Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-12-17

dplau cdnalS ana the St. LAWrcuce river
The trouble with Chile is referred 10 a:
satisfactorily settled. Relations Will
that country are of the most friendly.
Special reference is made 10 the friendly
relations with Hawaii, the PREPARATION
made to Italy, the action of the Frencl
government in proclaimjng a protectoratt
over certain districts of the west coast oi
Africa east of the San Petro river, u at
titude during the Cara uprising In Mex
leo, our intercourse with Spain; attention
Is called to harsh treatment Of religious
and educational establishments of Ameri
cans in Turkey and confidence expressed
that that government will right matters
interference with trading ventures
of Americans In Asia Minor is noted and
lack OF consular representation in that re
gion deplored.
The president earnestly recommends
that hearty support be given Ia Nicara'
qua ship canal company.
Speaking of the international monetary
conference the president expresses the be-
lief that the free coinage of silver upon an
agreed International ratio would greatly
promote the interest of our people and
equally those of other nations. 1t is too
early TO predict what results may be ac-
cOmplished by the conference. II any
temporary delay intervenes he believes
the commercial conditions will compel the
now reluctant governments to unite with
us in this movement TO secure the enlarge
ment of the volume of money for the
transaction of the business OF the world.
The Treasury Department.
The report of the secretary of the treas
ury will attract special interest, in view
of the many misleading statements that
have been made as to the state of the pub
lie revenues. Three preliminary facts
Ghnpl1 NOT ,,1tv 10 .tnt,l l,,4 D.xl,.l
before looking into details: First, that
the public debt has been reduced since
March 4, 1889, $3.50, 014.200 and the annual
interest charges 81 ,6S4 400; Second, that
there have been paid out for pensions dur
ing this administration up 10 November
!, 1892, 1892 ,564, LIS. 20, an excess of sll4,-
q 6,306.09 over the sun expended during
the period from March /, 1885, TO March 1,
1883, and, third, hat under the existing
tariff mp to December ], about 500, 600 900
of revenue, which would have been col
lected upon imported sugars IL the duty
had been maintained. has gone into the
pockets of the people and not into the
public treasury as before. IL there are
any who still think that the surplus should
have been kept ont Of circulation by
boarding 1t in thet treasury, or depositing
1t in banks without interest while the gov
eminent continued to pay the banks inter-
- Oh thN utDBSiltU as security
for the deposits, or who think the ex-
tended pension legislation was a public
robbery, or that the duties upon sugar
should have been maintained, / an CON
Jent TO leave the argument where il now
rests, while we wait to see whether these
will take the form of legisla-
ion.
The president suggests hat the retire
OF bonds in the future before matur-
~ Ehntld hA N
c%ompulsion.
The War Department.
The report of the secretary OF war
again TO the attention of congress
important suggestions as to the re-
of the infantry and artillery
OF the service, which his predeces-
'ors nave before urged. Our army Is
small, but its organization should all the
more be put upon the most approved mod
I'm basis.
The work of the encouragement Is
'pecially commended and attention is
irawn to the startling aggregate of the
mount of the claims pending against the
government in the court of claims.
P~ostoffice Department.
The report Of the postmaster-general
hows a most gratifying increase and a
most efficient and progressive manage
of the great business of that depart
nent. The deficiency of the present fiscal
ear, 1t is estimated, will be reduced 10
j ,752, 423, which will not only be extin-
'uished during the next fiscal year, but a
urplus OF nearly 81 zoo, 900 should be
hown. In these calculations the paw
nents to be made under the contracts for
maj service have not been included.
The president sees in the policy of sub
idizing ocean mail lines the hope of our
merchant marine and COM
highly what has already been nc
emphasized in that line.
Department OF the NAVY.
The report OF the secretary of the navy
xhibits great progress in the construc-
ion OF our new navy. When the present
ecretary entered upon his duties only
hree modern steel vessels were In com
iission ahG"co-ue~Plv Irf~ -cvrnnns,rtn uur-
az the winter will make "a total of nine
cen during his administration OF the de-
artment. During the current year ten
var vessels and three navy tugs have
cen launched Two other large ships
nd a torpedo boat are under contract
nd the work on them advanced and the
monitors are awaiting only the arri-
al of their armor which has been unex.
delayed, or they would have
'een before this in commission.
AS the result of a new process in the
obstruction of armor plate our later ships
viii be clothed with defensive plates Of
higher resistance than are found on any
var vessel atioat. A torpedo has been
n the work Of construction Is
being carried on successfully. We
re making what is believed to be q pro-
ectile superior to any before in use. A
mokcless powder has been adopted and n
low burning powder for guns of large
aliber. High explosives capable of use
n shells fired from heavy guns have been
n the manufacture of gun cotton
been developed and the question Of
upply is no longer a doubt.
Department OF the Interior.
The work of the interior department,
.lways very burdensome, has been larger
han ever before, during the administra-
of Secretary Noble. The disability
us. the opening Of vast areas of Indian
ands to settlement, the organization of
oklahoma, and the negotiations for the
,ession of Indian lands furnish some of
he particulars of the increased work.
important agreements for the
,essiOn of Indian lands negotiated by the
commission appointed under the act Of
March 2, 1889, are awaiting the act Of con-
Perhaps the most important of
10 tl1t lOE liz CtooIOl VI tbC SfCIO-
zee strip. The agreement which has been
made by the commission Is perhaps the
most satisfactory that could have been
1t will be noticed that ii Is on
litioned upon its ratification by congress
before March 4, 1893. The secretary of
he interior, who has given the subject
thought, recommends the ratihca-
ion of the agreement. 1t is certain that
some action by which this controversy
shall be brought to an end and the lands
opened to settlement Is urgent.
The form of government provided by
congress on May IL, 1884, for Alaska, was,
its frame and purpose temporary. The
Increase of population and development
If some important mining and CONNER
,ial interests make II imperative that the
should be revised and better provision
made for the arrest and punishment of
criminals.
The report of the secretary shows a very
state Of affairs as to the condi-
Ion at the general land Office.
The Pension Bureau.
The report of the commissioner of PEN
sions, to which extended notice Is given
by the secretary of the interior in his re-
port will attract great attention. Judged
by the aggregate amount of work done
The last year has been the greatest in the
of the Office. I believe that the
organization Of the Office Is efficient and
that the work has beer lone with fidelity.
The passage of what Is known as the de-
bility act has as was foreseen, very
increased the annual disburs-
ments to the disabled veterans of the civil
war. The estimate for this fiscal year was
bl44, $50 900 and the amount was appropri-
Bted. A deficiency amounting to $40, 05d,
621 must be provided for at this session.