The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-11

10000 injured. 1t is competent, 1 think,
for congress to require uniformity In the
construction OF cars used in interstate
commerce, and the use OF improved safety
appliances upon such trains. Time will
be necessary TO make needed changes, but
an earnest and intelligent beginning
should be made at once. 1t is reproach
20 our civilization that any class OF Amerl-
can workmen should, in the pursuit OF a
necessary and useful vocation, be subjected
TO a peril of life and limb as great as that
OF a soldier in time OF war.
Jhs Department of Agriculture.
The creation of an executive depart
ment. TO be known as the department Of
agriculture. bv the act of Feb. 8, last, was
a wise and timely response to request
which had long been respectfully urged by
the farmers of the country. But much re-
mains to he done TO perfect the organiza-
ton of the department so that u may
fairly realize the expectations which Its
creation excited. In this connection at
tention is called 10 the suggestions con-
tanned in the report OF the secretary, which
Is herewith submitted. The need OF law
officer for the department, such as Is pro-
vided for the other executive departments,
is manifest The failure OF the last con-
gress TO make the usual provision for the
publication of the annual report should be
promptly remedied. The public interest
in the report and its value TO the farming
community / am sure will not be dimin-
ished under the new organization OF the
department / recommend that the
weather service be separated from the war
department and established as bureau in
the department of agriculture. This will
involve an entire reorganization both Of
the weather bureau and of the signal
corps. making OF the first purely civil or
ganlzation and of the other a purely mill
tarv staff corps. The report of the chief
signal officer shows that the work OF the
corps on its military side has been dete-
riorating
District of Columbia.
The interests of the people of the Dis
trict of Columbia should not be lost sight
of in the pressure for consideration of
measures affecting the whole country.
Having no legislature of Its own, either
municipal or general, its people must look
TO congress for the regulation of all those
concessions that in the states are the sub
iect of local settlement. The whole peo-
pie have an interest that the national capi-
tai should be made attractive and beauti-
full. and above all that its repute for social
order should be well maintained. The
laws regulating the sale of Intoxicating
drinks in the district should be revised
with a view to bringing the traffic
under stringent limitations and con-
troll. In execution OF the power con-
ferred upon me by the act making
appropriations for the expenses Of the
District of Columbia for the year ending
June 80, 1889, | did. on the 18th day Of
August last, appoint Rudolph Herring of
New York. Samuel NJ GRAY OF Rhode
Island, and Frederick 5. Stearns of Massa-
chusetts, three eminent sanitary engi-
ncprs, to examine and report upon the
system of sewerage existing in the District
OF Columbia. Their report, which is not
yet completed, will be in due course sub
mitted to congress. The report of the
commissioner OF the district is herewith
transmitted. The attention of congress is
called to suggestions contained therein.
The wor DIS Fa T.
The proposition TO observe the four
hundredth anniversary of the discovery of
America by the opening OF Worlds fair
or exposition in some of our great cities
win be presented Tor the consideration of
congress. The value and interest OF such
an exposition may well claim the promo
ton OF the general government.