The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-12-14
Omcial Reports.

ington DepaEtments: IT,
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
The Secretary OF the Interior, in his
annual report, devotes considerable
space to the Indian question. He
favors a continuation of the present
policy. The present Indian population
of the United States and Territories is
about 32l, 900, of which 1890 are in
Alaska, and 5000 in Florida, North
Carolina, Indiana, Iowa and Texas.
Excluding those In Alaska, and those
which have no tribe organizations, the
number is 242,371. These Indians are
on reservations Of land amounting to
22s, 473 square miles, or 1877 $40, 97l acres.
Excluding the 53,476 in the Indian
Territory, the remaining Indian popula-
ton OF IL, 600 occupy 9e.l55, 7s5 acres, or
$50 acres per capita, Of land capable Of
profitable cultivation. He advises the
gathering Of the whole 242,37l in the
Indian Territory, where the land
would equal $50 acres per capita of the
population.
During the last year 1O,6Oe, 1872 acres
of land were disposed Of, which l 1885, 1882
acres were sold for cash, and 5000, 1928
taken under the Homestead laws. The
receipts were $500 ,2s5.
The number of revolutionary pension.
ers decreased 80 during the year, and Of
other wars prior to the rebellion y. The
number Of pensions granted In the year
was II ,O6O, and 6, PSI were dropped, leav-
ing on the rolls 2c7, 495, calling for $22,.
sO4, 1914 annually. The amount paid
during the year, including salaries, was
$50, OF, 1884; 6S, 100 claims for pensions
are pending, Of which 81 ,s45 are from
survivors and representatives of soldiers
of the war Of 1912. The Secretary esti-
mates that these pensions. when grant,
ed, will call for in all $1s,O95 ,s55 during
their continuance; $50, 4so, 900 are asked
for pensions for the next year.
The reports of the Census Superin-
tendent and of the Commissioner of
Education are commended. The Secre.
tary states that he will proceed about
January to apportion representation
in Congress, unless that body shall in
the meantime otherwise provide.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF IN
TERNAL REVENUE.
The report of the Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue, Mr.. Douglass, relates
principally to the taxes upon tobacco
and the method of collecting them. Mr..
Douglass concurs in what we believe Is
the opinion of the principal manufacture
ers, and of nearly::all the officials engaged
In collecting the tax, that it would be
better to substitute for the present taxes
on various classes Of manufactured
tobacco one uniform tax. In case Con
ersss should lie willing to legislate with
| reference to = considerable reduction OF
the revenue from the Internal Depart.
ment. the Commissioner deems tax Of
twenty-four cents pound sufficient. IT.
however, the internal revenue duties
are expected to make up the deficit
caused by the expiration Of the income
tax during the present fiscal year, from
exemptions, thirty-two cents pound
would, In his opinion, be required
There il no doubt that the recommend
! alton of the Commissioner "a q sound
one, and that, both on account OF grea.
er economy in collection and greater
safety against fraud, the consolidated
tax would be decided gain.
The other recommendations Of thu
Commissioner report are Of minor I'm
portance. They include one for thu
abolition Of the clumsy and long sine
condemned system of "bonded ware
house" for tobacco. This contrivanc
was borrowed from the Customs de
partment. 1t was originally applied t.
liquors as we'll as tobacco, but has beef
productive Of great loss, and afforded
almost unlimited opportunity for fraud
The bonded warehouses were the field II
which several Of Mr.. Johnson's mos
adroit collectors reaped their fortunes
It is to be hoped that Congress will con
slider Commissioner Douglas, recon-
mendation favorably.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRI
CULTURE
Commissioner Watts, in his annus
report for 1871, alludes to the impuls
lately given to scientific farming and
the higher rank which agriculture
assuming among the callings OF mer
In this movement Congress intende
this department to be great leadin
influence. No social interest demand
as much Of the fostering care OF Govern
ment. The endovmsnts of agricultur
al education are founded on Aoun
principals, and will produce benefici'
, results.
Southern agriculture has not bee
conducted with the economic care an
skill that have marked this pursuit
other parts of the country. Excess''
devotion to q few staples, an exhsusti'
system Of culture, have impoverishe
their lands. The Department vii
therefore, give special attention to tt
South, and especially endeavor to In
PRODUCES a rotation Of crops with Il
growth of grains suited to that latitud
The statistical division is conducte
with systematic intelligence and exec
. lent results. One Of Ito promine'
, subjects Of present study Is the tran
3 Mississippi region, showing the pr
gress of settlement and the status
agriculture. An appropriation Is askt
for to extend the scope Of this inquIr
The chronological division has II
+ creased its correspondence and enlarge
, the area Of it's investigation. Exper