Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-12-07

ture. The POstmaster-G Aneral predicts that
IL the law be so anende as to eralic ate
these abuses not only Will the Postoffice De-
partment show no deficiency, hut he believes
that In the near future all legitimate news
papers and pprio iical magazines might be
properly transmitted through the mails 10
their subscribers free OF cost. invite your
prompt consideration OF this subject. an
fully indorse the views OF the Postmaster
GENERAL
The Postmaster-Ganeral reneys sug-
gestion made 10 a previous report that the
department organization he iucreas,l to
the extent OF fcrertinga direct district super
vision OF all postal affairs ami la this sug-
gsstion fully concur.
There are now connected With the Postof-
lcs establishment 81, ,6Sl employees who are
in the CLASSIFIED services This incu les many
who have been classified under the sugges-
tion OF the Postmaster General. He states
that another years experience at the head OF
the department serves only to strengthen
the conviction Us to the eXcsllent working OF
the Civil Service law in this branch OF ths
public service.
ouR NAVY.
Attention is called to h report OF the Sec
retary OF the Navy, which shows very graft
flying progress in the construction OF ships
for our new navy. All the vessels now huil1-
ing. including the three torpedo boats au-
tnOrlXeu NJ inc llSt session OF congress an
excepting the ilrst-caSs ship Iowa. will
probably be completed during the coming
fiscal year.
The estimates for the incrcase OF the navy
for the year en- ling June &c. 1895 are large,
but they include practically tha entire sum
necessary to complete and equip all the new
ships not now in commission, so that uuless
new ships are authorized the appropriations
for the naval service for the fiscal year end
iDu 1907 Ehnull fall balnw tb,a i
mates for the coming wear by at least Sl2,-
900, 000
The Secretary presents with much earn
estness n plea Tor tue authorz Itou OF thre,
additional battle ships and ten or twelve
torpedo boats. While the unarnore1 vess ia
heretofore authorized, Including those now
| nearing completion. will constitute a
feet, which it is believed Is sufficient for or
dinarY cruising purposes IN time OF peace.
we have now completed ani IN process OF
construction but four 'lrsttlass battle ships
and but few torpedo Ioats. II We are to
have u navy for warliko operations, offensive
and defensive, We certainly ought to in
crease both tho number OF battle ships and
| torpedo boats.
The manufacture OF aruor requires expon-
sive plant and the aggregation OF many
skilled workmen An the arn1r necessary
| 10 complete the vessels now building will be
! delivered before the FIRST OF June next. II
| no new contracts are given out, contractors
must disband their worSmen and their plants
| must lie Idle. Battle ships nuy horzed ut this
/ time would not be well unler way until late
In the coming fiscal ycar, and At least three
| years and u half from the date OF the con-
tract would be required Tor their compile
! ton. The Secretary states that not more
| than fifteen per cent ofthe cost ofsuch ships
need be included III the appropriations for
! the coming year.
recommend that provision be made for
| the construction OF additional battle ships
! and torpedo boats.
The war now In progress between China
and japan has rendered it necessary or ex-
pedient 10 despatch eight vessels to those
waters.
ieel 1t my imperative duty 10 call atton-
: ton TO the recommen lation OF the Sscre-
tary In regard to the personnel OF the line of
tho navy. The stagnation O. promotion in
this. tho vital branch OF the service. is 50
great rs to seriously impair its efficiency.
| consider ii OF the utmost importance u It
the young and mildc-lgel officers should,
before the eve OF retirement, ba parmitte
to reach grade eutitllny them 10 active an
important duty
Ghc system adopted a few years ago regu.
htlng IA" employment OF labor at the navy
ysri- is ristty upheld, and has fully demon
,trttri IL u-a.uHeSs and rNpeiiency. Il Is
wi.GIn tnc domain ofCYil S"ryica reform, lu
y,u.ual ~ wurNmrn are employed throu IN d
nOAri %. labor selected at carh navy yard
.ui are gwen wJrk wltnout refer nee tC
politics aud ia the order oil their application
preference, however. being given TO arm>
and navy veterans and those having former
navy yard experience.
II is hoped that II this sys,cn continues to
be- strictly adhered to there Will soon be, as
natural consequence, su' lau "a ualiZaIlon
bnppDf a NViIl ram a IA.
ton to relax or abandon 1t.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The public land disposed OF during the
year amounted to 10, ,407, 100. II acres, includ.
ing 2s,876. 05 oi Indian lands.
1t is estimated that the pu lIic domain still
remaining amounts 10 a little more thai
600, 100000 acres. including, however, $50,
600, 900 acres In Alaska, as well us militar,
reservations and railroad and other selec-
tions OF lands yet unadjudtcated.
The total cash receipts from sale OF lands
amounted to s2, 2,674, ,2s5.79, including s9l,-
9s1. 03 received for Indian lands.
Thirty-nve thousand patents were issue
for agricultural lands, and thirty-one hun
dred patents were issued to Indians on allot-
ments OF their holdings in severalty, the
land so allotted being inalenable by the In
dian allottees for a period OF twenty-five
years after patent.
fully indorse the Recommendation OF the
Secretary that adequate protection be pro-
vlded for our forest reserves and that com
prehensive forestry system bo inaugurated.
Such keepers and superntendents us are
necessary to protect the forest already re-
served should be provided. am OF tho
opinion that there should he an abandon
ment OF the policy sanctioned by present
laws under which the Government, for very
small consideration, is rapidly losing title
to immense tracts OF land covered with tim
Der which should be properly reserved MS
per manent sources OF timber supply.
The suggestion that a change be made in
the manner OF securing surveys ofthe public
lands Is especially worthy OF consideration.
I am satisfied that these surveys should be
made by u corps OF competent surveyors
under the immediate conttNl and direction
OF the Commissioner OF the General Ian
Office.
concur In the opinion that the Commls
, sioner ofthe General Land Oflce should be
relieved from the duty OF deciding litigated
land cases, that nonpartisan cour
should be created to pass on such cases
and that the decisions OF this court should
! be final, at least so far rs the decisions o
the department are now final. The
! proposed court might he given author
In matters OF cspecml Importance
to the Supreme Court OF the United State
or the Court OF Appeals for the District o
Columbia for decision. The creation OF sucl
tribunal would expedite the disposal o
cases and insure decisions OF q more salts
factory character. The registers and receiv
: ers who originally hear aud decide thes
disputes should not be invested with author
/, ity to compel witness to attend and testll!
before them. 81.
THE INDIANS.
q Though the condition OF the Indians shcw
. u steady and healthy progress their situa
: tion is not satisfactory at all points. Som
: OF them to whom allotments OF lanl hav,
| been made are found TO be unable or disin
: ciined to follow agricultural pursuits or Il
t otherwise benellclally manage their land
o | This Ik agnanially trup of tha Oh bayan al M