PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



vaiiced agriculture which can only be answered by 

 experiments, often costly and sometimes fruitless, 

 which are beyond the means of private individuals, 

 and are a just and proper charge on the whole na- 

 tion fur the benefit of the nation. It is good policy, 

 especially in times of depression and uncertainty in 

 other business pursuits, with a vast area of uncul- 

 tivated and hence unproductive territory, wisely 

 opened to homestead settlement, to encourage^by 

 every proper and legitimate means, the occupation 

 and "tillage of the soil. The eiforts of the Depart- 

 ment of 7\griculture to stimulate old and introduce 

 new agricultural industries, to improve the quality 

 and increase the quantity of our products, to deter- 

 mine the value of old or establish the importance of 

 new methods of culture, are worthy of your careful 

 and favorable consideration, and assistance by such 

 appropriations of money and enlargement of facilities 

 a.s may seem to be demanded by the present favora- 

 ble conditions for the growth and rapid development 

 of this important interest. 



The abuse of animals in transit is widely attract- 

 ing public attention. A national convention of so- 

 cieties specially interested in the subject has recently 

 met at Baltimore, and the facts developed, both in 

 regard to cruelties to animals and the effect of such 

 cruelties upon the public health, would seem to de- 

 mand the careful consideration of Congress, and the 

 enactment of more efficient laws for the prevention 

 of these abuses. 



The report of the Commissioner of the Bureau of 

 Education shows very gratifying progress through- 

 out the country, in all the interests committed to the 

 care of this important office. The report is especially 

 encouraging with respect to the extension of the ad- 

 vantages of the common-school system in sections 

 of the country where the general enjoyment of the 

 privilege of free schools is not yet attained. To edu- 

 cation more than to any other agency we are to look 

 as the resource for the advancement of the people in 

 the requisite knowledge and appreciation of their 

 rights and responsibilities as citizens, and I desire to 

 repeat the suggestion contained in my former mes- 

 sage in behalf of the enactment of appropriate mea- 

 sures by Congress for the purpose of supplementing 

 with national aid the local systems of education in 

 the several States. 



Adequate accommodations for the great library, 

 which is overgrowing the capacity of the rooms now 

 occupied at the Capitol, should be provided without 

 further delay. This invaluable collection of books, 

 manuscripts, and illustrative art has grown to such 

 proportions, in connection with the copyright system 

 of the country, as to demand the prompt and careful 

 attention of Congress to save it from injury in its 

 present crowded and insufficient quarters. As this 

 library is national in its character, and must, from 

 the nature of the case, increase even more rapidly in 

 the future than in the past, it can not be doubted 

 that the people will sanction any wise expenditure to 

 preserve it and to enlarge its usefulness. 



The appeal of the Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution for the means to organize, exhibit, and 

 make available for the public benefit the articles 

 stored away belonging to the National Museum, 

 I heartily recommend to your favorable considera- 

 tion. 



The Attention of Congress is again invited to the 

 condition of the river-front of the city of Washing- 

 is a matter of vital importance to the health 



rthe residents of the national capital, both tempo- 

 rary and permanent, that the low lands in front of 

 the city, now subject to tidal overflow, should be re- 

 claimed. In their present condition, these flats ob- 

 the drnmnec of the city, and are a dangerous 

 source of malarial poison. The reclamation will im- 

 prove the navigation of the river, by restricting and 



mseqnently deepening its channel ; and is also of 

 >rtance, when considered in connection with the 



tension of the public ground and the enlargement 



of the pnrk west and south of the Washington Mon- 

 ument. The report of the board of survey, hereto- 

 fore ordered by act of Congress, on the improvement 

 of the harbor of Washington and Georgetown, is re- 

 spectfully commended to consideration. 



The report of the Commissioners of the District of 

 Columbia presents a detailed statement of the affairs 

 of the District. The relative expenditures by the 

 United States and the District for local purposes are 

 contrasted, showing that the expenditures by the 

 people of the District greatly exceed those of the 

 General Government. The exhibit is made in con- 

 nection with estimates for the requisite repair of the 

 detective pavements and sewers of the city, which is 

 a work of immediate necessity, and, in the same csn- 

 nection, a plan is presented for the permanent fund- 

 ing of the outstanding securities of the District. 



The benevolent, reformatory, and penal institu- 

 tions of the District are all entitled to the favorable 

 attention of Congress. The Eeform School needs 

 additional buildings and teachers. Appropriations 

 which will place all of these institutions in a condition 

 to become models of usefulness and beneficence will 

 be regarded by the country as liberality wisely be- 

 stowed. 



The Commissioners, with evident justice, request 

 attention to the discrimination made by Congress 

 against the District in the donation of land for the 

 support of the public schools, and ask that the same 

 liberality that has been shown to the inhabitants 

 of the various States and Territories of the United 

 States may be extended to the District of Columbia. 



The Commissioners also invite attention to the 

 damage inflicted upon public and private interests 

 by the present location of the depots and switching- 

 tracks of the several railroads entering the city, and 

 ask for legislation looking to their removal. The 

 recommendations and suggestions contained in the 

 report will, I trust, receive the careful consideration 

 of Congress. 



Sufficient time has, perhaps, not elapsed since the 

 reorganization of the government of the District, un- 

 der the recent legislation of Congress, for the ex- 

 pression of a confident opinion as to its successful 

 operation but the practical results already attained 

 are so satisfactory that the friends of the new gov- 

 ernment may well urge upon Congress the wisdom 

 of its continuance, without essential modification, 

 until, by actual experience, its advantages and de- 

 fects may be more fully ascertained. 



K. B. HAYES. 

 EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 2, 1878. 



INVESTIGATION OF ELECTORAL FRAUDS. 



Report of the Committee of Investigation into tJie 

 Electcral Frauds. The Committee of the House ap- 

 pointed " to inquire into the alleged fraudulent can- 

 vass and return of votes at the last Presidential 

 election in the States of Louisiana and Florida" 

 confined their investigations to the above States, 

 although authorized by a subsequent resolution of 

 Congress to extend them to other States. The ci- 

 pher dispatches were reserved for a special report. 

 The sittings of the Committee were open. Over 200 

 witnesses were examined, and 3,000 finely printed' 

 pages of testimony taken. 



The substance of the report of the majority is as 

 follows : 



I. Florida. The exercise of revisory power by the 

 Board of Canvassers of the State of Florida was ille- 

 gal. This power, which had no lawful existence, 

 was fraudulently employed for partisan ends, in 

 such manner that the vote of certain counties and 

 precincts in which the majority was Democratic 

 was rejected on account of irregularities, while the 

 irregular and fraudulent returns of Republican ma- 

 jorities were counted in. The genuine returns made 

 to the Board of Canvassers, which it was their sola 



