Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-04

my judgment, are worthy OF Cnee at
tention of congress. | recommend
that more definite provision be made
by law, not only for the protection oil
/ federal officers, but for free trial OF
such cases in the United States courts
/ The salaries of the judges of the dis
trict courts in many Of the districts
are, in my judgment, Inadequate.
recommend that all such salaries now
below five thousand dollars per an
mum be increased to that amount.
Earnest attention should be given
by congress to consideration OF the
question how far the restraint oil
these combinations of capital, COM
monty called trusts is q matter OF
federal Jurisdiction. When organized.
as they often are, to crush out all
healthy competition and to monopo-
lize the production or sale of an ar
ticle of commerce and general neces-
sity, they are dangerous conspiracies
against the public good and should
be made the subject of prohibitory
and even penal legislation. The sub
| iect Of an international copyright has
been frequently commended to the
attention of congress by my prede-
cessors. The enactment of such law
would be eminently wise and just.
TIVE PosToFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the postmaster general
not only exhibits the operations Of
| the department for the last fiscal year,
but contains many valuable sugges-
tions for the Improvement and extern
sion of the service, which are COM
mended to your attention.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the secretary of the
navy shows q reorganization OF the
bureaus OF the department that will,
l do not doubt. promote the efficiency
of each. In general, satisfactory pro-
gress has been made in the construc-
ton OF the new ships of war author
lied by congress.
The first vessel of the new navy, the
Dolphin, was subjected to very severe
trial tests and to very much adverse
criticism, but it is gratifying to be
able to state,a cruise around the world.
from which she has recently 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 i. 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.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
The report of the secretary Of the
interior exhibits. the transactions OF
the government with the Indian
tribes. Substantial progress has been
made in the education of the children
of school age and in the allotments Of
lands to adult Indians. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that the policy of breaking up
the tribal relation and of dealing with
the Indian as an individual
did not appear early in our
legislation. Large reservations, held
in common and the maintenance
of the authority of the chiefs and
head men have deprived the individu
al of every incentiveto the exercise
of thrift and the annuity has con-
tributed an affirmative impulse to-
wards state of confirmed pauper-
ism. School attendance should be
promoted by every moral agency and
those failing should be compelled.
The national schools for Indians have
been very successful. The agreement
with the Sioux Indians releases TO the
United States about 9,000,0 00 acres
of land.
Under the agreement made between
the United States and the Muscogee
Cor Creek nation Of Indians, on the
| 10Th day of January, 1889, an abso.
lutte title was secured by the United
States to about 3,500,000 acres of
land.
1t is estimated that there are now
in the territory of Oklahoma some
&C, 900 people and several considerable
towns have sprung up, for which tenn
porary municipal governments have
been organized. Guthrie is said to
have now a population OF almost
5000; eleven schools and nine churches
have been established, and three daily
and five weekly newspapers are pub
lished in this city, whose charter and
ordinances have only the sanction OF
the voluntary acquiescence of the
people from day to day. Oklahoma
City has population Of about 5000,
and is proportionately as we'll pro-
yided as Guthrie with churches,
schools and newspapers. Other towns
and villages have populations
of from 100 to 1000. and
are scattered over the territory.
In order to secure the peace OF this
new community, in the absence of
civil government, directed General
Merritt, commanding the department
| of the Missouri, to act in conjunction
with the marshals of the United States
to preserve the peace, and upon their
reouisition to use the troops to aid
them in executing warrants and in
quieting any riots or breaches of the
peace that might occur. He was also
directed to use his influence to pro
mote good order and avoid any con-
flicts between or with the settlers
very urgently recommend that
congress at once provide a ter
ritorial government for these
people. Serious questions which may
at any time lead to violent outbreaks
are awaiting the institution of the
courts for their peaceful adjustment.
The American genius for self govern
ment has been well illustrated in Ok
lahoma, but it is neither safe nor wise
to leave this people longer TO ex-
pedients which have temporarily
served them.
Provision should be made for the
ACQUISITION of title to town lots in the
towns now established in Alaska for
locating town sites and for the estab-
lishment of municipal governments.
DULY mining laws have been extended
to that territory and no other form OF
| L. Ia