The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-08
NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS.
HE IN ERI 0 R.
REPORT OF 0. H. BROWNING.

stR-I have the honor to inform you that the re-
.orts received by this Department from its bureau
and other officers have pursuant TO law, been trans
mitted to the public printer.
During the last fiscal year 1885, 7i2,s acres OF pub
he lands have been disposed OF. Less by as5.s72
acres than that disposed OF the previous year,
The cash receipts OF the Office during the same
period from all sources, amounted to $1,632,745
which exceeds the amount received from the same
sources the previous fiscal year by s2s4,sss.
Nearly one fourth the homestead entries were
made under the act Of June 81, 1866, which applies
only to the States OF Alabama, Mississippi Louisi-
ana, Arkansas and Florida.
Lands still undisposed of is l. 4o5 1865 CTS acres.
Measures have been taken for establishing the
boundary lines between Nebraska and Colorado
Nebraska and wyoming, Nevada, Utah and Arizona,
and for running the northern boundary Of New
Mexico.
invite attention to the views presented in my
former reports in regard to certain amendments Of
che REDEMPTION and homestead laws.
PENSIONS.
OF the two Revolutionary soldiers pensioned by
special acts OF Congress in 1867 John Gray, OF Ohio,
has died. The other, Daniel F. Brakeman, OF New
York Is reported as living.
There are at the present time on the rolls the
names OF sss widows OF Revolutionary soldiers and
n 3O3 widows and children Of soldiers who served in
wars subsequent to the Revolution and prior to the
rebellion.
During the past year there were examined and al
lowed e,325 applications Tor invalid pensions Of
soldiers aggregate annual rate OF s62S 27 and
1854 applications for increased pension OF inva-
aid soldiers, at an annual aggregate rate Of
$2s0,4s7. During the period 1929 origi-
nal pensions to widows orphans and dependent
relatives of soldiers allowed, at an aggregate
annual rate Of ST. 2O2 and 27o53 applications by
the same class for increased pay also admitted
at tool annual rate o: $1.725 $780, On the Goth OF
June, 1885, there were on the rolls 74.7s2 invalid
miitary pensioners whose yearly pensions amounted
ito $6,S2s OPS, and ,243 widows, orphans and de-
pendent relatives OF soldiers whose yearly pensions
amounted to $12 o6s making the total aggregate
OF army pensioners 167 OPS, at total annual rate OF
1914 The whole amount paid during the last
fiscal year to invalid military pensioners was
674S4, 1856; to widows orphans and dependent rela-
tves, SOL; grand total Of $2365s 59s, which
Includes the expenses Of the dsbursing agencies.
During the same year there were admitted 1876 new
applications for invalid navy pensions, at annual
rate Of s12s9o fifty applications for increased pen
sions Of the same class at annual aggregate OF
@2,9o4 80 original applications OF widows orphans
Rnd dependent relatives Of those who died In the
navy, at aggregate rate Of 500 Ol2 per annum,
and seventytw pensions OF the class were in
creased at total yearly rate of $1,000. On the 30th
pf June, 1868, the rolls OF the navy pensioners
The names OF ,175 nvalids, at annual aggregate
bf $a4s33, and 1443 widows, orphans and DEEPEN
dent relatives, az an aggregate annual rate OF
1926 256. The amount paid during the last fiscal
year to navy invaids was $97,3io. ana to widows
orphans and dependent relatives OF officers and sea-
men of the navy, s255.o4s; total amount Of
3S52 1888.
During the year there were added to the number
Of pensioners OF all classes, 2s,92l; there were
dropped, from various causes, 14,752, leaving
rolls, January 30, 1868. 69,643 The total amount
paid for pensions OF all classes including the ex-
.penses OF disbursement. was $ei,olo,esI, a sum
greater by So 39l OPS So than tnat paid the previous
gear.
There were 1,o77 bounty land warrants issued for
67720 acres.
The expenditures for special agencies are largely
exceeded by the pecuniary gain to the government.
over 800 claims have thus been found fraudulent,
amounting to s27 900 per annum.
INDIAN TREATIES.
Treaties have been concluded with various Indian
tribes, as folows:-
With the Kiowas, comanches and Apaches, October
81, 1867: the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, october 81
1857; the Tabeguaches and six other bands Of Ute
Indians March o sos; the Cherokees April 81, 1868;
the Mountain Crows, May I, l56S the Northern Chey
ennes and Arapahoes, May 10, 1858: and the Nava-
joes, June l. lsts. The foregoing treaties have been
ratified. The following treaties. concluded with
various tribes since July !, ls6i, have not been
ratified
-
1855; the 0sages May 20, 1868; the Chippewas OF
Swan creek and BLACK River June /, 1868; the Ban
tres, July Is, isGs; Tie RIVER crows July is, 1885,
the Cherokees July 49, 1855; the BlacAfeet, Septem
der /, 1861 the Bannocks, Shoshonees ana Sheep
eaters, September =, 1868
refer you to the report OF the Commissioner for
more specific Information in regard TO Indian aairs.
EDUCATIONAL.
An act approved March ., 1867 established a De-
pnrtment OF Education, entrusted the management
thereof to commissioner provided for his appoint
,ment, and authorized the employment OF sundry
clerks, who were made subject 70 MS appo,n'ing ana
removing power. IL devolved upon him the duty OF
presenting to Congress annual reports the irst OF
which was to contain statement IA relation 10 inc
An act Of the last session declares that The Depart
ment OF Education shall cease rom anu siter the
30th OF June next and that there shal DC established
aud attached 10 this department an Office, TO be de-
nominated the "Oiice OF Education" the chief on
Of which shall be the Commissioner Of Educa
As in the past so IN the future, when new states
shall be admitted into the Union Congress will grant
them land for educational and other purposes and
the administration OF the fund derived from the sale
OF IL should be connded TO them. interference by
Congress In matters OF purely local be
productive OF nothing but unlnixed evil.
Should however 1.-THE once OF Education be per-
petuated ! suggest the proprioty OF enactlng by
whom the Commissioner shall be appointed. The
ct Of last in other respects should be modl
ned. Under the constitution congress may by Jaw
the appointment Of such inferior officers they
think proper in the President alone in the courts OF
saw or in the heads OF departments" IL has
been judciay determined that clerks are
oricers within the meaning OF this provision. and
the power OF appointing such as this bureau may, IN
the opinion OF Congress, require should therefore be
vested IN the Secretary OF the Interior. The Com
missioner, other officers OF like grade should be
required TO report TO the department under whose
supervision he acts and not to Congress. An APP
preparation for the mex fiscal year OF So 200 Will be
required 20 pay the contingent expenses
Of the ONCE, salaries Of the Commissioner,
aud two clerks Of the first class TO be appointed
by the Secretary OF the Interior This sum Will be
ample n the Office be economically administered. No
greater clerical force should be authorized.
Patents.
During the year ending september 30, 1868, there
were 20, ~ applications for patents: ll1 patents
Including reissues AMI designsl were issued: 1892
applications allowed on which patents did not issue
owing to the non.payment OF the final fee: 3.7sg
caveats hed; $50 applications for the extension or
patents received Of which l33 were granted. The re.
ceipts 5000 $50, beng slIl less than expen