The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-02
fiye-sixths Of the annual cost OF their main-
tenance is betrayed by the states.
IIrORSFY.GryERAI's REPORT.

The report Of the AttOrney-General II
under the law submitted directly TO Con
gress, but as the Department OF Justice is
one Of the executive departments, so nc
reference 10 the work done Is appropriate
here. A vigorous, and in the main, an ef
feciive effort has been made TO bring t6
trial and punishment all violators OF the
laws, but at the same time care has Deen
taken that frivolous and technical ohenses
should not be used TO swell the fees Of OH
GERS or TO harass well disposed citizens
Especial attention is called TO the facts
connected with the prosecution OF violations
OF the elections laws and OF offenses
against United States officers. The num-
Der OF convictions secured, very many Of
them upon pleas OF guilty, will, 1t Is hoped
have salutary restraining influence
There have been several cases where post
masters appointed by me have been sub
jected TO violent interference in the dis
charge OF their official duties and 10 perse-
cuiions and personal violence OF the most
extreme character. Some Of these cases
have been dealt with through the Depart
ment OF Justice, and in some cases the post.
offices have been abolished or suspended.
nave directed the Postmaster-General
to pursue this course in all cases
where other efforts failed to Sc
cure for any postmaster not him.
self in fault, an opportunity TO peace
fully exercise the duties OF his ONCE; but
such action will not supDlant the Efforts of
the Departments Of Justice to bring the par
ticular offenders to punishment. The vaca-
ton by judicial DEGREES OF fraudulent GER
tifcates Of naturalization. upon bills IN
equity filed by the httOrney-General in the
Circuit Court Of the United States, is new
application OF a familiar equity Jurisdiction
Ne lrly one hundred such DEGREES have been
taken during the year, the evidence discl0s-
NJ the fact that very large number OF
fraudulent certificates Of naturalization
have been issued, and in this connection,
beg 10 renew my recommendation that The
laws be so amended as To require more
tull and searching inquiry into all the idcts
necessary to naturalization before any Ger
tificates are granted. IL certainly is not
too much to require that an application lor
American citizenship shall be heard with
AS much care and recorded with as much
fOrmality as are given TO cases involving
pettiest property right.
At the last session ] returned, without
my approval, a bill entitled IAN Act To-
rohibit BOOkmaking and Pool Selling IN
the District Of Columbia" and stated my
objection TO be that il did not prohibit, but.
IN fact. licensed what it purported to pro-
hibit. An effort will be made under exist
ing laws to suppress this evil. though 1t il
not certain that they will be found adequate.
osTMAsTER-GENERAL's REPORT.
The repori OF the POstmaster-General
shows the most gratifying progress IN the
imDnrtant work committed 10 his direction
The business methods have been greatly i'm
proved. A large economy IN expenditures
and an increase OF four and tnree-quartef
millions in receipts have been realized. The
deficiency this year is s., lsj, 800, as against
81, 30. lS3 last year, Notwithstanding the
great enlargement OF the service. NAL
routes have been extended and quickened
and greater accuracy and dispatch in dis
tribution and delivery have been attained.
The report will be found 10 be fun Of inter
est and suggestion. not only To Congress
but 10 those thoughtful citizens who may be
interested 10 know what business methods
can do for that department Of public admin
isiratiOn which most nearly touches all our
people.
ANTI-LOTTERY LAW.
The passage Of the act to amend certain
sections OF the Revised Statutes relating I"
lotteries. apI rOyed September 10. 1890, has
been received with great deserved popular
favor. The P0stotlice Department aud the
Department Of Justice at once entered upon
The enforcement OF the law with sNmpa-
tbetic vigOr, and already the public MALI
nave been largely forced from the fraudu-
lent. and demOralizing appeals and llterd-
ture emanating from the lottery companies.
THE NEw SHIPS.
The construction and equipment Of the
new ships for the nay have made very sat
i-factorT progress. Since March 4th. 1883.
Ia -
sion. and during this winter four more, in
cluding one monitor. will be add d. The
construction OF the other vessels authorized
Is being pushed both IN the government
and private yards. with energy, and watched
with the most scrupuOus care. The expert
ments conducted during the year to test ID,
relative resisting power Of armOr plates
have been so valuable as TO attract great
attention in Europe. The only par
of the work upon the new ship.
that is threatened by unusual delay
is the armOr plating, and every effort is be-
ing made to reduce that 10 the minimum.
II is a source Of cOngratulation that the an
ticipated influence Of those modern shells
upon the esprit de corps Of the differs ana
seamen has been fully realised. Consdenc
and pride in the ship among the crew arr
equivalent to stationary battery. IouI
favorable consideration Is invited to the
recommendation OF the secretary.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
The report Of the Secretary Of the interior
exhibits with great fulness and clearnes'
the vast work Of that Department, and The
satisfactory results attained. The sug
gestions made by him are earnestly anC
tboughtfully commended TO the consldera
ton Of Congress, though they cannot all be
given particular mention here. The seNera
acts Of Congress looking 10 the reduction
the larger Indian reservations to the mor'
rapid settlement Of the Indians upon lndi
ydual allotmcnts, and the restoration OF th'
public domain OF lands in excess OF thei
needs have been largely carried into effect
% fIras the work was cOntded 10 the TX
ecutiye. Agreements hay been CONCLUDED
.ince March 4. 1889. involving the ces
sion TO the United States Of abou
l4.72G.0O acres OF land. These con
tracts have. as required by law, beeI
submitted 10 Congress for ratification anC
for the appropriations necessary 10 carr!
them into eject. These, with the Sissetoi
and Wahpcton. sac and Fox, Iowa
PoftawattOmies aud absentee Shaw
noes ami Occur D'Alene tribes
ave not vet received the sanction OF Con
,,rrss. Attention Il also called TO the fac
hat the appropriations made in the case Q
The sioux Indians have not covered all tn
stimulated pay ments. This should b'
promptly corrected. If an agreement Il
confirmed all Of its terms should be com
oiled with without delay, aud full ap
uropriation- should he made.
PATENTING OF LANDS.
The policy outlined in my last annua
message in relation TO the patontingo Of land
10 settlers upon the public domain has beeI
carried out in the administration OF ih'
Land Ofce. No general suspicion or i'm
putation Of fraud has been al owed TO dela.
the hearing and adjudication Of individual
cases upon their merits. the purpose ha
been TO perfect the title Of honest settler
with such promptness that the value al III
entry mign not he swallowed up by the x
.ense and eXlOrtiOn TO which delay subject
I'd the claimant. The average monthly lie
.ue of agricultural patents has been 10
creased about six thousand.
DISABILITY PENSION ACT.
The disability pension act. which was ap
nroyed on the 27th OF June last, has b'et
nut into operation as rapidly as was prac
ticable. The increased clerical force pro
yided was selected ard assigned 10 work
and a considerable part Of the force engaged
i'm examinations in the field was recalled
and added to the working force OF the ONCE
The examination and adjudication o