The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-12-09
DECEMBER 8, 1891.

menu at WatefVnet the army Will soon be
abreast OF the navy in gun construction.
Pensions and Records.
The great work done in the record and PEN
sion division of the department by Major
Ainsworth of the medical corps, and the clerks
under him, is entitled to honorable mention.
Taking up the work with nearly 1000 cases
behind he closed the last fiscal year without a
single case left over, though the new cases had
increased 52 per cent. in number over the
previous year by reason of the pension legisla-
lation of the last congress.
The president concurs in the recon-
mendation of the attorney general that
the right in felony cases to review by
the supreme court be limited.
The Chinese Exclusion Act.
The enforcement by the treasury depart
ment of the law prohibiting the coming Of the
Chinese to the United States has been effec-
tive as to such as seek to land from vessels en-
tering.our ports. The result has been to di-
vert the travel to vessels entering the ports OF
British Columbia, whence passage into the
United States at obscure points along the
Dominion boundary is easy. A very consider
able number af Chinese laborers have during
the past year, entered the United States from
Canada and Mexico. The officers of the treas
ury department and of the department of
justice have used every means at their COM
mand to intercept this immigration: but the
impossibility of perfectly guarding ex-
government collects head tax of $50 from
every Chinaman entering Canada, and thus
derives considerable revenue from those who
only use its ports to reach position of advan-
tage to evade our exclusion laws.
More Effective Laws Urged.
There seems to be satisfactory evid ence that
the business of passing Cinnamon through
Canada is organized and quite active. The
department of justice has construed the laws
to require the return of any Chinaman found
to be unlawfully in this country to China as
the country from which he came, notwith.
standing the fact that he came to the United
States by way of Canada, but several of the
district courts have, in cases brought before
them, overruled this view of the law and de-
cided that such persons must be returned to
Canada. This construction was the law of all
effectiveness, even if the decree could be ex-
ecuted, for the men returned can the next day
re-cross our borders But the only appropria-
tion made Is for sending them back to China
and the Canadian officials refuse to allow
them to re-enter Canada without the payment
Ut the $50 head tax. ] recommend such legis-
iation as will remedy these defects in the law.
Free Postal Delivery.
An appropriation given by the last con-
gress for the purpose of making some expert
hents in free delivery in the smaller cities
Ind towns. The results of these experiments
have been so satisfactory that the postmaster
general recommends, and concur in his rec
bndt Une Ire6 uenVerH system
be extended to towns of 5000 population. His
discussion ofthe inadequate facilities extended
under our present system TO rural communi-
ties and his suggestions with view to give
these communities fuller participation in
the benefits of the postal SERVICE are worthy
OF your careful consideration. 1t is not Just
that the farn.~r, who receives his mail at q
neighboring town, should not only be COM
PEELED 10 send to the postoffce for it, but to
pay considerable rent for a box in which to
place it, or wait his turn at a general delivery
window, while the city resident has his mail
brought to his door.
In the Interest of Law and Order.
The president calls the attention of con-
gress to the necessity of 80 extending the
United States courts as to make triable
therein any felony committed while in the
act of violating 'aw of the United States
These courts cannot have that independ-
ence and effectiveness which the constitu-
tion contemplates so long as the felonious
killing of court officers jurors and wit
nesses in the discharge of their duties. or
by reason of their acts as SUCH is only
cognisable in the state courts. The work
done by the attorney general and the off
GERS of his department, even under the
present inadequate legislation, has pro-
duced some notable results in the interest
of law and order.
Modified Use of Telegraph.
1t is stated that over $1,000 neighborhoods
are, under the present system, receiving mail
at postoffices where money orders and postal
notes are not issued The extension of this
system to these communities is especially
desirable, as the patrons of such offices are not
possessed of the other facilities offered in more
populous communities for the transportation
OF small sums of money. | have in message
to the preceding congress, expressed my views
as to a modified use of the telegraph in con-
nection with the postal service.
Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The report of the secretary of the in
terror shows that n very gratifying pro-
gress has been made in all of the bureaus
which make up that complex and difficult
department. The work in the bureau of
Indian affairs was perhaps never so large
as now, by reason of the numerous nego-
tiations which have been proceeding with
the tribes for a reduction of the reserva-
tions, with the incidents of labor making
allotments, and was never more carefully
conducted. The provision of adequate
school facilities for Indian children and
the locating of adult Indians upon farms,
involves the solution of the Indian ques-
ton"
Our Navy of the Future.
The report of the secretary of the navy
shows gratifying increase of new naval
vessels in commission. The Newark, Con-
cord, Bennington and Miantonomah have
been added during the year. with an ag-
gregate of something more than 1000
tons Twenty-four war ships of all classes
are now under construction in the navy
yards and private shops but, while the
work upon them is going forward salts
factorily, the completion of the more i'm
portant vessels will yet require about
years time. Some of the vessels under
construction, it is believed, will be tri-
umphs of naval engineering When it is
recollected that the work of building
model navy was emily initiated in the year
1888, that our naval constructors and ship
builders are practically without expert
ence in the construction of large iron or
steel ships, that our engine shops were un-
familiar with great marine engines, and
that the manufacture of steel forgings for
guns and plates was almost wholly
foreign industry, the progress that has
been made is not only highly satisfactory,
but furnishes the assurance that the
United States will before long attain su-