Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-12-14

frn6
Al Jrods ~ TONS OF seed and grain uselessly dis
,r;b,,ted through the D apartment OF Agrlcll-
.,,ro THE Postmaster-General predicts that
a. tbo low he so amended as to eradicate
thasa obusos not only will the Postoiice De-
80 ont chow no deficiency, but he believes
~ IN the near future all Legitimate news
oors la -, ond nerIodical magazines might be
PrPpnarIv transmitted through the malls 10
thoir enhscrIbers free OF cost. l invite your
nronnt consideration OF this subject, and
fully indorse the Views OF the postmaster
General. - $3.50.
The Postmaster-General renews sug-
gestion made In previous report thal tue
denortment organization be increas3i to
tba evtent of creating direct district super
S,ision of all postal affairs AMI In this sug-
gostion fully concur
Tbera orenow connected with the Postof-
eoa establishment 32.6S1 employees who are
IN the classified service. This includes many
who have been classified under the sugges-
tion of the Postmaster General. He states
that another years experience at the heaa OF
the department serves only to strengthen
the conviction as to the excellent working OF
the Civil Service Law In this branch OF the
public service.
OUR NAVY.
Attention Is called to tie report Of the Sec.
| TpfarX OF the Navy, MulCl ouONo N1l) HlueA-
fvinc nroeress In the construction Of ships
! for our new navy. All the vessels now build
! ing. including the three torpedo boats au-
| th0rizad at the last session OF Congress and
| excepting the frst-class ship Iowa, Will
probably be completed during the coming
| fiscal year.
The estimates for the increase OF the navy
for the year ending June 80, 1895, are large,
but they include practically the entire sum
/ Ill al, an
| necessary to complete and equip all the new
ships not now in commission, so that unless
new ships are authorized the appropriations
/ for the naval service for the fiscal year end
i'm. June 30. 1897. should fall below the esti-
! mates for the coming year BY at least $lZ,
600 GOO.
The Secretary presents with much carr
estness plea for the authoriz ition OF thre>
additional battle ships AMI ten or twelve
torpedo boats. While the unarmored vessels
heretofore authorz I'd, including those now
nearing completion, will constitute
feet. which it is believed Is sufficient for or
dinary cruising purposes In time OF pence,
we have now completed and In process OF
construction but four hrst-class battle ships
and but few torpedo boats. II we are to
have a navy for wariike operations, offensive
| and defensive, we certainly ought 70 in
crease both the number OF battle ships and
torpedo boats.
The manufacture Of armor requires expen-
sive plant and the aggregation OF many
skilled workmen. All the armor necessary
to 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 workmen and their plants
! must lie idle. Battle ships authorized at this
time would not be well un1er way until late
in the coming fiscal year, and at least three
years and a half from the date OF the con-
tract would be required for their compile
ton. The Secretary states that not more
than fifteen per cent. fthe cost ofsuch ships
! need be included III the appropriations loI
the coming year.
recommend that provision be made for
the construction OF additional. baltic ships
and torpedo boats.
The war now in progress between China
and japan has rendered it necessary or ex-
pe1ient to despatch eight vessels to those
waters.
I 1eel it my imperative duty to call atten-
| ton 10 the recommen iation OF the Secre-
tary in regard to the personnel ofthe line ot
the navy. The stagnation OF promotion in
this. the vital branch of the service, is so
great as to seriously impair its efficiency.
I consider l. of the utmost Importance thAt
the Young and middIe-aged officers should,
/ before the eve of retirement, be permitted
TO reach a grade emitting them TO active and
! important duty.
The system adopted few years ago regu-
! latiny the employment OF labor at the navy
! Yards is rigidly upheld, and has fully demon
strated its usefulness and expedlency. Ii is
within the domain of Civil Service reform, In
asmueh as workmen are employed through a
board of labor selected at eacn navy yard
AMI are given work without reference tc
politics and in the order ofther application
preference, however, being given to army
and navy veterans and those having former
navy yard experience.
1t is hoped that if this system continues to
be strictly adhered to, there will soon be, as
q natural consequence, such an eq ualization
of parry benefit as will remove all tempta-
tion to relax or abandon 1t.
PUBLIC LANDS,
The public land disposed OF during the
year amounted to 10, ,4O7. 100. II acres, includ
ing 28,876.05 of IndiIn lands
1t is estimated that the puolic domain still
remaining amounts to q little more THAI
800, 900, 900 acres. including, however, $50,
000,00 acres in Alaska, as well as military
reservations an railroli AMI other selec-
tions OF lands yet una1iu Heated.
The total cash receipts from sale OF lands
amounted to s2,674 4,28579, including $9i,-
9S1. .O3 received for Indian lands.
Thirty-hve thousand patents were issued
for agricultural lands, and thirty-one nun
DIRE patents we're issued to Indians on ailot-
mpnts OF their holdings in severalty, the
land so allotted being inaliena5le by the In-
dian alIoltees for perlol OF twenty-five
years after PATENT
I fully In io-sstie recommendation OF the
Secretary that a iruuue protection be pro-
vided for or forest reserves and that com
prehensiva forsS.ry system BE- inaugurated. &.
Such keepers in suparlntendents as are
necessary tn protect the forest already re-
servel shouli b, provided. L am OF the
opinion that tar, should be an abandon
ment of fine p.icy sanctioned by present
laws under whici the Government, Tor a very
small considerat On, is rapidly losing titlt
to immense tracts OF lan1 covered with tim
Der which sh0nI be properly reserved a:
permanent sOarces OF timber supply.
The suggestion TINT change bs made IL
the manner o securing surveys ofthe public
Ian Is is especially worthy OF consideration
am satisde that these surveys should D'
made by corps OF competent surveyor
under the Immediate control and direction
ofthe Commissioner OF the General LAM
Office.
concur in the option thar the Commts
sioner of the General Land ONCE should b.
relieved from the duty of deciding litlgateC
land eases, that Donpartisan cour
shonld be created 10 pass on such cases
and that the decisions OF this court shoul'
he final. at least so far as the decisions 0
The department are now final. IN
nroposed court might be given author
ity to certify questions Of law
in matters OF especial importance
to to the Supreme Court of the United State
or the Court OF Appeals for the District Q
Columbii. for decision. The creation OF sue
n tribunal would expedite the disposal
cases and insure decisions OF more satls