The Worthington advance., 1896-12-10

The, The eG;s Of receiving carrying :1S ,S as,y.
ter CONSTITUTED sa SSdos more s than two-thirds OF
the total that was carried, the Isyen9,S
from each pound Of nrst-class matter wa was
sS cents. From each pound Of sesond- S sns
s9ss %ss m 1f the sttsr sasa1a re
pound Of fourth class, 1876 cents The
Ess BEEN o. trS% SeEs
3l2.000.OOO pounds In 1896. and to ALMOST
3ls. .0W in 1885. and It Is quite evident this
possible growth Of postal revenues.
Abuses Must He Corrected.
Our mall service should Of course be
such as to meet the wants and even the
charge upon them SO light as perhaps to
exclude the idea Of our post Office depart
fact that we supply the best mail service
to Correct the abuses that SVEN enor-
lnously our annual deficit. If we concede
the public policy OF carrying weekly news @
and even the policy Of carrying at less
than one-tenth of their cost other bona
de aaa he
involved in carrying at the nominal rate
someefmes saH esof inelddins Ra Trashy and even
which. under the loose interpretation Of 1
profitable returns derived from tirst: class
matter. which pays three or four times
II such second class matter paid merely
shs eos Of S aua euF rasa weS
might be used to give the people still better
mail facilities or cheaper rates OF letter
at once enacted to correct these abuses and
Introduce better business ideas In the reg
ulation of our postal rates.
present condition are fully exhibited in the
report of the secretary. The construction
of vessels for our new navy mas been ener-
lstration upon the general lines previously
adopted, the department having seen no
for radfa change IN ond e be
progressing in a manner highly satisfac-
tory. 1t has been DECIDED, however, to to PRO- p;oe
builder should pay all trial expenses. and
it has also been determined to pay no speed
premiums in future contracts. The pre-
decided are features OF the contracts ade
before this conclusion was reached.
On March 4, 1893. there were IN com mis-
turreted monitors MiantonoEnah and Mon
terey. Since that date Of vessels theceto-
ana
two second-class battle ships. two armor.d
cruisers. one harbor defense ram and nye
Maine and the Puritan. just completed.
eight new armored cruisers and two new
gunboats have also neen COMMISSIONED. NM
naeiee more gunboats viii be ready for sea in the
TSere have been authorized by congress
iight-draft gunboats. is torpedo boats and
for for the S building Of Of s ali Of them have been
lot. The secretary expresses the opinion
that we have for the present sumclent
hereafter the construction Of battle ships
and torpedo boats will supply our needs.
Department of tho Interior.
The report of the secretary Of the interior
presents som2rehensaVe nd dha a4
fairs committed to his SUPERVISION. IL ~
impossible in this communicating to 90
iects Concerning which the secretary gives
full and instructive information.
The money appropriated on account o.
amounted to more than $751; 100000, or =
greater sum than was appropriated ior the tae
the two fiscal years ended June ~. 1851.
The Public Domain.
Our public lands, originally amounting
to 1,S40 oVO.0O0 acres, have az been SO reaucen i,
in government control. excluding Alaska:
The balance. being by far the most valuable
portion has been given away TO or so;a af
u comparatively nominal sum. Inc patent
Ing Of lands in execution Of railroad grants
and and !nes hs sh March, 1885,
"s5,cOO, ,UUU acres have thus been conveyed 10
these corporations.
mainder of our public lands should be
more carefully dealt with and their allena-
tion guarded by better economy and greater
prudence.
The total Indian popula ton OF the United
States is l7.233 according 10 q census shs
made in 1SyS a9d 9t toss
the five civilized tribes or this number
incre are approximately $4,000 children en-: OF
S' were enrolled in schools. the progress
which has attended recent efforts to ex-
tend Indian school faciiltles ana tne an-
ticipation Of continued liberal approPria.
tio11s to that end, cannot fail to aHoru the
utmost satisfaction to those who nei1eve
that the education OF lnoian Gnitoren - So
prime factor in the accomphshmeht ol
Indian civilization.
1t may be said In general terms. that IN
every particular the Improvement OF @ tns
most marked and encouraging, The sec
retary, the commissioner OF indian affairs
and the agents having charge OF IN
dams to whom allotments have been MADE
strongly urge tho passage OF law pro
hibiting the sale of liquor to allottees who
have taken their lands In seyeralty. !
earnestly join in this recommendation.
Allotment OF Lands.
A commission organized and empowered
under several recent laws is now negotiat-
ing with these Indians for the relinqulsh-
ment Of their courts and the division Of
their common lands In severalty and are
some question OF tribal membership. The
reception OF their first profrers OF neSot1a-
ton were not encouraging, but through pa
tience and such conduct on their part as
demonstrated that their intentions were
friendly and in the interest OF the tribes
the prospect Of success has become more
promising. The effort should be to save
these Indians from the consequences OF
their own mistakes and improvidence and
to secure to the real Indian his rights as
against intruders and professed friends
who profit by his retrogression.
l indorse the recOmme nda ton made by
the present secretary OF the interior as
" ell as his predecessor that a permanent
commission consisting Of three members,
one of whom shall be an army officer, be
created to perform the duties now devOlv-
ing upon the commissioner and assistant
commissioner of Indian affairs. The man.
agcment Of the bureau involves such MI
nerous and diverse details and the ad-