Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-12-12

r1ons These .l7s gu al rot TO De Sshd can not
long be held for the advantage OF "A few against
the public interests. The Government has I'M
der the treaties certain rights Ia these lands.
These will not be used oppressivcly, but il can
not be allowed that those who By suiferan0e Oc-
cupy these lands shall interpose 10 defeat the
wise and benehcent purpose Of the Govern
ment
THE OPENING OF OKLAHOMA.
The President refers TO the opening Of the
Oklahoma Territory, ana says that he was re-
luctant to issue his proclamation throwing
open the lands 10 settlement because Congress
had made no provision for a civil government
for the people who were 10 be invited to settle
thereon except rs the court at Museogee or
the United States courts in some OF
the adjoining states had power to
enforce the general laws. But In view
OF the fact that severe Thousand persons, many
OF them With their families had gathered upon
the borders Of the Indian Territory with view
of securing homesteads an the ceded lands and
that delay woulc involve them in much loss and
suffering he did issue his proc
lamation, naming the noon hour on
April y last a. the time entunce
the credit Of the settlers that they very general
ly observed the limitation as to the time when
they might enter the Territory. Care will be
taken that those who entered in violation Of
the law do not secure the advantage they IN
fairly sought. 1t is estimated that there are now
In the Territory about 5000 people and several
considerable towns have sprung up for which
temporary municipal governments have been
organized.
He very urgently recommends that Congress
at once provide a Territorial government for
these people Serious questions which may at
any time lead TO violent outbreaks are awaiting
the institution Of courts for their peaceful ad-
justment. The American genius for self gov
ernment has been well illustrated in Oklahoma,
but il neither safe nor wise TO leave these
people lnger TO the eXpedients which have
Temporarily served tom.
RIGHTS or SETTLERS
In the administration OF the land laws the
policy ~ facilitatiul iu every proper way the
adjustment of the honest claims Of individual
settlers on the public lands has been pursued.
Only those who are familiar with the conditions
under which our agricultural lands have been
settled can appreciate the serious and often
fatal consequences to the settler Of policy
that puts his title under suspicion or delays
the assurances of his patent While care is
taken to prevent and 10 expose fraud it should
not be imputed without reason.
The manifest purpose Of the Homestead and
Presumption laws was TO promote the settle
ment of the public domain by persons having a
bona fide intent To make home upon the
selected lands Where this intent is well
established and the requirements Of the law
have been substantially complied with the
claimant is entitled to "A prompt and
friendly consideration OF his case. But where
there is reason TO believe that the claimant is
the mere agent Of another who is seeking to
evade a law intended TO promote small hold
ings and to secure rs 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 be 50 administered as not TO con
found these two classes aud 10 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
hOnorabiy 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 incapacltated from earning IL.
Many OF the men who would be included in
this form OF relief are now dependent upon
public aid, and Ii does not IN my Judgment con
sist with the National honor that they shall
continue TO subsist upon the local relief
given Unfortunately TO paupers instead Of
upon the special and generous provision Of the
Nation they served 50 calamity ana unselfshly.
Our people Will | am sure, very generally ap-
prove such legislation
There are some manifest inequalities in the
existing law that should be rcmedicd. To some
of these the Secretary Of the Interior has called
attention. IL 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 as 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
TUE NEW STATES.
The advent OF four new States, South Dakota,
NORTH DdkOta, Montana ana washington, INTO
the Union under the constitution in the same
month. and the admission Of their duly chosen
representatives, to cur National Congress at the
same session, is an event as unexampled as 1t
is interesting
Each OF these States has within il resources
the development OF which will employ the en-.
ergies Of and yield a comfortable subsistence
10 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 al
f.lt VfsfT
American citizens, having common interests
and sympathies with those Of the older States,
and common purpose to defend the integrity Of
and uphold the honor OF the Nation.
SAFETY ON RAILWAYS
The attention Of the Inter State Commerce
Commission has been called to the urgent need
lection OF the lives and limbs OF those engaged
In operating the great inter State freight lines
OF the country. During the year ending June
30, 1883, over 1900 railroad employees were killed
in service, and more than 5000 in
lured. II Is competent, / think, for
Congress to require uniformity IN
the construction of cars and the use OF improved
safety appliances upon such trains Time will be
necessary TO make the needed changes, but an
earnest and Intelligent beginning should be made
at once II IL reproach To- our civilization
the pursuit Of a necessary and useful vocation,
he subjected TO peril Of life and limb as great
as that Of a soldier in time Of war.
THE NEW EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
The creation of an Executive Department, to
be known as the Department of Agriculture,
by the act Of February Q last, was a wise ana
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 it fairly realizes the expectations which
its creation excited In this connection atten.
ton is called to suggestions contained in the
report Of the Secretary.
II is also recommended that the weather serv-
Ice be separated from the War Department and
established as bureau in the Department OF
Agriculture, This. he says, will involve an
entire reorganization both OF the Weather Blu
reau and the Signal Service, making Of the first
o 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
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
A considerable portion of the message is de-
voted TO q consideration of the ciyil-seryice
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
minstration are well established In the con-
fidenee of the people. The message then con
tinues as follows;
The duty OF appointment is devolved by the
constitution or by the law, and the appointing
officers are properly held TO high responsible
ity in its exercise. The growth of the country
and the consequent increase Of the civil list
have magnihed this function Of the Executive
dispruportiOnately II can not be denied however,
that the labor connected with this necessary
work Is increased often TO the point or actual
distress, by the sudden and excessive demands
that are made upon an increasing admlnistra-
ton for removals and appointments, But, on
the other hand. il Is not true that incumbency
is q conclusive argument Tor continuance
in office. Impart1allty, moderation, ndelty
to public duty and a good attainment in the
discharge OF il must be added before the argu-
ment IS complete. When those holding admin
istratiye offices so conduct themselves as 10
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.
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 rcCaiVe the distinction ana benefit
that in all private employment comes from eX-
ceptional taithfulness and efficiency IN the per
Torrance OF duty.
AID TO EDUCATION.
National aid "a 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 u
changed to that 81 a direct grant Of money
from the public Treasury such aid should be,
as IL always has been suggested By some ex-
ceptfOnal conditions
The sudden emancipation Of the slaves, the
bestowal Of the suffrage which soon followed
and the impairment Of the ability Of the States
where these new citizens were chiefly found 20
be adequately provided with educational facili-
ties presented not only an exceptional but an IN
exampled condition. That the situation has
been much ameliprated there IS no
doubt. The ability and interest q the
States have happily increased, but great