The times., 1897-11-19

Cornelius Bliss, Secretary Of tie Int erior,
has Transmitted his annual repor; 10 the
President. The first recommendation he
makes is that Congress shall make separate
appropriations for lie CIVIL Service Com
nlitsion The Secretary can toe 10 good
reason for requiring the department 10 dis
burse moneys appropriated for tent or TO
pay the contingent expenses, stationery,
printing and binding OF the commission
out OF tie department funds, which are
ina lequate 10 properly provide for the
wants OF its bureaus ON the subject OF
forestry Secretary Bliss says:
1T wss my intention originally TO es-
tablish forest bureau in this depart
ment, bui The inadequacy OF the appropria-
tion for the work precluded my carrying
into effect such plan. ] have, however,
taken such action as the circumstances per
mitted and since July /, 1897. have ap-
pointed special forest agents and super
visors 10 patrol the reserves ana 10 en-
roruc The regulations. The work per
fo-aIed :'y this small corps VIII be 4
nucleus, cut OF which, no Doubt, viii grow
:. forestry system and eventually a forest
bureau, one that, If efficiently conducted,
win be practically selr- susi aiming, and
Ievrnue pIoducer, l.y conserving the for
eets, protecting them in their grow tn and
providing f5- their proper utilization
Ia the matter Of the Government Hos
pital for The Insane Secretary Bliss saws:
In the last annual report attention was
directed 10 the fact that the superin-
tCndent YT the Government Hospital fol
tie Insane had from time u time deposited
~.
effects Of patients TO be expended or used
IL tl.eir !ehalf as the occasion might re-
qGire, tfat such personal property of the
inmates, whether clothing watches, Jewelry,
money, etc. were matters of trust imposed
upon the superintendent OF the hospital by
virtue OF his office, aud his legal response
bllity therefor was that OF reasonable care
only Sucl. fund on the 3Oth of June,
Is96. aggregated over $4,000, and for
the proper application thereof, as wen as
tor the expenditures OF such noacy, the
superintendent was not Responsible under
lis bond as Il United States dtsbursng
officer Of public FUNDS.
Tine fact that an ernbezzIement Of over
$4,000 from this fund by one of the en-
lhoyes IF the hospital had occurred was
alsc Rdverted TO and the opinion eX
DiesscI th5t, as moneys OF this character
-eceivCd by the superintendent, L. be held
in trust for the various patients Were
not strictly under the control OF this de.
pastmeHt and the Government could not
be legally responsible for loss thereof. it
WAS advisable thar legislation be had look
ing 10 the proper care and custody Of
Euch deposits. Ii was then recommended
that Congress enact a law requiring the
superiut endent of the Government Hospital
for the Insane 10 deposit in the United
States TTea surv the balance of this So
called patients fund ana any further sums
paid aim Tor like purpose; that such sums
bc disburged and accounted for in All re-
spccts as are the public funds, and that
the superintendent be required to give an
additional bond FOR the faithful care and
disbursement Of such trust funds. No ac-
ton having been taken by Congress On
such recommendations, l deem it proper
TO reiteTate the same. and TO state that
the necessity Tor the legislation desired
is as great today az il was at the time
OF the Submission of the report of my
pred ecesSor.'
OF Howard University the Secretary
says All the Institutions connected with
Ills department are required by law to
submit an annual report as 10 operations,
with rbe exception OF Howard University.
In the latter case the report has been
called for as a matter OF custom by the
department and submitted as an ac: of
coHTtesr by the president Of the institu.
uon. This, in my Judgment, should be
reaiedied h making IL obliga tory on thc
part uf the president and directors Of the
university C SO report, and ] therefore
recommend that they be specifically re
Quired by law 10 report to the Secretary
OF the Interior the condition OF the institu-
ton on the st Of July of each year"
OF Freedmen's Hospital the report Sa VS.
The work at the hospital during the
year has heen productive of satisfactory
results. The internes have rendered faith
ful and efficient service and are a yaIu-
able adjunct to the hospital corps. TIE