO education has heretofore taken
the form OF land grants. In that form the
power of Congress to promote the education OF
the people Is not questioned. do not think II
can be successfully questioned when the form is
changed to that of a direct grant " money
from the public Treasury SUCH aid should he,
as u always has been, suggested by some ex-
ceptionsll conditions
The sudden emancipation OF the slaves. the
bestownl Of the suffrage which soon followed
and the impairment of the ability OF the states
where these new citizens We're chiefly found 10
be- adequately provided with educational facill-
ties presented not only al exceptional but an I'M
eNampled condition. That the situation mas
been much ameliorated there l. no
doubt. The ability and interest Of the
States have happily increased, but a great
work remains 10 be done, and think the gen
eral Government should lend its aid. As the
suggestion OF a National grant in aid OF educa-
ton grows chiefly out OF conditions and needs of
the emancpated slave and his descendants, the
relief should as far as possible while necessarily
proceed ng upon some general lines, be applied
to the need that suggested u. ~ y essential II
much good is TO be accomplished that the sym
patty and active interest OF the people Of the
State should be er"sted and that the methods
adopted should BE- y as to stimulate and not
To supplant local Ia alton for school purposes.
As one Congress can not bind a succeeding
one in such case and as the effort must IN
some degree be experimental ] recommend
that any appropriation made for this purpose
he so limited in annual amount and as to the
time over which II il to extend as viii on the
one hand give the local school authorities OPP
pOrtunty to make the best use OF the nrSt
year. allowance and on the other deliver them
from the temptation 10 unduly postpone the as
sumption OF the whole burden themselves.
RACE TROUBLES IL THE SOUTH
Referring 10 the race troubles in the South
and the fact that in many instances eoored
people have been iuterfered with when attempt
ing to vote. the President begins by paying
high tribute TO the industry and capabtity OF
the colored people. He continues:
In many parts OF our country where the col
ored population is large the people OF that race
are byVarious devices. deprived OF any effective
exercise of their political rights and OF many OF
their civil rights. The wrong does not eAprnd
itself upon those whose votes are suppressed
Every constituency In the Union Is wronEed.
Ii has been the hope OF every patriot that
sense Of Justice and of respect for the law would
work a gradual cure OF the fragrant evils, sure
IN no one Supposps that the present can be ac
cepted as q permanent condition. II u il said
that these communications must work
out this problem for themselves we
have "a right TO ask whether they
are at work upon IT, Do they suggest
any solutions When and under what conditions
is the black man to have free ballOtf When
is he. in fact. To have those full civil rights
which have So long been his in law When ~
that equality of influence which our form Of
Government has intended tn secure To the cleo
tors to he restoredf This generation shall
courageOusly face these grave questions.
ana not leave them heritage Of woe 10 the
next The consultation should proceed with
csndor calmnnSs ana great patience: upon the
and cruelty. No question In our country can be-
at rest except upon the firm basis Of justice and
OF the law.
l earnestly invoke the attention OF Congress
to the consideration % such measures within
its well-defned constitutional powers a. will
secure 20 all our people free exercise Of the
right OF suffrage and every other civil right
under our constitution and laws.