Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-12-14

,llDulU nON OAAJ W hOhAOA SAtAeNAoAtR eH~ -
NATIONAL BANKRUPT LAW.
The enactment of National bankrupt law
)f character to be permanent part OF our
general legislation is desirable. It should be
simple in Its methods and Inexpensive In It's
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
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 Tor the improve
ment and extension of the service which are
to your attention. No other
branch of the Governpent has so close con-
tact with the daily life of the people. Almost
every one uses the service i oflers, ana every
hour gained in the transmission of the great
mails has an actual and
possible value that only those en-
gagged In trade can understand:
the malls between New York and San Fran
cisco, which has recently been accomplished,
Is an Incident worthy OF mention. The plan
suggested of a supervision OF the post, ofiices
in separate districts that shall Involve In.
structlon and suggestion and a range OF
efficiency of the postmasters would, / have no
doubt, greatly improve the service
THE NEW NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
shows Reorganization of the bureaus OF the
department that will, / do not doubt,
promote the efficiency OF each. In general,
satisfactory progress has been made in the
construction of the new ships Of war au-
thorized by Congress. The first vessel OF the
new navy, the Dolphin, was subjected to
very severe trial tests and to very much ad-
verse criticism; but 1t is gratifying to be
able to state that, cruise around the
returned, has demonstrated that she is
first Class vessel OF her rate. The report OF
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 fit
for sea duty grows very slowly. We had on
the fourth of March last thirty seven serv-
lceable 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 condemned.
Twenty-slx additional vessels have been
probable that when they are completed
our list will only be Increased 10 forty-two, a
gain of five. The old wooden ships are dis
ap pearng almost as fast as the new vessels
are added. These facts carry their own ar
THE APIA CALAMITY.
An appalling calamity befell three OF our
naval vessels on duty at the Samoan Islands
in the harbor of Apia in March last, inYolv e
ing the loss of four officers and forty seven
seamen, of two vessels-the Trenton and the
Vandalia-and the disabling OF a third, the
Nlpslc. Three vessels Of the German navy,
also In the harbor, suffered with our ships
the force of the hurricane, and suffered even
more heavily. While mourning the brave
officers and men who died facing with high
resolve perlls greater than those of battle,
it is most gratifying to state that the credit
Of the American navy for seamanshtp cour-
age and generosity was magnificently sus-
tanned in the storm beaten harbOr of Apla.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT AFFAIRS.
The report of the Secretary Of the Interior
exhibits the transactions of the Government
with the Indian tribes Substantial prog
ress has been made in the education of the
children of school age and In the allotment
of lands to adult Indians. 1t is to be re-
gretted that the policy of breaking up the
tribal relation and of dealing with the
Indian as an individual did not appear
earlier in our legislation. Large reserva
tions held in common, and the maintenance
of the authority OF the chiefs and head lneI
have deprived the individual of every In
centive to the exercise of thrift, and the an
nuity has contributed an affirmative impulse
towards state of confirmed pauperlsm
Our treaty stipulations should be highly con
and helpless people. The reservations are
| now generally surrounded by white settle
ments. We can no longer push the Indian
| back into the wilderness, ,and it remains only
| by every suitable agency, to push him up
| ward into the estate of a self supporting anI
responsible citizen. To the adult, the frs
| steps is to locate him upon farm and for thu
child to place him in school
School attendance should be promoted by
| every moral agency, and those Falling shoult
be compelled. The National schools for In
| dians have been very successful, and should
| be multiplied, and, as far as possible, should
| be so organized and conducted as to faclli
| tate the transfer of the schools to the State
| or Territories in which they arc located whel
the Indians in aneighborhood have accepted
| citizenship, and have become otherWS'
| fitted for such q transfer. This condition o
| things will be attained slowly, but 1t will IN
hastened by keeping it in mind. Ant
In n tho meantime t GtrnneDt that c0itopSTa era,
the mission schools which ha
wrought much good should be cordially AM
impartially sustained. i.
The appOintment of commissions to trea
with the Cherokees, Sioux and other Indian
| for the surrender to the Government OF Ger
| tain lands held by them and the progress
made thereby the opening and settlemen
| of Oklahoma and the necessity for Terri
torial government therefor; the necessity 70
| legislation in regard to the acquisition o
titles to lands in Alaska are given curefu
and extended consideration.
THE LAND LAWS.
| In the administration of the land laws tn
policy of facilitating in every proper wa
| the adjustment of the honest claims of in
dividual settlers upon the public lands ha
been pursued. The number OF pendin
| cases had, during the preceding Admlnstra
| tion, been greatly increased under the opera
| tion of orders for time suspending hna
action In large part OF IN
cases originating IN the West an
1
unusual methods OF examination. Only thos
| who are familiar with the conditions unde
| which our agricultural lands have been set
tied can appreciate the serious and oite
| fatal consequences to the settler of polio
| that puts his title under suspicion, or delay
| the lssuances of his patent While care
taken to prevent and expose fraud,
| should NOT be imputed Without reason
The manifest purpose Of the homestead an
| pre- -emption laws was to promote the settle
| ment of the public domain by persons hav
ing IA bonafide intent to make home. upo
| the selected lands Where this intent is we
| established and the requirements of the la'
have been substantially complied with tn
| claimant Is entitled to Il prompt and friendl
| consideration of his case; but where there
reason to believe that the claimant is tn
mere agent of another who is seeking I
evade a law intended to promote small hold
| ings, and to secure by fraud
ulent methods large tracts of tin
Sipal cH5 9a1 and AGENT sea should e not S' only
| thwarted in their fraudulent purpose bu
should be made to feel the full penalties {
our criminal statutes. The laws should b
so administered as not to confound these tw
classes, and to visit penalties only upon th
The unsettled state of the titles to larg
bodies of lands in the Territories OF Ne
Mexico and Arizona has greatly retarde
the development of those Teri
tories. Provision should be made b
law for the prompt trial and final adjust
| menI DeIOTe Judicial tIiDuuui VI oOmhils
sion of all claims based upon Mexican grant
1t is not just to an intelligent and enterprl'
ing people that their peace should be d 1
tuTbed and their prosperity retarded b
these old contentious. ! express the hoI
that difference of opinion as to method
may yield to the urgency of the case.
THE PUBLIC PENSIONERS.
The law now provides pension for ever
soldier and sailor who was mustered into tf
service of the United States during the civ
war and is now suffering from wounds {
disease having an origin IN the service an
the line of duty. Two of these necessaT
facts-muster and disability--are usually SUI
ceptible of easy proof, but the third-origl
in the service-is often difficult, and in man
deserving cases impossible to establish. Thi
very many of those who endured the marc
ships of our most bloody and arduous can
paigns are now disabled from diseases tn;
had real If not traceable origin in ser'
ice we do not doubt, besides there al
another class composed of men, many
whom served an enlistment of the three fu
years, and of re- enlisted veterans,who addt
a fourth year of service, who escaped u
casualties of battles and the assaults OF di
ease, who were always ready for any deta
| who Wara In aUaIsV hattie line of their con