Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-12-07


copies" of pretended newspapers are is
| sued in great numbers for like purpose
only. The result is great loss of reve-
nue. to the government besides its humili-
ating use as an agency to aid in carrying
out the scheme of a business house to d.
vertse its goods by means of a trick upon
both its rival houses and the regular and
legitimate newspapers. Paper covered lit
erature, consisting mainly of trashy nov
els, to the extent of many thousands of
tons, is sent through the mails at one cent
per pound, while the publishers of stand
ard works are required to pay eight times
that amount in sending their publications.
Another abuse consists in the free carriage
through the mails of hundreds of tons of
seed and grain useessly distributed through
the department of agriculture.
The postmaster general predicts that if
the law be so amended as to eradicate these
abuses, not only will the post-office depart
ment show no deficiency, but he believes
that in the near future all legitimate news
papers and periodical magazines might be
properly transmitted through the mails to
their subscribers free of cost. / invite your
prompt consideration of this subject, and
fully indorse the views of the postmaster
general.
There are now connected with the post
office establishment 32,6 employees, who
are in the classified service. Another year s
experience serves to strengthen the convc-
tion as to the excellent working of the civ
il service law in this branch of the public
service.
Our New Navy.
Gratifying progress has been made in
the construction of ships for our new navy.
All the vessels now building. including the
three torpedo boats authorized at the last
session of Congress and excepting the
first class battleship Iowa, will probably
be completed during the coming fiscal year.
The estimates for the increase of the navy
for the year ending June 30, 1896, are
large-S12, 900, ,000-but they include prac-
tically the entire sum necessary to com
plete and equip all the new ships not now
in commission. Attention is called to the
secretary's recommen lation for three addi-
tional batteships and 10 to II torpedo
boats, and for supply of ordnance for the
auxiliary fleet.
The Public Lands and the Indian Prob
lem.
In commenting on the work of the inte-
rior department the President says the
public land disposed of during the year
amounted to l0, ,406 1O0.77 acres, including
Is, ,S7G.05 of Indian lands. 1t is estimated
that the public domain still remaining
amounts to little more than 100000, 900
acres, excluding however, about 0,000,-
600 acres in Alaska as well as military res
ervations and railroad and other selections
of lands yet unadjudicated. The total cash
receipts from sales of lands amounted to
-, ,G74, 80. 10 including S91, ,9S1. .03 receiv-
ed for Indian lands.
There should be adequate protection for
our forest reserves and a comprehensive
forestry system should be inaugurated.
There should be an abandonment of the
policy sanctioned by present laws, under
which the government for a very small
consideration is rapidly losing title to i'm
mense tracts of land covered with timber
which should be properly reserved as per-
manent sources of timber supply. A land
court to hear litigated cases growing out
of attempts to obtain government land is
recommended.
Though the condition of the Indians
shows a steady and healthy progress, their
situation is not satisfactory at all points.
Some of them to whom alotments of land
have been made are found to be unable or
disnclined to follow agricultural pursuits
or to otherwise beneficially manage their
land. The proper solution of the Indian
problem and the success of every step taken
in that direction depend to a very large eX-
tent upon the intelligence and honesty of
the reservation agents and the interest
they have in their work. -.
Pensions.
At the close of the last fiscal year, on the
al. 1 e 4
persons on our pension rolls, being a net
increase of 3532 over the previous year.
OF these pensioners 81, ,039 are surviving
soldiers of Indian and other wars prior to
the late Civil war, and the widows or rela-
tives of such soldiers. The remainder,
numbering 937,5 ,505, are receiving pensions
on account of the war of the Rebellion,
and of these Ago, ,344 are on the rolls under
the authority of the act of June 27, 1890,
sometimes called the dependent pension
law.
The total amount expended for pensions
during the year was S139,S04, ,461. .05, leav-
ing an uneXpended balance from the sum
appropriated of S25, ,205, ,712.65. The sum
necessary to meet pension expenditures fol
! the year ending June 80, 1896, is estimated
at S140,000,000. The high tide in pension
payments is expected to be reached the
coming year. The extensive frauds dis
covered leave no room for the claim that
no purgation of our pension rules are
needed for that continued vigilance and
| prompt action are not necessary to the
same end.
An Annual Agricultural Census.
In the agricultural department saving
of 100000, or % per cent of the entire ap
preparation, has been effected. The eX
ports of agricultural products from the
United States for the fiscal year amounted
to $62S, 1853, ,03S being 722S per cent o
American exports of every description
and the United Kingdom of Great Britain
took more than fifty-four per cent of al
farm products finding foreign markets
The good work of the weather bureau is rec
ognized, as through its warnings during tn
great storms of September and OctObe
2300 vessels valued at S36,000,000 will
cargoes of still greater value were detained
in port. The gratuitous distribution o
seeds is wasteful, and should be stopped
An annual agricultural census is recon-
mended. Its scope would be: Q) Th
area under each of the more importan
crops. (2) The aggregate products of eacl
of such crops. (3) The quantity of whea
and corn in the hands of farmers at dat
after the spring sowings and paintings an
before the beginning of the harvest; an
also to the quantity of cotton and tobacc
remaining in the hands of planters, eithe