The Russellville Democrat., 1890-12-11
coAsr pnrnssn WORKS AND ORDNANCE.

WofKs ana Orunance. Plans nave been prac- ticaliy agreed upon and therc can be no good reason for delaying the execution of them while the defenseiess state of our great sea. ports furnishes an urgent reason for wise
 STATE MILITIA.
 Tile encouragementt that has been extended to the militia of the States, generally, and most appropriately designated the "Na- tionai Gnard," should be continued aud eu larged Thcso military organizations constl. tute, in large sense, the army ot the United States. while about five stxths Of the annual cost of their maintenance Is defrayed by tho State.
 THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
 The report of tho Attorney. General is, under the law. submitted directly to Con gross, but as the Departments Of Justice Is one of the executive departments. some here. vigorous and, in the main, effective effort has been made to bring to trial and punishment all vIolators of the laws; but, at olous and technical offenses should not be nsed to swell the fees of the officers or to harass we'll disposed citizens. Especial at. tention Is called to the facts connected with the prosecutions of violations of the election laws and offenses against United States off cers The number of convictions secured, very many of them upon pleas of guilty, will, 1t is hoped, have a salutary restraining influence.
 BOOK MAKING AND rooL-sELLISG.
 At the last session I returned, without my approval, a bill entitled, "An act to prohibit book making and pool selling in the District of Columbab and stated my objection to be that it did not prohibit but In fact licensed what it purportcd to prohibit. An effort will be made under existing laws to suppress ths evil. It is not certain That they will be found adequate.
 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. large economy in expendi- lures and an increase of s4,750,ooo in receipts have been realized. The deficiency this year IS s5,7s6, 300 as the great enlargement of the service, mau routes have been extended and quickenad and greater accuracy and dispatch in distri 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 l9, 1890, has been received with great and deserved pop ular favor. The Post Office 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 tho 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 satisfao- tory progress. since March 1, 1889, nine new vessels have been put in commission, and during this winter four more, including ono 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 tho year to test the relative resisting power of armor plates have been so valuable us to at. tract great attention in Europe The only part of the work upon the new ships that Is by unusual delay Is the armoI plating, and every effort is being made to re. duce that to the minimum. It is q source of congratulation that the anticipated in. the esprit du corps of the officers and seamen has been fully realized Con- ndence and pride in the ship among the crew are equivalent to a secondary bat tery. Your favorable consideration is in vited to the recommendations of the Secre' retary.
 The report of the Secretary of the Interior exhibits with great fullness and clearnesf the vast work of that department and the tions made by him are earnestly commended to the consideration of Congress, though they can not all be given particular mention here
 The several acts of Congress looking to the of the larger Indian reservations, to the more rapid settlement of the Indians upon individual allotments and the restora ton to the public domain of lands in exeess of their needs, have been largely carried tnte effect so far the work was con to anH snes sTeb hsys G involving the cession to the United States of about IA, ,726,ooo 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 ear, ried out in the administration of the Land Office. No general suspicion nor imputation of fraud has been allowed to delay the hear; ng and adjudication of individual cases upon their merits.
 PENSIONS.
 The Disability Pension act, which was ap- proved on the Eth 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 consld- ,rable part of the force engaged in examina- ions in the field was recalled and added tg ihe working force of the office. The exi and adjudication of claims have, )y reason of improved methods been more rapid than ever before. There Is io economy to the Goyemm ent in delay, while there Is much hardship and injustice % the soldier The anticipated expenditure, while very large, will not, it Is believed, be m excess of the estimates made before the enactment of the law. This liberal enact nent of the general law should suggest q more careful scrutiny of bills for special 'elief 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 md Idaho to the Union are events full of interest and congratulations, not only to the
  with full participation in our privileges md responsibilities, but to all our people. Another belt of states stretches from the At antic to the Pacific.
 THE PATENT OFFICE.
 The work of the Patent Office has won from III sources very high commendation. The mount accomplished has been very largely increased, and all the results have been such IS to secure confidence and consideration for he suggestions of the Commissioner.
 THE CENSUS.
 x.f 'tates under the prov vision of the act of March , lS90 has been completed, and the result gill be at once officially communicated to Congress. The completion of this deccnnial devolves upon Congress the luty of making a new apportionment of "among the several States, according to their respective numbers"
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. At the last session had occasion to return with my objections several bills making provisions for the erection of public build ngs, for the reason that the expenditures contemplated were, in my opinion, greatly n excess of any public need. No class of egislation Is more liable 10 abuse, or to de- .cnerate Into an unseemly scramble about he public treasury, than this. There should le exercised in this matter n wise economy lased upon some responsible and impartial and report as to each case inder general law.
 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The report of the Secretary of Agriculture Ieservcs special attention, in view of the act that the year has been marked in a very unusual degree by agitation and organiza- ion among the farmers, looking to an in. rease in the profits of their business. It sili be found that the efforts of the depart ucnt have been intelligenfly and zealously | eyotcd Co the promotion Of the interests | nirusted Co its care. very sub tantiai Improvement in the market 1 lfices in the leading farm prod ! ct1. during the year Is noticed. The l rico 0f wheat advanced from Sl cents in | letobpr. i-ssA. fto0at in October, 1850; corn rom % cents to h0ti cents oats from 1914 | ents to e cents, and barley from 63 cents | D " ceuts. Meats showed substantial but ot so ia~0c an increase The export trade l b live animals and fowls shows Q very | sfNe Increase, Che total value of such ex- | lnft- for the year ending June 90, 1890, was | ss s.NNWn. and the Increase over the pre-. edna year vas over tl5,00o,000 Nearly | 'ots1 mofe cattle and over s5,0o0,00o | aort hogs WeFe exported than in the | .recellHR year. fhe export trade | a heei and rork products and in dairy pro aets Nas very largely increased, the in | fessH Ia thr article ot batter alone being | Ham iaFstsEs pounds Co H,lis.Bz pounds, | nd thf fnfal innfeA~e in the value of meat | nA taiff pfts0uete rN ported being 3f 900 .0ot | his trade. so directly helpful to the farmer. | is believed. efn hc ysf further and very | AENsiy Increased when thf system Of inspee. | .wu aaH #AhiiMry sursrs sion now provided |