The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-12-11

States courts are clothed with the authority 10
apportion the lands among the citizen Indians
for whose use it was originally granted.
concur with the secretary Of the interior
that there can be no cure for the evils engen-
dered by the perversion of these great trusts,
excepting by their resumption by the govern
meut which created them.
The Yellow Fever Epidemic.
The recent prevalence of yellow fever In n
number of cities and towns throughout the
south has resulted in much disturbance Of
and demonstrated the necessity OF
such amendments to our quarantine laws AZ
will make the regulations of the national quar-
;ntine authorities paramount The secretary
OF the treasury, in the portion of his report re-
Iating TO the operation of the marine hospital
service, calls attention to the defects in
the present quarantine laws and recon-
mendS amendments thereto which will give
the treasury department the requisite au-
thority to prevent the invasion of epidemic
diseases from foreign countries. and In times
of emergency like that Of the past summer will
add 10 the efficiency OF the sanitary measures
Tor the protection OF the people and at the same
time prevent unnecessary restrictions OF COM
meFce. | concur in his recommendation. In
further effort to prevent the invasion Of the
United States by yellow fever. the importance
OF tho discovery of the exact cause OF the dis
ease, which up to the present time has been
undetermined. IS obvious, and to this end q
systematic archaeological Investigation should
be made. / therefore that congress
authorize the appointment of a commission by
the president, TO consist Of four expert bacteri-
oIogists, one 10 be selected from the medical
oficers OF the marine hospital service, one 10
be appointed from civil life. one to be detailed
from the medical officers OF the army ana one
from the medical officers or the navy.
The Pacific Railways.
The Union Pacific railways, main line was
sold under the decree OF the United States
court for the district Of Nebraska on the LIST
and End OF November, OF this year. The amount
due the government consisted OF the principal
or the subsidy bonds. S25, 236. 512, and the ac-
crued interest thereon, 49,, 2ii, 71L75, making
the total Indebtedness $50. 449, 2223. The bid
at the sale covered the first mortgage lien and
the entire mortgage claim OF the government.
principal and interest. The sale OF the sub
sidized portion Of the Kansas Pacific line.
upon which the government holds a second
mortgage lien. has been postponed at the fn-
stance OF the government to December
lG, 1885, The debt OF this division
Of the onion Pacific railroad to tho
government on November II, 1897 was the
principal OF the subsidy bonds, 50. 0OS, 900 and
the unpaid and accrued interest SO. 62B. $50 SO
making n total OF Sl2. 929. go. 80 The sale OF
this road was originally advertised for Noyem-
Der 4, but for the purpose Of securing the ut
most public notice of the event IL was post
pOned until December 16, and o second adyer-
tisement OF the sale was made. by the decree
OF the court the upset price on the sale OF the
Kansas Pacific will yield to the government
the sum Of 800, 900 over all prior liens, costs
and charges. II no other better bid is made
this sum is all that the government
will receive on its claim OF nearly
100000 The government has no informs.
tion as to whether there will be other bidders
or a better bid than the maximum amount
herein stated. The question presented there
fore is: Whether the government shall. under
the authority given IL by the act OF March 3
1887. purchase or redeem the road In the event
that q bid is not made by private parties GOV.
ering the entire government claim. TouuaIify
the government TO bid at the sale viii require
q deposit of 5000. 90. as follows: In the govern
ment cause. $500 900 and in each Of the first
mortgage causes $500. 600, and in the latter ths
deposit must be In cash. Payments Mt the sale
are as follows: Upon the acceptance OF the
bid a sum which with the sum already depos.
tied shall equal Is per cent OF the bid. the bal.
ance In installments OF . per cent. 30, 30 and
days after the confirmation OF the sale. The
lien on the Kansas Pacific prior to that Of the
government on the 30th OF July, 1897. principal
and interest, amounted to 81. 2Sl. O48.IL The
government, therefore,, should it become the
highest bidder, will have to pay the amount OF
the first mortgage lien.
L believe that under the act of 1887 IL has the
authority to do this and in absence OF any &C.
tion by congress 1 shall direct the secretary OF
the treasury to make the necessary deposit as
required by the courts decree to qualify as 3
bidder and to bid at the sale q sum which will
at least equal the principal of the debt due tc
the government: but suggest in order to re.
move all controversy, that fan amend
ment OF the law be Immediately
passed explicitly giving such powers
and appropriating in general terms whatever
sum is Sufficient therefor.
Civil Service.
The important branch of our government
known as the civil service, the practical inn
of which has long been Il subject OF
earn est discussion. has of late years received
increased legislative and executive approval. !
During the past few months the service has
been placed on a still hrmer basis of business
methods and personal merit. While the right
OF our veteran soldiers to reinstatement to de-
serving cases has been asserted, dismisSals for
merely political reasons have been carefully
guarded against, the examinations for
TO the service enlarged
less technical and more practical; and a
distinct advance has been made by giving a
hearing before dismissal upon all cases where
Is charged or demand made for
the removal Of onicials in any OF the depart
ments. This order has been made to give TO
the accused his right to be heard, hut without
in any way impairing the power of removal. |
which should always be exercised in cases OF
inehicieney and incompetency and which is one |
of the vital safeguards OF the civil service re-
form system, preventing stagnation and deads
wood and keeping every employe keenly alive |
TO the fact that the security OF his tenure de-
ponds not on favor, but on his own tested and
carefully watched record OF service.
The estimates of the expenses OF the govern
ment by the several departments will. 1 am
sure, have your careful scrutiny. While the
congress may not find 1t an easy task to reduce
the expenses OF the government, It should moi
their increase. These expenses will,
In my udgmen admit OF a decrease In many
branches OF the government without injury TO
the public service 1t is a commanding duty to
keep the appropriations within the receipts OF
the government and thus avoid a deficit
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion. Dec. Q. 1897.