Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-02

VI.
influence. There have been several
cases where postmasterS appointed DY
me have been subjected TO violent IN
reference in the discharge OF their
official duties and to prosecutions ana
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
the poStoflices have been abolished or
suspended. Ihaye directed the Post
master General to pursue this course IN
all cases where other efforts failed to
secure for any postmaster, himself IN
fault. an opportunity peacefully to ex-
ercise the duties OF his Office. But such
action will not supplant the efforts oil
the Department of Justice to bring the
particular offenders to punishment.
FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATIoN.
The vacation by judicial DEGREES OF
fraudulent certificates of naturalization
upon bills in equity filed by the Attorney
General in the Circuit Court OF the
United States, is new application OF a
familiar equity jurisdiction. Nearly
one hundred such DEGREES have been
taken during the year, the evlaence
disclosing that very large number OF
fraudulent certificates OF naturalization
have been issued. And in this connec-
ton beg to renew my recommendation
that the laws be so amended as to re-
ouire a more full and searching inquiry
into all the facts necessary to naturali-
cation before any certificates are grant
ed. 1t certainly is not too much TO re-
quire that an application for American
citizenship shall b. heard with as much
care and recorded with as much formal
ity as are given to cases involving the
petticst property right.
At the last session | returned. with
out my approval. bill entitled IAN act
to prohibit boOk-making and pool-Sell-
ing in the District of Columbia" and
stated my objection to be that it did not
prohibit. but in fact licensed what it
purported to prohibit. An effort will
be made under existing laws to suppress
this evil. though it is not certain that
they will be found adequate.
PosTOFFICE 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 great; improved. \ large econo-
my in expenditures and an increase of
four and th.ce-quarter millions in re-
ceiptS have been realized. The deiic-
iency this year is $3.50. 300, as against
So. $50, ls3 asst year. Notwithstanding
the great Enlargement of the service.
Mail routes have been extended and
quickencd. and greater accuracy and
dispatch in distribution and delivery
have been attained. The report will be
found to be full of interest and SuggeS-
ton, not only to Congress. but TO those
thoughtful citizens who may be inter
eSted to knew what business methods
can do for that Department Of public
adminiStrato which most nearly
touches all our people.
The paSS;ee OF the act to amend GER
tain sections OF the revised statutes re-
lating to lotteries, approved September
10. 1890, has been received with great
and deserved popular favor. The Post
Office Department and the Department
of Justice at once entered upon the en-
forcemnt of the law with sympathetic
vigor. and already the public mails have
been largely freed from the fraudulent
and dcnoralizing appeals and literature
emanatng from the lottery companies.
THE NAVY.
The construction and equipment of
the new ships for the navy have made
very satisfactory progress. Since March
!. 1889. nine new vessels have been put
in commission, and during the 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 expert
mentS conducted during the year TO test
the relative resisting power OF armor
plates have heen so valuable rs TO at
tract great attention in Europe. The
only part of the work upon the new
ships that is threatened by unusual de-
lay is the armor plating, and every
effort is being made 10 reduce that to
graduation hat the anticipated influ-
cnce of the modern vessels upon the
esprit dc corps of the officers and sea-
men has been fully realized. Confidence
and pride in the ship among the crew
are equivalent to Il secondary battery.
Your favorable consideration is invited
TO the recommendations Of the Secre-
tary.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The report Of the Secretary of the
Interior exhibits with great fullncSS
and clearnesS the vast work of that
great department and the satisfactory
results attained. The suggestions
made by HIM are earnestly commended
TO the consideration of Congress, though
they cannot all be given particular
mention here. The several acts of Con-
gresS 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 ex-
cess of their needs, nave been largely
carried into effect. so far as the work
was cOntided to the executive. Agree
mentS have been concluded since March
4. 1889, involving the ceSslon to the
United States of about II, 726, 600 acres
of land. These contracts have, as re-
quired by law, been submitted to Con-
gress for ratification and for the APP
preparations necessary to carry them
into effect. Those with the LisSeton
and Wappeton. Sac and Fox, Iowa,
Pottawatomies and absentee Shawnees
and Occur D'Alcne tribes have not yet
received the sanction Of Congress. At
tention is also called to the fact that
the appropriations made in the case of
the Sioux Indians have not covered all
the stipulated payments. This should
be promptly corrected. II an agree
ment is confirmed all Of its terms should
be complied with without delay and full
appropriations should be made.
The policy outlined in my last annual
message in relation to the patenting of