The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-12-07

appropriations amounting to S5s3I8G .0b6
Tho skill and industry OF our ordnance ofi-
GERS and inventors have. IL is believed, over
come tho mechanical obstacles which have
heretofore delayed tho armament of our coasts,
and this great national undertaking upon
which We have entered may now proceed as
rapidly as congress shall determine. With q
supply OF finished guns of large calber al
ready on hand. 20 which additions should now
rapidly follow, tho wisdom OF providing car
riages and omplaccmonts for their mount cam
not be too strongly urged.
The Militia.
The total enrolment of the militia OF the
several states Is II 1888 officers and enlisted men,
an increasc Of 5,343 over the number reported
az the close OF the previous year. Ihe reports
OF militia inspections by regular army officers
show marked increase in interest ard en-
cheney among tho state organ. atoms, and L
strongly recommend o continuance OF the pol
ICY OF ahordlng every practical encouragement
possible TO this important auxiliary of our mil
itary establishment.
Apache Prisoners.
Tho condition OF tho Apache Indians held as
prisoners by the government for eight years at
cost OF half million dollars has been changed
during the year from captivity 10 ono which
gives them an opportunity TO demon
strate their capacity for self-Support and ct
least partial civilization. Legislation enacted
at the late session OF congress gave tho war
department authority TO transfer the survivors
numbering BIC, from Mount Vernon barracks,
in Alabama, TO any suitable reservation. Tho
department. selected as their future homo the
military land near, Forte sin, Indian
territory, where, under military surveil-
lance, tho former prisoners have been osXpb-
lished in agriculture under conditions favSra-
bic TO their advancement.
Further Honors for Gen. SchofieId.
In recognition of tho long and distinguished
military services and faithful discharge Of del
icate and responsible civil duties by Maj. Gen.
John nj. Schoneld now the general command
ing the army, 1t is suggested TO congress that
the temporary revival Of the grade Of leuten,
gracious act, and would permit his retirement,
now near at hand, with rank behAing his
merits.
Moro Courts Needed.
The report OF tho attorney general notes the
gratifying progress made by the supreme
court in overcoming the arrears of its business
and in reaching o condition in which it will be
able to dispose OF cases as they arise without
any unreasonable delay This result is, of
course, very largely due 10 tho successful
working OF the plan inaugurating circuit courts
OF appeals In respect to these tribunals tho
suggestion Is made, in quarters entitled to the
highest consideration, that an additional cir
cult judge for each circuit would greatly
strengthen these courts and tho confidence
reposed in their adjudicationS, and that such
an addition would not create n greater force OF
judges than the increasing business of such
courts requires. l commend the suggestion to
tho careful consideration Of the congress.
Other important topics arc adverted to in
the report accompanied by recommendations,
many OF which have been treated ut large in
previous messages and at this time therefore,
need only be named. refer TO the abolition
of the fec system as q measure OF compensa-
tion TO federal officers; the enlargement Of the
in the territories; the allowance of writs of
error in criminal cases on behalf OF the United
States, ana the establishment OF degrees In the
crime Of murder.
Court for Indian Territory.
A topic dealt with by the attorney general OF
much importance is the condition OF tho adj
ministration OF Justice in the Indian territory.
Tho pcrmGpcnt solution Of what Is called tho
Indian problem is probably not to be expected
at once, but meanwhile such amoliorations of
present conditions as the CXi ting system will
nd fY1if Of Ot n no / m
isiled there should be u federal court estab-
lished for tho territory with sufficient judges,
ana that this court should sit within the terri
tory ana haze the same jurisdiction as to ter
ritorial affairs as is now vested in the federal
courts sitting il Arkansas and Texas.
Reorganization OF the Union Pacific.
Another subject OF pressing moment referred
to by tho attorney general is the reorganiZa-
tion OF tho Union Pacific Railway company on
% basis equitable Us regards all private in
tereSts ana as favorable to tho government as
existing conditions will permit The opera
ton Of railroad by court through receiver
is an anomalous state of things which should
be terminated, on all grounds. public and
private, ut tho earliest possible moment. Be-
Sides not to enact the needed enabling legiS-
iaSi9n at the present ~ session R9iStpones the
congress and inevitably increases all the COM
plications of the situation. and could not but
be regarded as q signal failure to solve prob
lem which has practically been before the
present congress ever since its organization.
Federal Prisoners.
Eight years ago. In my annual message, 1
urged upon the congress as strongly as 1
could tho location and construction of two
prisons for the confinement OF United States
prisoners. similar recommendation has
been made from time to time since. and few
years ago q law was passed providing for the
selection OF sites for three such institutions. No
appropriation has, however been made to carry
the act into effect, and the old and discred-
liable condition still exists
1t Is not my purpose at this timo to repeat
the considerations which make an impreg-
naDle ownership
agement by the government OF the penal insti
buttons in which federal prisoners are confined,
recomm p HSns on the " subject and to
particularly call attention OF the con-
gress to that part OF the report OF the
secretary OF war; In which he states that tho
military prison at Fort Leavcnworth. Kan,
can BIO turned over to the government as u
prison for federal convicts Without tho least
difficulty and with an actual saving OF money
from every point OF view. Pending moro
complete reform 1 hope that by the adop-
this easy step may be taken in the direction Of
the proper care Of its convicts by the govern
ment of the United States.
The Postal Service.
The report OF the postmnster-general pre-
sents o comprehensive statement OF the OPP
erations of the post office department for the
last fiscal year. Tho receipts OF the depart
and the expenditures to &S4,32 ,414l5. The
Transactions OF the postal service indicate
with barometric certainty the fuctuation in
fore. as business complications continued
TO exist throughout the last year to an unfore-
seen extent IL Is not surprising that the
deficiency OF revenue to meet tho expendi-
lures of the post ofice department, which
was estimated in advance at about
g Loo. 600 should be exceeded by nearly 81 250,
900. The ascertained revenues OF the last |
year, which were the basis Of calculation for |
the current year. being less than estimated, |
the deficiency for the current year will be |
correspondingly greater. though the postmas- |
ter general states that the latest indications |
are SO favorable that he confidently predicts |
an increase OF at least per cent. In the rev. |
cnucs OF the current year over those OF the last
year.
Reform ia Second Glass Matter.
The expenditures increase steadily and nee
country so that tho deficiency Is greater or |
less in any year depending upon the volume OF |
receipts. The postmaster general states that |
this deficiency Is unnecessary and might be OBJ |
viated at once II the law regulating rates upon |
mail matter OF the second class was modified. |
The rate received for tho transmission OF this |
matter ts ono cent per pound, |
while tho cost of such transmission to tho gov |
eminent is eight times that amount In the |
general terms of tho law this rate |
extensions Of the meaning of those
terms from timo TO time have admitted TO the |
intended for legitimate newspapers /
and periodicals surprising range of publics- /
lions and created abuses the cost OF which |
amounts In the aggregate to the total deficiency |
of tho post once department.. Pretended news |
m mars Ara stArtad 6v buefnAss houses for the Il