New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-09
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.
ANNUAL REPORT or THE SECRETARY o.
THE INTERIOR

During tbe Last fiscal year, 34l6, sO2 seres "sfe ~
Gated with bounty land warraLts-ll 10 co eso'e
lar the STATE, az swamp lands end ISL se2 for rt
roads, &c. Thus showing thsf wnie thers ps' 'esu
large ucresse In the number Of ares so Tor cssh
.eDsible elimination u iei d ~ .no
moder Ia which the lands are olsp'seo oi:
Tns.ousnt;,v OF lard soid during the first ADD sec
END ouarters Of the present hscal year was
s<res and the amount received therefor was S1,os@
Ies "a more than during the corresponding psnod
Ia, Gear The quantity Of land loo ,ted in SUBTRACTION
al bounty land warrants Issued for services rendered
IA TIE various ware since the year 1890 IS 81 4H6l2
seres To satisfy Virginia bounty and warrants under
sbe act Of 3lst August 1882 scrip has been issued
covering esq $50 acres and to satisfy the remaining
warrants it is upposed that about 100000 acres more
will be required.
sur public land system, engrafts upon it anew and
important feature The Secretary considers the law
o. II very difficult Of execution and that fully to &C
somplsh the objects contemplated by its passage,
material modifc sti0D must be made.
He adheres 10 bis previous views respecting the
pscy Of granting alternate sections OF land in AID Of
the construction Of great leadlng highways, where
such works likely 10 be undertaken and completed
10 good faith, and prove beneficial 10 the puDic at
large and not merely 10 adventurers and spectators
To show. the unnecessary guards and restrictions
around such grants. he makes some practical s1gges
tons but submits the matter TO the wisdom OF Con
1ress.
The applications TO Congress q: lite last session, 80
far a. they were brought the attention Of the De-
partuent by the Committees, contemplated the con
lowing nix sections tn the mile, they would have
required about 90 600 900 acres.
In anticipation that some Of these grants you'd be
made, the Department, upon the urgent solicitation
of the delegations ia Congress Reserved the lands for
sale along the proposed routes of these roads 10 an
extent approaching 10 about 80 0OO 600 scr5s. The
Department hos carefully recODsidered the policy Of
this course and came TO the determination not 70
make such reservations hereafter until the grants
sball have been actually made by Congress. The
for this determination, are IN part that saca
reserv atoms Of doubtful legality that they retard
the settlement Of the cOuDty the difficulty Of sscer
tanning In what cases il is likely the grants will be
made and the fear Of iouring the section Of country
m which the improvement is contemplated by turning
bence the TIDE Of emigration
the officers connected with the survey and sale OF
the public lands be prohibited by law from becom-
ing interested in Its purchase -
After the pseeage of the act Of September $780,
sTsn,ing the swamp and overlooked lands u the
State in which they situated, many of suco lands
were take up by purchase or location as agrica-
tursl lands The act of 1850 being grant ia present.
TO the States the Government cannot make titles 70
the individual purchasers locators, and many diff
culnes have grown up under this head, to settle
which, and afford The necessary relief, the Secretary
recommends remedial legislation.
The Secretary also recommends as lndlspensably
necessary 70 the completion of the vast amount of
business before il, continuation ior another year oil
the commission TO settle land claims in California
The Commissioners have. by their great asslduity,
accomplished great deal, and there il still much TO
be dene They have adjudicsted 1917 claims, which
is less than half the number presented VI those ad-
indicated 294 confirmed for about 1856 square
leagues Of land and l03 rejected covering about 1888
square leagues.
The Secretary advelts to the Irregularities and inc
qualities produced by the numerous and dissimilar
existing pension laws, and recommends some impor-
tsnt notifications with view to uniformity and also
to restore the somewhat 10 the original design
Of its projectors and 70 increase its benefits and re-
strict its operation to those who really and leglt
Io.x .oltA Af nanta
protection.
He rene VS. his recommendation of q biennial exam
nation of invalid pensioners aud cites the singular
fact that while applications are numerous and con-
santy being presented for Increase OF pension on
account of alleged increase of disability but two in
stances have occurred of a voluntary acknowledg-
nent Of a diminution OF the disease or wound for
which the pension originally granted
The Department has been eminently successful in
fenetipg out and bringing TO punishment the perpe
traitors Of frauds on the Pension Bureau. Up 10 the
goth OF September last ana since the 4th of March,
1853, 80 persons have been indicted. OF these ii
have been convicted line have forfeited their recog
nzances and fed one has Died, one committed SUI
eide two have eudsd the officers OF the law ana SIX
await trial. .
We are surprised 10 learn that in so large and i'm
portsnt department that of the Interior, no ep-
propristion edgers were kept therein, by which the
financial CONDITION Of the Department could he ascer
tanned until the present head OF the department took
charge Of IT, We do net see how lis affairs could have
been ntellgently managed without having this lnior
nation readily at hand.
Ii now appears that an admirable and economical
system has been devised and is in successful opera
ton, requiring but one dsbursing clerk, instead of
three as the law allows by which uniformity and
promptitude are secured in the disbursement of the
public moneys, aud advances to disbursng officers
regulated by the wants OF the public service and the
means of the Department TO meet them.
On the 3lst March 1891, the enormous amount Of
19ss, AS 80 was IN the hands of sgens for paying
pensions alone. This financial system has en-
sbled The Secretary OF the Interior TO call in this
amount, so that on the 30th of June las. those
agents only had on hand the aggregate sum OF
s3s3 sol 20an amount amply sufficient for the pay
ment OF pensions liable TO be called for until other ad
vances are made.
Ii was supposed, until recently, that the new line
Of boundary between the United States and the Re-
public Of Mexico would be completed within the
time and amount estimated at the last session. Re-
cent intelligence, however Indicates that further
appropriation may be necessary; bat the Secretary
still hopes that if made It's use may be avoided
The Secretary recommends the demarkation of the
boundary line between the United States and the
British possessions on the north west and partcu-
larry that portion of it which forms the northern
boundary of the Territory of Washington aud also
the settlement of the caius of the Hudsons .y aud
fuget Sound Companies, before difficulties grow up
between the citizens OF the two nations, and create
greater embarrassment for the future
lie makes some judcious suggestions RESPECTING
the laws and organisation of the Patent Ofice so as
the better to secure the rights of inyento 3 and in-
crease me efhcency of the office ia proportion to
herapoly increasing busi ness devolyiug upon it.
he aso recommends the creation. ia connection
viii the ONCE Of Attorney General, Of Law De-
partmeni OF the Government; the increase of salaries
of the judges of the District Courts Of the United
States, and certain notifications of the fee bill of 1883
A large amount of discretion being in the head of
the Department respecting Incidental expenses of va
rious kinds the Secretary deems il bsst apl safest
and recommends thar All such matters far as prac.
hoable be res ulated by law.
A thorough exam nation of the sube.t has resulted
in showing that the expenses incident the Office of