Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-02
YAPID VERBIAGE.
[Continued from first page.l

tain sections of the revised statutes re-
lating to lotteries, approved September
10, 1890, has been received with great
and deserved popular favor with the
postoffce department, and the depart
ment OF justice at once entered upon the
enforcement OF the law with sympa-
thetic vigor, and already the public
mails have been largely freed from the
fraudulent and demoralizing appeals
and literature emanating from the lot
terry companies.
Progress in the Navy.
The construction and equipment of
new ships for the navy has made very
satisfactory progress. Since March 4,
1889, nine new vessels have been put in
commission, and during this winter four
more, including one monitor, will be
added. The construction of the other
vessels authorized is being pushed, both
in the government and private yards,
with energy, and watched with the
most scrupulous care. The experiments
conducted during the year TO test the
relative resisting power OF armor plates
have been so valuable as to attract great
attention in Europe. The only part OF
the work upon the new ships
that is threatened by unusual
every effort is being made to reduce
that to the minimum, 1t is source of
congratulation that the anticipated in
fluence of these modern vessels on the
esprit du corps of the officers and sea-
men has been fully realized. Conf
dence and pride in the ship among the
crew are equivalent to secondary bat
terry. Your favorable consideration is
invited to the recommendations of the
secretary.
Internal Affairs.
The report of the secretary Of the in
terror exhibits with great fullness and
clearness the workings of that great de-
partment, and the satisfactory results
attained. The suggestions made by him
are earnestly commended to the consid-
Grafton of congress, though they cannot
all be given particular mention here.
Indian Lands and Treaties.
The several acts of congress looking to
the reduction OF the larger Indian reser-
vations. of the more rapid settlement of
the Indians upon individual allotments,
and the restoration to the public do
main in excess of their needs, have been
largely carried into effect SO far as the
work was confded to the executive.
March A. 1889, involving the cession to
the United States of about IA, 1885, 900
acres of land. These contracts have, as
required by law, been submitted to con-
gress for ratification, and for the appro-
priations necessary to carry them into
effect. These, with the Sisseton and
Wahpeton, Sac and Fox. Iowa, Potta-
wattomies, Shawnees and Cnur D'Alene
tribes, have not yet received the atten
ton OF congress.
Attention is also called to the fact that
the appropriations made in the case OF
the Sioux Indians have not covered ell
the stipulated payments. This should
be promptly corrected. Ii an agreement
is confirmed, all its terms should be COM
pleted without delay, and full appropri-
ations should be made.
Land Patents.
The policy outlined in my last annual
message in relation to the patenting of
lands to settlers upon the public domain
has been carried out in the administration
of the land office. No general suspicion
or intimations of fraud have been al
lowed to delay the hearing and adjudica-
tion of individual cases upon their mer-
its. Their purpose has been to perfect
the title of honest settlers with such
promptness that the value CT the entry
might not be swallowed up by the ex-
pense and extortions to which delay
subjected the claimant. The average
monthly issue of agricultural patents
has been increased about 5000.
Administration of Pensions.
The disability pension act, which was
approved on the 9th of June last, has
been put into operation as rapidly as
was practicable. The increased clerical
force provided was selected and assigned
to work, and a considerable part of the
force engaged in examination in the
field. was recalled and added to the
working force Of the office. The ex-
animation and adjudication of claims
have by reason of improved methods
been more rapid than ever before. There
is no economy to the government while
there is such hardship and injustice to
the soldiers. The anticipated expendi-
ture, while very large. will not, it is be-
lieved, be in excess of the estimates
made before the enactment of the law.
This liberal enlargement of the general
law should suggest more lawinl
scrutiny of bills for special relief, both
as to the cases in which relief is grant
ed and as to the amount allowed.
The Mormon Incubus.
The increasing number and influence
OF the non-Mormon population in Utah
are observed with satisfaction. The re-
cent letter of Wilford Woodruff, presi-
dent OF the Mormon church, in which
he advises his people to refrain from
contracting any marriage forbidden by
the laws of the land, has attracted much
attention, and it is hoped that its influ-
ence will be highly beneficialin restrain
ing infractions of the law of the United
States. But the fact should not be
overlooked that the doctrine or belief Of
the church, that polygamous marriages
are rightful and supported by divine
revelation, remains unchanged. Presi-
dent Woodruff does not renounce the
doctrine, but refrains from teaching it
and advises against the practice Of it,
because the law is against it. Now, it is
quite true that the law should not at
tempt to deal with the faith or belief of
any one, but it's practice is quite an
other thing; and the only safe thing is
to deal with the territory of Utah SO
that those who believe polygamy to be
rightful shall not have the power to
make it lawful.
The admission of the states of Wyom-
ing and Idaho to the union are events