Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-04


seli-govcrnnent has been well illustrated In
Oklahoma, but Il IS neither safe nor wise 20 leave
this people longer 20 the expedients which nave
temporarily served them.
ALASKA.
Provision should be made for the scduisitlon
o. title 20 lots In the towns now establish
c1 In Alaska for locating town sites and for
tho establishment Of municipal governments
Only the mining Laws have been extended 20 mat
territory, and no other form OF tue 70 lands can
nov be obtained. Tho general land laws wer,
framed with reference 10 the dispose ION 81
the agricultural land laws. and u IL doubtful u
their operations 10 Alaska would Dc Denenclh.
We have fortunately not extended 20 AlnsEa Tue
mistaken policy Of establishing RESERVATIONS Tor
the Indian tribes, aud can deal with them from
the beginning "a individuals with, am sure,
better results. But any disposition % inc pun
lie lands and any regulations relating 10 umper
aud 20 tho fisheries should have kindly regard
20 their interests usvinR no power TO levy
taxes. the people OF Alaska are wholly
dependent upon the General Government. ~
whose revenues the seal fisheries make large
annual contribution Al Appropriation LOT eu'
cation should neither be overlooked nor stlntel.
Ths smallness of tho population aud tue great
distances between the settlements ouer serious
Obstacles 70 the establishment OF the usual tor
rtOrial form of government Perhaps tbe or
gnnization Of several sub-disiricis with q small
municipal council Of limited powers Tor esch
would be safe aud useful.
ANOTHER PORT BEcoMHESDED.
Attention IL called in this connection 70 the
suggestions Of the Secretary Of tue treasury
relating 20 the establishment ~ another port oi
entry in Alaska and OF other needed customs
facilities and regulations. ln the admui'tra-
ton OF tho land laws the policy OF facilitating IN
every proper WY the adjustment OF the houest
c aims Of individuals settled upon the puUlc
lands has been pursued. lie number OF pond
ing cases had during The preceding Aiministra-
ton greatly increased under the operation OF
orders for q timo suspending tnsl acuon IN a
large part ~ the cases Originating IN 1he Ne'.
and Northwest, aud By the subsequent use OF
unusual methods Of exam nations Only those
who are familiar vi the conditions uhlrr
which our agricultural lands have ueon stllei
can appreciate the serious aud often faial cous'-
quenrss . Tho eefflsr Of T. policy tnat puts MS
tile under suspicion or delays tho ISSUANCE or
his patent White care istakento prevent ana 10
expose fraud, IL should not DO imputed without
reason
Tbe manifest purpose Of tho homestead aud
prescription inv was 10 promote the settlement
Of the public domain by persons having o9nh-
pfe intent 20 make home upon tho seiecse1
lands Who're this .ntent is well estsnHses1 anu
the requirements OF tho aT have been -lpslAu-
TALLY complied with, tho claimant Is entitled 10 q
prompt aud friendly consideration OF MS case.
But where lhero IS reason 10 bciieVe tnht the
claimant "a the one Of another VINO IS seeking %
oYade n law iatondei ~ promote small holl-
iugs, and 20 secure by fraudulent methods
large Tracts OF timber aud other lands, bJ,n tho
principal and agent should not only be tWhrl
oil IN their tfaNlulrnf purposes pul -ll'Nit ~
made o. feel the full penalties Of oar criminal
statutes Tue laws should 10 so administered ~
not 10 confound those two classes and o vl-i-
penalties only upon the latter mo unsettle i
state Of the titles % large bodies OF lands IN mo
Territories Of New Mexico ami Arizona has
greatly retarded the deyelopmen. OF those Terri
tories.
MEXICAN GRANTS.
Provision should DO male by law for the
prompt trial aud final adjustment before = lu-
rIIfTai f1alNu OK All fltlN-
based UPON Mexican grants. 10 "a not Just u Hn
intelligent Rnd cnterpusine people mat ihelG
ueace should b. disturbed and their prosperity
retarded by hose oh contentious. express mo
hone that the difference oi opinion "a % tho
methods may yet yield 10 the urgency oi tho
case.
PENSIONS.
THO law now provides pension Tor every
soldier and sailor who was ~ ls'ef"i lti' ih'
service OF the United states duriug the 'i7iI war
an! is now suffering from wounds or Ii7ense
having an origin 10 tho service AM in mo Tue OF
duty Two OF the necessary fa'is viz, muster
and disahuiiF-sre usually susceptible 90 easy
urnnf Uuf the third origin in the service ID often
dimciilt and IN many deserving cases impo'si-
bic % establish THAT very many oi tho-' VINO
endured the hartsnlps Of our most p"Fiy ma
HrduOus campaign are now di-ahifi I.NN ii--
eases tlst hal real hut NOS trace1ftc origin lu
the service. donot d0uOt besides those fhcr'
d another clG-7 composed ar men, many or
whom served an enlistment az three years, az
re-eulisted veterans Who aioci fourth year u-
service VINO escaped th. casualtesOf battle AMI
the ASSAULTS OF disease. who were always rcaiy
for auy detail. who were iu every uaiio-lne ol
their command. and were mustered out in sound
health. aud have, since TIE close OF tao war,
while dghflug With the same indOWitable an q
udeoeudont spirit tho c1ute of civil IKE, oeon
overcome Dy disease or casually.
am not unaware that the peusiou-roli nl-ehiy
involves q very large annual expenditure :
upifherprn deterTC uy fle annual OK p-udlturr
neithcr Am de erred by tha. fact from recon-
m0udng that Congress grant pension io such
L0nOrab iy-di scbaTget soldiers aud sailors ot me
civil war 20 having rendered Substantial service
during the war are now dependent upon Their
own lator fora maintenance, anl by disease or
ga ltv are incaplcitatoi from earning DC.
Macy o.. the men who would ho included IN thl'
form of relief are now dcpcndont upon Duulc
and, aud DO does NOT, ia my Judgment consist
yith tho national honor that they shall continue
10 eubs-t upon tho Local re iot gwen indlacriin.
Iate.y 90 paupers, ins.ead ~ upon the -pe.itl
nud generous provision Of me naaOu tley ser 81
so gaiiautly ana uu-eil.Giy. our people VA, /
AN sure. very generally approve such lesl'li-
ton. and am equally -ure tuat ile survivors OBJ.
the Union Rriuy 9ld navy vii ieel sia-"lli
feuse o. relief when ths worthy and suffering
class OF their c0inlaJes is fairly cared Tor.
MANIFEST INEQUALITIES.
There ARE some manifest Inequalities in ihe
existing law that should b. remeiiej. 10 some
az these the Secretary ~ lhe Interior has called
attention. il Is gratifying iO Doe able io.in,e be-.
hy the adoption Oi new and bottcr methods iu
the War Department tho calls " the Pension
Once for Information a5 % tho military anu nos
rifal records OF pension cciments are nov
promptly answered Aui the injurious ana ve1-
nfous delays that have heretofore occurred aro
entirely avoided. This will greatly facilitate ne
adjustment Of all pending claims
THE NEW srATHs.
Tho advent Of four new Sta'es-South Dakota,
North Dakota, Montana, and Washington Terri
tlry-iutO the Union under the constitution no
the same mouth, aud the mission OF thoif
duly-choscn representatives. lOr tins national
Congress af Tire same session, "a an event a. un-
eXampied az 10 Il interesting The c.ruhcailon
az tho votes cast and OF The tonsuiuticnsa roc.
iu each OF the Sia.os was filed with nae, a. re-
CURED uy tho eightn roctlou of tho act N teoru-
AIRY - lsS1, by the Governors q sail Terri
tories, respectively. ilavioE. after - careful
/ examination. found mat th' several 1oA-sitl-
tiOns aud GOyeTnmeEis Ncfe ttpupucah III
form ami not rcpucnant % the Constitution OF
the United Stat0s, thal ali too PROVISIONS ~ the
act Of Congress had been complied WIN, eNd
thata majority OF the votes cast IN eich oi aall
rrOposeG states was In favor ~ the adoption ul
IN, Constitution slbmittci therein, dld 80 Jt-
clare by a separate prOclamau m as 10 ra'h, h-
o. North DAKOTA AID south DAKOTA, on SaturlAy'
November "a: "a 20 Montana. on Friday 40
yeuler sth: and as 20 W Washington, On Monday
November 18th Each of these states has within
it resources he Development az which Will en-
ploy the energies OF AMI yield comfortable
subsistence % @ great poplla The -mil lest
~ these new states, Washington, stands twelfth
md the largest. Montana, third, among ih7 10
tg.twO Ia area. The people OF these states are
already we'll trained. intelligent ana iAflotl
American citizens, having con mon Interests and
svtnDafhlss with tL0so OF the Older SGtes. AMI 2
common purpOse 20 defend tho Integrity aud
uphold the honor Of tue nation.
RAILROAD EMPLOYEES.
The attention q tue interstate Commerce
Commission has been called 20 tue urgent need
OF cougre-sl )nal legislation for tho better pro-
lection OF the lives and limbs OF those engaged
In operatiug tho great interstate freight lines OF
the country, and especially OF the yardmon and
brakemen. A petition signed by nearly lU.OI
railway prakeuen vas presented 70 the c0nmls-
sion asking that steps might be taken TO bring
about tho uso Of automatic brakes aui cOupIer'
on frcight-cars.
and their accredited representatives holt At
Washington IN March last, upon the invitation ol
the Interstate Commerce Commission, resolu
tiOu was unanimously ad0ptel urging the CON-
mission " 10 consider what can DO done 20 pre-
vent the loss OF life AMI limb ia coupling ana m
coupling freight-cars snd inhandiing the brakes
OF such cars" During tho year ending June 3D.
l-ss, over I, 900 railroad employees were killed
IN service and more than DOJO injured. II
Is competent, / thlnk, for Congress u
reduire uniformity in tho construction Of car
used In inters aye commerce, aud the Use OF I'M
uroved safety appliances upon such trains
Time will DO necessary 70 make the needed
changes, but an earnest and Intelligent begin
ming should DO madO at once. II IS reproacf
10 our civilization that auy class OF American
workmen should. in the pursuit Of necessary
and useful vocation, be subjected 10 peril Of
life and limb AS great as that OF a soldier IN
I time a war.