Year: 1874

| to be traversed by the circuit JUDGES 10 ~
great, and the business of the courts so steadl-
y increasing, that it is growing more and
more impossible for them to keep up with the
business recurring their attention. Whether
this would involve the necessity of adding
two more Justices of the Supreme Court to
the present number, I submit to the judgment
of Congress.


The attention of Congress is invited to the
report of the Secretary of the Interior, and
to the legislation asked for by him. The do
mestic interests of the people are more init
mately connected with this department than
with any of the other departments of thegov-
ernment. It's duties have been added to from
time to time, until they have become so oner.
GUS, that without the most perfect system and
order, it will be impossible for any Secretary
of the Interior to keep trace of all official
transactions, having his sanction, and done
in his name, and for which he is held person
ally responsible. ,


The policy adopted for the management of
Indian affairs, known as the peace policy, has
been adhered to with the most beneficial re-
suits. 1t is confidently hoped few years
more will relieve our frontier from danger OF
Indian depredations. I commend the recon-
mendation of the Secretary for the extension
of homestead laws to Indians, and some sort
of territorial government for the Indian terri.
tory. A great majority of Indians occupying
this territory are believed yet to be incapable
of maintaining their rights against the civil
lied white men. Any territorial form of gov
ernment given them, therefore, should protect
them in their homes and property, tor Pc
rod of at least twenty years, and before its
final adoption should he ratified by mojorl-
ty Of those affected


The report of the Secretary of the Interior,
herewith attached, gives much interesting sta
tistical informatio, which abstain from CIV
ing an abstract of, but refer you to the report
itself.


The Act of Congress providing the oath
which pensioners must subscribe to before
drawing pensions, cuts off from this bounty a
few survivors of the war of 1872 residing in
the Southern States. recommend the resto-
ration of this bounty to all such. The num-
Der of persons whose names would thus be re-
stored to the list of pensioners is not large.
They are all old persons who could have taken
no part in the rebellion, and the service for
which they were awarded pensions was in de-
tense of the whole country.


The report of the Commissioner Of Agricul-
ture herewith presented contains suggestions OF
interest to the general public, and refers to
the approaching centennial, and the part his
department is ready to take in it. l feel that
the nation at large is interested in having this
exposition success, and commend to Con-
gress such action as will secure a greater gen.
eral interest in it. Already many foreign ma
tions have sign6ed their intention to be repre-
sented, and it may be expected that every CIV
lized nation will be represented.


The rules adopted to improve civil service
of government have been adhered to as close
ly as has been practicable with the opposition
with which they meet. The effect, | believe,
has been beneficial on the whole, and has ten
ded to the elevation of the service, but it is
impracticable to maintain them without direct
and positive support of Congress. Generally,
the support which this reform receives, is from
those who give it their support only to find
fault when the rules are apparently departed
FROM Removals from Office without prefer
ring charges against the parties removed are
frequently cited as departures from the rules
adopted, and the retention of those against
whom charges are made by irresponsible par
ties, and without good grounds, is also often
condemned as a violation of them. Under
these circumstances, therefore, announce
that if Congress adjourns without positive leg
islation on the subject of civil service reform,
I will regard such action as disapproval OF
the system, and will abandon it, except so far
as to require examinations for certain appoln-
tees to determine their fitness. Competitive
examinations will be abandoned. The gentle
men who have given their services without
compensation as members of the board to de-
wise rules and regulations for the government
of the civil service Of the country,h have shown
much zeal and earnestness in their work, and
to them and to myself it will be source of
modification if it is thrown away; but re-
peat that it is impossible to carry this system
to a successful issue without general ap-
proval and assistance, and positive law to sup
port it. have stated that three elements of
prosperity to the nation, capital, labor, skilled
and unskilled and products of the soil still re.
main with US. To direct the employment OF
these is problem deserving the most serious
attention Of Congress. If employment can be
given to all the labor offering itself, prosperity
necessarily follows. I have expressed the
opinion, and repeat it, that the first requisite
to the accomplishment of this end is the sub
stitution of sound currency in place of one OF
Auctuating value. This secured, there are
many interests that might be fostered to the
great profit of both labor and capital. How
to induce capital to employ labor is the ques'
ton.


The subject of cheap transportation has oc-
cupied the attention of Congress. Much new
light on this question will without a doubt he
given by the committee appointed by the last
Congress to investigate and report revival
of ship building, and particularly of iron
steamship building, which is ofvast Importance
to our national prosperity. The United States
is now paying over one hundred millions per
annum for freights and passage On foreign
ships, to be carried abroad and expended in
the employment and support of other people,
beyond fair percentage Of what should 60 to
foreign vessels estimated on the tonnage and
travel of each respectively.


1t is to be regretted that this disparity in
the carrying trade exists, and to correct it l
would be willing tosee great departure from
the usual course of the government in support
ing what might usually be termed private en-
terprise I would not suggest as remedy
direct subsidy to American steamship lines,
but would suggest ample compensation for
carrying the mails between the Atlantic sea-
board cities and the continent, on American
owned and American builtsteamers, and would
extend this liberality to vessels carrying the
mail to South American States, and to Cen
tral America and Mexico, and would pursue
the same policy from our Pacific seaports to
foreign seaports on the Pacific. 1t might be
demanded that vessels built for this service