The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-09
THE PROVIDENCE NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER g.

standing the fact that he came To the tnlteo
States by way of Canada, but several OF tho
| 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 IL the decree could be ex-
ecuted, for the men returned can the next day
re-cross our borders. But the only appropra-
tion made is for sending them back TO China
and the Canadian officials refuse to allow
them 10 re-enter Canada without the payment
| Of the $50 head tax. recommend such legis-
lation as will remedy these defects In the law.
Free Postal Delivery.
An appropriation was given by the last con-
gress for the purpose Of making some expert
nents in free delivery In the smaller cities
and towns. The results of these experiments
have been so satisfactory that the postmaster
| general recommends, aud concur in his rec
ommendaton, that the free delivery system
be extended 10 towns of 800 population. His
| discussion ofthe inadequate facilities extended
under our present system to rural commune
ties and his suggestions with view To give
these communities a fuller participation In
the benefits of the postal service, are worthy
| of your careful consideration. IL Is not just
that the farmer. who receives his mail at a
neighboring town, should not only be COM
PEELED 10 send to the postoice for Il, but 10
pay considerable rent for a box In which to
place IL, or wait his turn at n general delivery
window, while the city resident has his mail
brought 10 his door.
In the Interest of Law and Order.
The president calls the attention of con-
gress TO the necessity of so extending the
! United States courts as TO make triable
therein any felony committed while in the
act of violating a ,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
| coQnisable 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.
II is stated that over $4,000 neighborhoods
| are, under the present system, receiving mail
| at postoffces 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 a message
to the preceding congress. expressed my views
rs 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 mao- 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 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 a 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 1900
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 satis-
factorily, the completion Of the more i'm
portant vessels will yet require about a
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 n
model navy was enly 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-
samiliar with great marine engines, and
that the manufacture of steel forgings for
guns and plates was almost wholly a
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 SUI
premacy.
A Problem to Solve.
With regard 10 the late Indian troubles
on the Sioux reservation the president
says that the relation Of the five civilized
tribes now occupying the Indian Territory
to the United States Is not calculated to
promote the highest advancement Of these
Indians. That there should be within our
borders five independent states, having no
relation, except those growing out of
treaties, with the government of the
United States, no representation in the
national legislature, its people not citi-
zens, is a startling anomaly. 1t seems to
be inevitable that there shall be before
long some organic changes in the relation
Of these people to the United States. What
form these changes should take he does
not think it des, ,rable now to suggest.
They should certainly involve the ac-
ceptance of citizenship by the Indians and
a representation in congress.
He also suggests that these Indians
should have an opportunity to present
their claims and grievances upon the floor,
rather as, now in the lobby. II n commits
sion could be appointed to visit these tribes
to confer with them in friendly spirit
upon this whole subject even if no agree
ment would be developed, discussion
would prepare the way for changes which
must come sooner or later. The good work
of reducing the larger Indian reservations
by allotment in severalty to the Indians
and the cession Of the remaining lands to
the United States for disposition under the
homestead law has peen prosecuted during
the year with energy and success.
Opening New Settlements.
In the territory of Oklahoma 100000
acres of land was opened last September,
all of which was taken up by settlers in a