Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-12-06

|
make creditable exhibit at the ap-
preaching Paris exposition, in which
the people have shown an unprecedent-
ed interest.
Under the head of the navy the Pres
ident points to the necessity for speedy
legislation to procure the armor for the
three hattleships now building which
would be otherwise useless. He speaks
in terms of praise of the quality of our
ships and thinks that the time has now
arrived when the increase to which the
country is committed should for time
take the form of increased facilities
commensurate with the increase of our
naval vessels. He refers to the lack OF
docks and urges that three or four OF
the largest docks be provided on the
Atlantic, at least one on the Pacific
coast and floating dock in tie gulf.
There should also be ample provision
for munitions of war aud hu increase OF
officers and enlisted men. Additions
/ are also necessary to navy yards and,
as there are now on the stocks five
large battleships, it is recommended
that an appropriation be made but for
one more battleship on the Pacific
coast. Several torpedo boats are also
necessary.
Attention is called to the need for
prompt legislation as to Alaska and the
extension of civil authority within the
territory. There is need for surveys
and for the establishment of another
land Office at some point in the Yukon
Valley, for which an appropriation is
asked. Military force is also necessary
aud the establishment of some sort OF
flexible government. If the startling
reports as to the probable shortage of
food for the miners be fully veti6ed
every effort should be made at any cost
to carry them relief
The message deals at some length
with the unsatisfactory condition of af-
fairs in the Indian Territory. The
large white element is said to be with.
out protection and without schools or
other rights OF citizens; leading Indians
have absorbed great tracts of lands and
created an aristocracy and the friends
of the Indians believe that the best in
terests of the FIVE civilized tribes
would be found in American citizenship.
Reference is made to the failure so far
| of the Dawes Commission to secure
| the consent Of the tribes to an eXtin-
guishment of the tribal titles and
q division of the lands. 1t is said ttat
should the tribes still fail to ratify the
agreement then some legislation should
be had by Congress.
The President approves the recon
mendation Of the Secretary of the
Treasury for an extension of the quar-
antine laws, and also suggests the ap.
pointment of special commission to
ascertain the cause of yellow fever.
Speaking OF the pending sale of the
7 Kansas Pacific Railroad, it is said that
if no better bid is received than the up.
set price fixed by the court, the
government would receive only
3, 100000 on its claim of nearly
S13, 100000. He believes that the
government has tbs authority to
bid on the road and has directed the
Secretary of the Treasury to make the
deposit of 100000 required to qualify
as bidder and to bid at the sale sum
at least equal to the principal of the
debt to the government. He suggests.
however, that in matter 80 important
a. the government becoming q possible
owner of the railroad, Congress should
enact some legislation to defue its
views. 1t is clear to him, however,
that the government should not permit
tie property to be sold at a price less
than one. half the principal of its debt
| I'd less than one fifth of its entire debt
principal and interest.
The President devotes the last
| chapter of his message to the
civil service, the practical im.
provement of which, he says. has
long been subject OF earnest discus.
sion, and which has Of late years re-
ceived increased legislative and execu.
tive approval. During the past few
months the service hes been placed
upon a still 1irmer basis of busiress
methods and personal merit. While
the right OF deserving veteran soldiers
TO reius'a ement has been asserted, dis.
missals for merely political reasons have
been carefully guarded against. the ex.
aminations improved and made practi
Cal, aud q distinct advance has been
made by giving hearing before dis
missal upon all cases where incompe-
tency is charged or demand made for
the removal of officials. This last has
been done without impairing the power
of removal-one of the vital safeguards
of the system. Much remains to be
done before the system can be perfect
ed, and the President says that he shall
not hesitate to exempt cases which he
thinks have been improperly included
in the classified service or Include those
which in his Judgment will best pro-
mote the public service. The system
has the approval OF the people, aud it
will he his endeavor to uphold and ex.
tend it.
In conclusion the President admon.
ishes Congress not to encourage the in
crease of the estimates for the mainte-
nance of the government. They would
admit of decrease in many branches,
and it is commanding duty to keep
the appropriations within the receipts
of the government and thus avoid a
deficit.
THE LEGISLATURE.