Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-12-10

by this administration and nave been puk~
sued with sarnestness.
Conferences with Japan, Russia and
Great Britain have been held and further
negotiations viii be had for the preserve
ton and restoration Of the seal herd, the
result Of which IL is hoped may be ~
ported to congress at an early day.
International Arbitration.
International arbitration cannot be
omitted from the list Of subjects claiming
our consideration. Events have only
served to strengthen the general views OF:
this question expressed In my inaugural
address. The best sentiment of the CIV
ilized world is moving toward the SETTLE
ment of differences between nations with
out resorting to tho horrors of war.
Treaties embodying these humane prinoi-
pies on broad lines without in any way
imperiling our interests or our honor
shall have my constant encouragement.
A liberal appropriation is bespoken, in
order that the United States may make 4
creditable exhibit at the approaching
Paris exposition, in which the people
have shown an unprecedented interest.
Needs of the Navy.
Under the head of the navy, the prcsi-
dent points to the necessity for speedy
legislation to procure the arlnor for three
battieships now building which would be
otherwise useless. He speaks in terms of
praise of the quality of our ships and
thinks 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 re.
fers to the lack of docks and urges that
three or four of the largest docks be pro-
vided on the Atlantic and at least one on
the Pacific coast and a floating dock on
the gulf.
Alaskan Matters.
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. Mill
tary force is also necessary and the estab-
lishment of some sort Of flexible govern
ment. If the startling reports as to the
probable shortage Of food for the miners
oe fully verified, every effort should be
made ut any cost to carry them relief.
The Indian Territory Difficulty.
The message deals at some length with
the unsatisfactory condition of affairs in
the Indian Territory. The large white
clement is said to be without protection
and without schools or other rights of
citizens; leading Indians have absorbed
great tracts of lands and created an aris-
tocracy and the friends of the Indians be-
lieve that the best interests of the Five
Civilized Tribes would be found in Amer
lean citizenship. Reference is made to
kIo foi1 ,,uo fow of< ho Tn
sion to secure the consent of the tribes to
an extinguishment of the tribal titles and
division of the lands. 1t is said that
should the tribes still fail to ratify the
agreement then some legislation should
be had by congress.
Kansas Pacific Sale.
Speaking of the pending sale of the
Kansas Pacific railroad it is said that if
no better bid is received than the upset
price fixed by the court the government
would receive only -, SOC, 900 on it's claim
of nearly 81, coo 900. He believes that
the government has the authority to bid
on the road and has directed the secretary
of the treasury to make the deposit Of
5000, coo required to qualify as a bidder
and to bid at the sale q sum at least equal
to the principal of the debt to the govern
ment. He suggests, however, that in q
matter SO important as the government
becoming possible owner of the railroad,
congress should enact some legislation to
define it's views. It is clear to him, how
ever, that the government should not
permit the property to be sold at a price
less than one-half the principal of it's
debt and less than one-flfth of it's entire
debt, principal and interest.
The Civil Service.
The president devotes the last CHAPTER
Of his message to the civil service, the
practical improvement of which, he says,
has long been a subject of earnest discus.
sion, and which has of late years received
increased legislative and executive ap-
prevail. During the past few months the
service has been placed upon a still flrmer
basis of business methods and personal
merit. While the right of deserving vet
eran soldiers to reinstatement has been
asserted, dislnissals for merely political
reasons have been carefully guarded
against; the examinations improved and
made practical, and a distinct advance
has been made by giving hearing before
dismissal 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 re.
moval, one OF the vital safeguards of the
system. Much remains to be done before
the system can be perfected, and tho pre-.
ident says that he shall not hesitate to
exempt cases which he thinks have been
properly included in tho classified service
or include those which in his Judgment
will best promote tho public service. The
system has tho approval Of the people and
1t Will be his endeavor to uphold and OK
tend it. r-...-l
.,~l Department Rsports.e d.
Concluding the message, the president
says: ~
am forced by the length. Of this mes
sage to omit many important references
to affairs Of the government with which
congress will have to deal At the present -
session. They are fully discussed in the
departmental reports, to all Of which I in
vtte your earnest attention. 49, .
The estimates Of the expense Of the
government BY the several departments