Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/277

 CHESTER ALAN ARTHUR 229 with the star-route mail service was pressed with vigor (the attorney-general appearing in person at the principal trial), and resulted in completely breaking up the vicious and corrupt practices that had previously flourished in connection with that service. Two vacancies on the bench of the su preme court were filled one on the death of Nathan Clifford, of Maine, by Horace Gray, of Massachusetts, commissioned on December 20, 1881. For the vacancy occasioned by the retire ment of Ward Hunt, of New York, Roscoe ConK- ling was nominated February 24, 1882, and he was confirmed by the senate; but on March 3 he de clined the office, and Samuel Blatchford, of New York, was appointed and commissioned March 23, 1882. Measures were recommended for breaking up tribal relations of the Indians by allotting to them land in severalty, and by extending to them the laws applicable to other citizens; and liberal appro priations for the education of Indian children were advised. Peace with all the tribes was preserved during the whole term of administration. Strin gent legislation against polygamy in Utah was rec ommended, and under the law enacted March 22, 1882, many polygamists were indicted, convicted, and punished. The Utah commission, to aid in the better government of the territory, was appointed under the same act. The final recommendation of