Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-12-05

btem, has been satisfactorily aad
shIeiently handIsd- a vesy considerable labor
vas performed By DE bureau in making the
Investigation and report respecting ssricul-
tursi colleges. preliminary 70 the disbarse-
menfs Of the appropriation made By sci Of
Congress, August 30, 1850. Within eleven
months the secretary was thus enabled 10
certify ~ states anil territories A. entitled
70 share in the funds. and 10 draw warrants
for the payment To them Of three separate
miscellaneous Of the same smounting TO ST.
$50, on for the benefit Of rs colleges where
xhite and csiosesi yoashs are alike asimltted-
The statistical investigations of the esiaca-
tionzl psozress Of Our country has been fol-
lowed up steadily.
The supervision of the several National
Parks. has been exercised with great care
.. TO details. with much success in the cns-
tirntisn of the fauna, fora. and hsh. now
there greatly Increasing; and particularly
in the preservation Of the great trees OF
California and Of other Of the natural won
ierx Of cur continent. At Hot Springs
Reservation, arkansas, improvements have
been inzugurated and are in progress
whereby this resort will become much more
attractive and more worthy Of our country.
Particular attention has been successfully
given TO the establishment Of forest reserves
for the preservation of the streams sf the
country, and the advancement OF irrigation
in the arid regions.
Al Of the eelemosynary institutions IN
and around Washington city ike the gov
ernment hospitals. Howard University, and
National Home for soldiers, have been
managed 80 that no scandals or even com
paints have arisen, and their efficiency has
been advanced. Beside all this when ii is
remembered that six new states have come
into the Union from out the jurisdiction of
this department, and Oklahoma has grown
ap into il from an nncultivated waste. the
results ART indeed gratifying. Regarding
the question of polygamy in Utah.
Secretary Noble says The Governor
Of Utah expresses his belief in the
good faith and honesty of purpose of the
Mormon leaders and the people in their
abandonment of pofygamy, and their obe'li-
ence TO the laws OF Congress on this sub
jeet. The Utah commission. seems not to
have SO much confidence in the motive
which compels observance of the law, but
10 believe that ii is simply suspension of
the practice. under the authority of the
church. and that if it could be done law
fully the authority Of the church would
again be recognized As reyoking the cessa-
ton of the practice. But it IL conceded
that there is, with exceptional cases, a gen
era recognition AMI observance of the law
and the declarations of the officials of the
church. and the proclamation issued under
authority of the church seem to Indicate
the fact that the Mormon people have
concluded to abandon forever the
practice Of polygamy. An appeal has
been made to the President for general
amnesty for all Mormons who are under
political disabilities by reason of violations
of the law against poiygamy. The petition
pledges the people and the church in dis
tinct terms to loyal observance of the law
and declares the devotion and loyalty of the
people to the country and TO the govern
ment. tine suggestive evidence of the de-
creasing power of the church is the division
of the people upon national party lines in
recent elections" In the department proper
with the aid of the first assistant secretary
and the assistant attorney general the sec
rotary has adjudicsted many hundreds of
land contests Involving great amonts in value
aud most difficult questions of law has had
to deal with the Interpretation of Indian trea-
ties, and with the assistant secretary the con
struction of pension laws and cases. The
department also manages directly the num-
erous commissions negotiating with Indians
for purchase of their lands. The report
makes a document of $50 pages with an
appendix embracing important statistics and
official papers.