The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-12-11
The PostofIico Department.

pie in its methods and Inexpensive in its ad-
mfnistration.
The Postofiicc Department.
The report OF the Postmaster General not only
exhibits the operations OF the department for
the last fiscal year but contains many valuable
suggestions for the improvement and extension
of the service, which are commended TO your at
tention
The plan suggested of n supervision OF the
postoffces in separate districts that shall in
volve instruction and suggestion, and rating
OF the efficiency OF the Postmasters, would, 1
have no doubt, greatly improve the service.
The unsatisfactory condition of the law relat-
ing TO the transmission through the mails OF
lottery advertisements and romittances is
clearly stated by the Postmaster General, and
his suggestion as TO amendments should have
your favorable consideration
The Navy.
The report OF the Secretary of the Navy shows
reorganization of the bureaus of the depart
mont that WILL do not doubt, promote the
efficiency of each. I'm general satisfactory
progress has been made in the construction OF
the new ships of war authorized by Congress.
The report OF the Secretary shows that While
the effective force of the navy is rapidly in
creasing, 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 old wooden ships are disappearing al
most as fast as the new vessels are added.
These facts carry their own argument.
One OF the new ships may, in hghting
strength be equal to two of the old, but IL can
not do the cruising duty OF two. lt is impor-
tant, therefore, that we should have moro
rapid increase in the number OF serviceable
ships. l concur in the recommendation of the
Secretary that the construction OF eight mr.
mored ships, three gunboats, and five torpedo
boats, be authorized.
The Indian Question.
Tho 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 aud in the allotment Of
lands to adult Indians Our treaty stipula-
tiOns should be observed with fidelity. and our
elOul0 HIGHLY ii al N
best interests OF an ignorant and helpless people.
Tho reservations are now generally surrounded
by white settlements We can no longer push
the Indian back into the wilderness, and il re-
mains only, by every suitable agency, to push
him upward into the state of self-sup-
porting and responsible citizen. For the
upon farm; and for the child to
place him in n school, school attend
dance should be promoted by every agency
The national schools for Indians have been very
successful, and should be multiplied. The last
Congress enacted two distinct laws relating 10
negotiations with the Sioux Indians of Dakota
for REIMBURSEMENT of n portion OF their lands
TO the United States and for dividing the
mainder into separate reservations. The
one submitted TO the Indians II specific
proposition; 1.-THE ether authorized the
President to negotiate with these In
dians for tho accomplishment of the
same general purpose, and required that any
agreements should be submitted to Congress for
ratihcauon On the Sth day OF April last APP
pointed Hon. Charles Foster, OF Ohio; Hon.
William Warner, OF Missouri and Mai Gen
George Crook, Of the United states army Com
missioners under the last-namCd act These
were however, authorized aud directed first to
submit TO the Indians the definite proposition
made to them by the act first mentioned. and
only in the event Of n failure to secure the
assent OF, the requisite number 10 that PROPOSE
ton, TO open negotiations for modified terms
under the other act The work of the Commits
sion was prolonged and arduOus, but the
sent of tho requisite number finally OBJ
tained TO the proposition made by Congress-
though the report of the Commission has not
been N vi Of fact I
shall not, at present, deem 10 necessary to
submit the agreement 10 Congress for ratifica-
ton, but IL will in due course be submitted for
information. This agreement releases TO the
United States about 100000 acres of land.
Tho Cherokee Strip.
The Commission provided for by section II OF
the Indian appropriation bill 90 negotiate with
the Cherokee Indians and all other Indians
owning claiming lands lying west of the
ninety-siXth degree OF long tude for the cession
TO the United states of all such lands was
constituted by the appointment of Hon.
Lucius Fairchild, OF Wisconsin; Hon. John
]; Hartranitl OF Pennsylvania and Hon.
nized on june - last. Their first confer
once with the representatives OF the Chero-
KEGS was held at Tahlequah July %, with no
definite results A second conference between
the Commission and tho Cherokees was begun
Nov g, but no results have vet been obtained
nor is il believed that n conclusion can be inn
mediately expected. The large body OF agricul-
tural lands constituting what Is known as the
Cherokee outlet ought not TO be- aud indeed
ChulOb long DO, Iclu bFuIluB, ana Tor the al
vantage OF n few against tho public interests
and the best advantage OF tho Indians them
selves. The United States has now under
the treaties certain rights in these lands These
will not be used oppressively, but IL cannot be
allowed that those who by sufferance OCCUPY
these lands will interpose 20 defeat the wise and
benoficent purposes OF tho government. / cannot
but believe that the advantageous offer made
by the United States 10 the Cherokee Nation
for full release OF these lands rs compared
with other suggestions now made 20 them, will
yet obtain Tor II favorable consideration.
Oklahoma.
II is estimated that there are now in Okla
homa Territory about G0.0C0 people, and several
batta