Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-12-07

OF efficiency Of the postmasters, would greatly
improve the service. A pressing necessity ex-
lists Tor the erection OF a building for the Joint
uso OF the Department and the city post-onice
THE President indoFses the report OF the
Secretary OF the Nayy.l II is important that
we should have more rapid increase in the
number of serviCeabe ships. concur in the
recommendation OF the secretary that the con
struction Of eight armored ships, three gun
boats and five torpedo boats be authorized.
The bravery OF the American seamen at Apia
is eulosized
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 VIII relinquish their outlet for
settlement By the whites.
With reference 10 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 at
once provide q Territorial Government for
Oklahoma Serious questions which may at
any time lead 10 violent outbreaks, are await
ing the institution OF courts for their peaceful
| adjustment.
We have fortunately not extended to Alaska
the mistaken policy of establishing rS.3
eryatons for the Indi an tribes and can deal I
wi h them from beginning as individuals with, l
am sure better results. But any disposition
Of the public lands and any regulations reiat-
| ing to timber and 10 the fisheries should have a |
kindly regard to their interests.
| An appropriation for education should neither /
be overlooked nor stinted. The smallness OF I
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.dstricts 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 ano'her port OF
entry In Alaska and OF other needed customs
facilities and regulations.
The manifest purpose Of the homestead and
pre-emption laws was TO promote the settle
ment OF the public domain b. persons having
bona flde intent to make home upon the So
ected lands Where this intent is well estao-
lshcd and the requirement.. OF ths law have
been substantially complied with, the claimee Is
entitled 70 prompt and friendly consld-
Grafton Of his case. But where there is reason
to believe that the claimant Is the nero agent
Of another who Is seeking to eyade aIaW In
tended TO promote small holdings, and TO Sc
cure by fraudulent methods large tracts OF tim
Der and other LANDS. both principal and agent
should not only be thwGrted, but should be
made to feel the full penalties OF our criminal
statutes. The laws should be SO adminis'eie
as not to coniound these two classes and to
visit penalties only upon the latter.
The unsettled state of the titles 70 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 "d-
lustment before judicial tribunal or commis-
on OF all claims based upon Mexican grants
The law now provides a pension for every sol
der and sailor who was mustered into service
OF the United States 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 the service,
is often dlffcult, and in many deserving cases,
impossible to establish That very MANY OF
, those who endured the hardships OF our most
!, bloody and arduous campaigns are now dis
I abled from diieases that had a RAJ.
= not traceabe, origin in service we do no' doubt
e besides there are another class composed ol
Y men, many OF whom served on enlistment ol
r three full years, and OF re-enlisted veterans
e who added fourth year OF service who escaped
L the casualties Of battles and tho assaults Of
: disease, who were always ready for any detau
G who were in every battle line OF tier com
s rnand and were mustered out in SOUND heaitf
d and have since the close OF the war, while
It fighting with the same indomitable and inde
If dependent spirit the contests OF civil LIE, peer
h overcome by disease or casualty.
10 am not unaware that the pension roll al
n ready involves very large annual e&pendi
s. ture. Neither am deferred by that fact from
Is recommending that Congress grant pension
D. to such honoraby discharged soldiers and sail
Is ors Of the civil war as, having rendered SUD
" stantial service during the war, are now dc
r pendent upon their own labor for main
IT, tnnance and by disease or casualty are lncapac
al itated from earning it, Many OF the me-
Id who would be included in this form
Mt relief are now dependent upon public aid, an
s 1t does not, in my Judgment consist with tn
s. national honor that they shall continue to sui
OF sist upon the ocal relief given indiscriminstel
10 paupers instead Of upon the special and ger
81 erous provision OF the nation they served S
jr gallsn,ly and unselnshly. Our people Will
a. am sure, very generally approve such lesisii
no ton And am equally sure that the survivor
no OF the Union army and navy will feel er,tef'
sense of relief when this worthy and sufIerin
a., class OF their comrades is fairly cared for.
so There are some manifest inequalities in Tn
existing law that should be remedted' To som
n, Of these the Secretary OF the Interior mas caiie
,e attention,
-, 1t is gratifying to be able TO state that by IN
"U adonttou OF new and better methods in the Wa
~ ~ Department the ca Is OF the Pension ONCE fc
~ ~ information as TO the military and hoSpiti
records OF pension claimants arc now prompt
=, answered. and the injurious and vexatious d
~. Laws that have heretofore occurred are entire
~ avoided This will greatly facilitate the a.
lus,mcnt Of all pending claims
=, The advent Of four new States, South Oak
,Is to, North Dakota, Montana and Washlngtc
or. into the Union under the constitution in II
same month, and the admission OF their du
Nj chosen representatives 10 our National Co
sress At thO a-me session, is an event as uno
an sn.a.-d as il is interesting,
"a The a,,entioir6f ihe Interstate Commer'
,re Commission has been called ne urgent he'
',r ~ congressional legislation Tor the Ue|cE pr
,or lection ~ the lives aud hints Of nose enEar'
IN operatus The great Interstate freight hn'
or. of the country, especially OF the yardmen ~
the | bIakemen. .-a"s
,rs During the year ending June 80, 81 oV
90 | . Co0 railroad employees were killed in scr'l
an. | and more than 20 600 injured II Is competef
a, I think, for Congress to require uniformity
rho construction of cars used in interstate col
-, merce, and the use OF improved safety app
,nr ances upon such trains. Time will be nect
os, | sary TO make the needed changes, pul an eur
,or est and intelligent beginning should be MAJ
1,s at once. 1t Is n reproach TO our civillzati'
,rr that any class OF American workmen shoulu'
his the pursuit Oh he't's"'s - ,,,,, ne go
as that of soldier in time OF war,
md The creation OF an executive department.
orv he known as the department OF aSnculture
- the net of Feb. 9 last, was a wise ana umt
Tho response to n request which had long becn
Tho spcctfuly urged by the farmers OF the count
,ec- but much rema ms to be done.
,ye Attention is called TO the suggestions CO
dr. ,alncd IN the report Of the secretary which
9. herewith submitted.
ha The need OF Il law ol'eer for the deparime
,sd, such as is provided for the other executive
In partments. is manifest The failure oil the /
n, Congress TO make the usual provision for
40. publication OF the annual report should
cts promptly rcmedled.
ac, recommend that the weather service
separated from the War Department and
ot. tablished as n bureau in the Department
un. Agriculture
ey. The interests OF the people OF the District
IN Columbia should not be lost sight OF IN
tho pressuro for consideration OF measures af'
ing the whole country. The laws reGulat
me- the sale OF intox icating drinks In tue b'st'
ion | should be revised with a view OF bringing
ist. tariff under stringent limitations AMI cor'ro
me. The proposition TO observe the iloih annl'
sary Of the discovery OF America by the or
riot inc OF worlds fair will be presented for
idg cons'oeralion oi oonsiesN. .a, -,
uch ,erest OF such an exposition may well claim
e,s. promotion OF the general government
The reform Of the civil service Will make
thA