Huntsville gazette., 1890-12-06
J. A Avigorous and, in the main. effective


the same time, care has been take that friv-
olous and technical offenses should not be
used TO swell the fees of the officers OF to
harass well-di5posed citizens. Especial at
tentlon is called to the facts connected with
the prosecutions of violations of the election
laws and oHenses against United States Off
very many of them upon pleas of guilty,
VIII, 1t IS hoped, have salutary restraining
influence.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT
The report of the Postmaster General
shows the most gratifying progress in the
important work committed to his direction.
The business methods have been greatly
improved. a large economy in expendf-
lures and an increase of $3.50 600
in receipts have been realized The
deficiency sgg ao this las year is sss as
the great enlargement of the service, mail
routes have been extended and quickened
button and delivery have been attained.
THE ANTI LOTTERY LAW.
The passage of the act to amend certain
sections of the Revised Statutes relating to
lotteries, approved September 10, 1880, has
been received with great and deserved pop
ular favor. The Post-Offfce Department and
the Department of Justice at once entered
upon the enforcement of the law with
sympathetic vigor, and already the public
mails have been largely freed from the
fraudulent and demoralizing appeals and
literature emanating from the lottery COM
panies
The construction and equipment of the new
ships for the navy have made very satisfac-
tory 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.
ARMOR PLATES.
The experiments conducted during the
year to test the relative resisting power of
armor plates have been so valuable as to at
tract great attention in Europe. The only
part of the work upon the new ships that is
threatened by unusual delay is the armOr
plating, and every effort is being made to re-
duce that to the minimum 1t is source
of congratulation that the anticipated in
huence of these modern vessels upon
the esprit du corps of the officers and
seamen has been fully realized. Con-
fdence and pride in the ship among
the crew are equivalent to a secondary bat
terry. Your favorable consideration is in
yited to the recommendations of the Secrc-
retary
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
exhibits with great fullness and clearness
the vast work of that department and the
satisfactory results attained. The sugges-
tions made by him are earnestly commended
to the consideration of Congress, though
here.
The several acts of Congress looking to the
reduction of the larger Indian reservations,
to the more rapid settlement of the Indians
upon individual allotments and the restora-
tion to the public domain of lands in excess
of their needs, have been largely carried into
fined to the Executive. AgreesneAts, have
been concluded since March 4, 1899,
involving the cesson to the United
States of about IA, ,726, 900 acres of land.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The policy outlined in my last annual mes
sage in relation to the patenting of lands>to
settlers upon the public domain has been car.
red out in the administration of the Land
Office No general suspicion nor imputation
of fraud has been allowed to delay the hear
ing and adjudication of individual cases
upon their merits
The Disability Pension act, which was ap
proved on the 9th of June last, has been put
into operation as rapidly as was practicable.
The increased clerical force as provided was
selected and assigned to work, and a consid-
cradle part of the force engaged in examina
tions 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 in delay,
to the soldier. The anticipated expenditure,
while very large, will not, it is believed, be
in excess of the estimates made before the
enactment of the law. This liberal enact
ment of the general law should suggest
more careful scrutiny of bills for special
relief, both as to the cases where relief IS
granted and as to the amount allowed.
ADMISSION OF NEW STATES.
The admission of the States of Wyoming
and Idaho to the Union are events full of
interest and congratulations, not only TO the
people of those States now happily endowed
with full participation in our privileges
and responsibilities, but to all our people.
Another belt of States stretches from the At
lantic to the Pacific.
THE CENSUS.
f,f of tha TTnft tpd
States under the provision of the act OF March
l. 1890, has been completed, and the result
will be at once officially communicated to
Congress. The completion of this decennial
enumeration devolyes upon Congress the
duty of making a new apportionment OF
Representative 'among the several States,
according to their respective numbers"
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The report of the Secretary of Agriculture
deserves special attention, in view of the
fact that the year has been marked in very
unusual degree by agitation and organiZa-
tion among the farmers, looking to an in
crease in the profits of their business. 1t
will be found that the efforts of the depart
ment have been intelligently and zealously
intrusted to its care. A very sub.
stantial improvement in the market
prices in the leading farm prod
ucts during the year is noticed. The
price of wheat advanced from 81 cents in
October, 1889, 81 l.00s4 in October, $780, corn
from 81 cents to 5ol4 cents; oats from 1914
cents to AZ cents, anu Ddfley from p5 CENTS
to rs cents. Meats showed a substantial but
not so large an increase. The export trade
in live animals and fowls shows a very
large increase, the total value of such ex-
ports for the year ending June 30, 1890, was
S33, ,000, 900, and the increase over the pre-
ceding year was over $4,000 900. Nearly
100000 more cattle and over 100000
more hogs were exported than in the
preceding year. The export trade
IN beef and pork products and in dairy pro-
dncts was very largely increased, the in
crease in the article of butter alone being
from 15,504,91s pounds to 29,74S,042 pounds,
and the total increase in the value of meat
This trade, so directly helpful to the farmer,
it is believed, will be yet further and very
largely increased when the system of inspec
ton and sanitary supervision now provided
BY law is brought fully into operation.
CATTLE INSPECTION.
The efforts of the Secretary to establish the
healthfulness of our meats against the dis
paraging imputations that have been put
upon them abroad have resulted in substan-
tial progress. Veterinary surgeons sent out by
the department are now allowed to partici-
pate in the inspection of the live cattle from
during the several months they have been on
MIA has been reported This inspection
abroad and the domestic inspection of live
animals and pork products. provided for by
the act of August 80, $780, will afford as per
feet a guarantee for the wholesomeness OF
our meats offered for foreign consumption
as is anywhere given to any food product,
uf1l rrrrifa