The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-12-12
CLAIMS.

u the subject Of claims against the
government aud OF the facilities Of
fcred by existing laws for their
prosecution. Each Of the Depart
ments OF State, Treasury and War
have demands for many millions
OF dollars upon their flee, and are
rapidly accumulaiing- 10 these |
may be added those now pending
before Congress, the Court of |
Claims, and The Southern Claims |
Commission, making the aggregate |
an immense sum- Most of this |
grew out OF the rebellion, aud is in |
tended TO idemnify persons on both |
sides of their Losses during the. war,
and not few of them are fabricat- |
Gd and supported by false tesii
luony. Projects are on foot, il is
believed, to induce Congress 10
provide for new classes of claims
and TO renew the old cues through
tho repeal of modification OF The
statue of limitations by which they
are now barred. l presume these
schems, IL proposed; will he receiv-
eel with little favor By Congress,
and recommend that persons hav-
ing claims against the United States
recognizable by any tribunal depart
ment thereof, be required TO pre-
sent them ut IN carly day, and legis-
lation be directed, as far as practi-
cable, TO the defeat of unfounded
and unjust demands on the Govern
ment; aud j would suggest as
means of preventing fraud that wit
nesses be called upon 10 appear in
person TO testify before these tribu-
malls having said claims before them
for adjudication. Probably the lar
gest saving to the National treasury
can be secured by timely legislation
on these subjects. If any of the
economical measures that will be
proposed to be taken you will be
advised of the operations of the De-
pertinent of Justice by the report of
the Attorney General, and invite
Vour attention to the amendments
ofexisting laws suggested by him
with a view of reducing expenses of
that department.
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR.
The policy inaugurated toward
the Indians at the beginning
of the last administration has
been steadily pushed forward
and ] believe with beneficial results.
IL will be continued with such modi-
iication as experience may demon
sLrate TO be necessary with the en-
croachment of civilization upon the
Indian reservation land hunting
grounds. Disturbances have taken
place between the Indians and
whites during the past year and
probably will continue to do so I'M
Ill each race appreciates that the
other has rights which must be res
pected. The policy has been to
collect the Indians rs rapidly as pos
sible on reservations, and as far as
practicable within what is known
as the Indian Territory, and TO teach
them the arts of civilization and
self-support. When found of their
reservation and cndangering the
peace and safety Of the whites they
have been punished and will con-
time To be for like offenses. The
Indian Territories South of kansas
and West OF the Arkansas are suffi-
cient in area and in agricultural re-
sources to support all the Indians OF
the Rocky MountaID.s IL. time, no
doubt, all of them except few who
may select to make their homes
among the white people will be COL
iected there as preparatory step
for this contamination. l am now
satisfied that's Territorial form oil
government should be given them
which will secure the treaty rights
ofthe original settlers, and protect
their homesteads from alienation
for q period of twenty years.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
The operations in the Patent Of
lice are growing TO such magnitude
and the accumulation OF material II
becoming so great that tao necessity
for more room ia becoming obvious
,iay BY day. | respectfully invite
Secretary of the Interior and Com
missioner OF Patents on this sub
icct.
PUHLIC LANDS.
The business of the General Land
OfiIcc exhibits meterial incrcas,
in all It's branches during the las
fiscal year. During that time Their
were disposed of, out of the publ
lands, l3,039,G06 acres. being al
amount greater by 1861 3l acre
than was disposed of the proceed
ing year. OF the amount disposed
OF, I,G2G.266 acres were sold TO
cash; 2l4,9I0 acres were locateC
with military land warrants ), f03,
6l2 were taken Tor homesteads; 50 ,
:A6, were located with agriculture
college scrip; 6,0S3, $50 acre
were certified by railroads; 765,55
acres were granted TO wagon roads
23S,5IS acres were approved L
states rs swamp lands; 1865
acres were certified for agriculture
colleges, common schools, uniycrsi
ties, and seminaries; l90,715 acre
were appropriated TO States for in
Icrnal improvements, and l4.22
acres were located with IndiaI
scrip. The cash receipts during tn
same time were S3,40S, 5l5,5 bein;
Sl90,4l5,50 In excess of the receipt
for the previous year. During tn,
year 80, 49S, l32 acres of public lanC
were surveyed, an increase of tn
amount surveyed over the previou
wear of ]. OBJ, 1913 acres, and added Il
the area previously surveyed ag
gregates 6I6,654, 1896 acres which
nave been surveyed, leaving ], 2lS,
I43, sos acres of the public land still
unsurveyed. The increased anC
steadily increasing facilities TO
reaching our unoccupied public do
main, and for the transportation o
surplus products, enlhrges the avail
able field for desirable Homestead
locations, thus stimulating settle
ment and extending year by yea
in q gradually increasing ratio, it
occupation and cultivation. Tn,
expressed desire of the representa-
lives of large colony of citizens o
Russia to emigrate 10 this country
10 is understood, with the consen
of their Government If certain con
cessions can be made TO enable
them to settle in a compact colony
is Of great interest, arguing to show
the light in which our industries are
regarded by an industrious, intelli
gent, and wealthy people, DESTROYS
nf enjoying civil and religious liber
Is. And the acquisition of so laFg,
M immigration of citizens of su
perier class would, without doubt
be of much substantial benefit to thu
country. I invite attention to the
suggestion OF the Secretary of th(
Interior in their behalf
PENSIONS.
There were paid during the last
fiscal year for pensions, including
tho expenses of disbursement, S29,.
ISL, 2S9,62, being an amount less BY
1884 ,050,9S than was expended fol-
the same purpose the proceeding
year, although this statement of ex.
penditures would indicate a mater.
ial reduction on the amount compar-
ed with the proceeding year. tits be-
neved that the changes in the pen.
sion laws at the last session of Con.
gress will not absorb that amount
the current year. At the close oil