Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-12-09

the probable shortage of food for the
miners be fully verified. every effort
should be made at any cost to carry
them relief.
The message deals with the un-
satisfactory condition of affairs in the
Indian territory. the large white
element is said to be without protec-
ton and without schools or other
rights of citizenship, the leading
ln6ians have absorbed great tracts of
land and created an aristocracy and
the friends of the Indians believe that
the best interests of the five civilized
tribes would be found in American
citizenship. Reference is made to the
allure SO far of the DAVIS commission
to secure the consent of the tribes to
the extinguishment Of the tribal titles
and a division Of the lands. 1t Is
said that should the tribes still fail to
ratify the agreement then some legis-
lation should be had by congress.
The president approves the recon-
mendatlon of the secretary of the
treasury for an extension Of the
quarantine laws and also suggests the
appointment of special commission to
ascertain the cause Of yellow fever.
Speaking of the pending sale Of
Kansas Pacific railroad, it is said that,
If no better bid is received than the
Union Pacific set-price fixed by the
court, the government would receive
only $2,500,000 ON it's claim of nearly
$13, 100000. He believes that the gov
eminent has the authority to bid on
the road and has directed the secre-
tary of the treasury to make the de-
post of 100000 required to qualify az
bidder and to bid at the sale a sum
at least equal to the principal of the
debt to the government. He sug-
gests, however, that in matter so i'm
portant as the government becoming
a possible owner of the railroad, con-
gress should enact some legislation to
define it's views. 1t is clear to him,
however, that the government should
not permit the property to be sold at a
III lC6 lGoS JldH HAIL Tie principal
of it's debt and less than one-fifth of
its entire debt, principal and interest.
The president devotes the last chap
ter of his message to the civil service,
the practical improvement of which,
he says, has long been subject of
earnest discussion and which has of
late years received increased legisla-
tive and executive approval. During
the past few months the service has
been placed upon a still firmer basis
of business methods and personal
merit. While the right of deserving
been asserted, dismissals for merely
political reasons have been carefully
guarded against; the examinations
have been improved and MADE practi-
cal, and distinct advance has been
maze by giving a hearing before. dis
missals upon all cases where incom-
potency 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 safe
guards of the system. Much remains
to be done before the system can be
perfected and the president says that
he shall not hesitate to exempt cases
which he thinks have been improperly
included in the classified service or in
clude those which in his judgment will
best promote the public service. The
system has the approval of the people
and it will be his endeavor to uphold
and extend it.
In conclusion the president admon-
ishes congress not to encourage the in
crease of estimates for the maintenance
of government. They would admit Of
the decrease in many branches and it
is commanding duty to keep the APP
preparations within the receipts of the
government and thus avoid a deficit.