The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-12-12

pending before Congress. Committee o
Claims, and Southern Claims Commission
making ia the aggregate AN immense sum
Most of these grew out OF The rebellion
and are intended 10 indemnify persons on
both sides for their losses during the war
and not "A few OF them are fabricated and
supported by false testimony Projects ar,
on foot. ii is believed, 10 induce Congress.
to provide for new classes OF claims and 10
revive old ones through the repeal OF
modification OF the statute OF Limitation.
by which they are now barred. ! pre-.
sumo these schemes, II proposed. will
be- received with little favor by Congress
and recommend persons having claims
against the United States recognizable by
any tribunal department thereof. be re-
qurcd TO present them atan early day and
legislation be directed a. far a. practicable,
\ TO the defeat Of unfOunded and unjust de-
mands on the Government. and | would
suggest as "A means OF preventing fraud.
witnesses be called on IL appear in person
10 testify before these tribunals. a wing
said claims before them for adjudication.
\ Probably larger saving 10 the National
| Treasury can be secured by timely legis-
lation on these subjects, than any other
economic measures that will De- proposed.
You will be- advised of the operations of the
/ Department of Justice by the report ofthe
Attorney General, and invite your atten-
ton 10 the amendment of existing laws
suggested by him with "A view Of reducing
the expenses Of that department.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The policy inauguated towards the In
dams al the beginning of the last admins
trtion has been steadily pushed. and
believe with beneficial results. Ii will be-
continued with such notifications a. eX-
pcriencc may demonstrate to be necessary.
With the encrOachmcnt OF civilization up
on the Indian reservation and hunting
grounds, disturbances have taken place be-
tween the Indians and whites during the
past year and probably will continue 70 do
so until each race appreciates that the other
has rights which must be respected. The
policy has been 10 collect the Indians as
rapidly n possible on rcseryatiOns and
as far a. practicable within what is known
a the Indian Territory. and To teach them
the arts OF civilization and self-support.
When found OF their reservation and en-
dangcring the peace and safety Of the
whites they have been punished.
The Indian Territory south of Kansas
and east of Arkansas is sufficient in area
and agricultural resources To support all
the Indians OF the Rocky Mountains. In
time. no doubt. all of them. except few.
who may select 10 make their homes
among white people, will be collected
there. As a preparatory step for this con-
summation am now satisfied that a terri
torial form OF government should be given
them. which will secure the treaty rights
OF the original settlers and protect their
homestcads from alienation for "A period of
twenty years. The operations of the pat
and the accumulation of material j. bccom-
ing so great that the necessity for more
room i, becoming obvious day by day. |
respectfully invite your attention 10 the re-
port of the Secretary of the Interior and
Commissioner of Patents on this subject.
The business OF the general land-ofiice eN-
hbitcd a material increase i'm all IT. branch
e. during the last fiscal year. During that
time there were disposed out of the public
lands l3.O.iy.tO6 acres. being an amount
greater by ll6. 5G3acres than was disposed
of the preceding year.
OF the amount disposed OF. l.G2G.2GG
acres were sold for cash: 2l4.9i0 acres were
located with military land warrants; 3,193,
Gl2 acres were taken for homestcads: co.
3i6 acres were located with agricultural
college scrip; 6.0S3.53G acres were certified
by railroads: 7G5.156 acres were granted 10
wagon roads; 23s, 5is acres were approved
To States as swamp lands: l3s.6Sl acres
were certified for agricultural colleges.
common schools, universities and senina-
ries: lJ0.115 acres were apportioncd. il
states. for internal improvements. and H.
222 acres were located with Indian scrip.
The cash receipts during the same time
We're S3.40s. 5l5.J0. being Sl90.4lj.J0 in
excess of the receipts for the previous year.
During the year 3O..tSS. y acres of public
land were surveyed. AN increase of the
amount surveyed the previous year of
! .O37 1913 acres, and added TO the area pre-
viously surveyed. aggregates Gl6.5d,sJ
acres which have been surveyed, leaving
| .2ls. AZ. j05 acres of the public land still
unsurveycd.
The Increased and steadily increasing
facilities for reaching our unoccupied pub
lie domain and for the transportation ot
surplus products enlargeS the available
field for desirable homestead locations.
thus stimulating settlement and extending
year by year in gradually increasing ratio
the ratio of occupation and of cultivation.
The expressed desire of the representatives
of large colony Of the citizens of Russia
to emigrte 10 this country. as Is UNDER
stood. with the consent Of their Govern
mcnt. ii certain concessions can be- made 10
them to settle in a compact colony. Is of
great interest. arguing 10 show the light
IN which our institutions are regarded by
an industrious, intelligent and wealthy
people. DESTROYS Of enjoying civil and re-
ligious liberty, and the acquisition Of 80
large an immigration of citizens Of a supe-
rior class would. without doubt. be- ofmach |
benefit to the country.
| invite attention TO the suggestion OF
the Secretary OF the Interior in this behalf. |
There was paid during the last fiscal year |
for pensions. including the expenditure of
so. Isl. 2S9.52. being an |
less by - ,9>i,OJO.9S than was ex-
pended for the same purpose the prcced- |
ing year. Although this statement Of eN- /
pendturcs would indicate a material re-
duction OF the amount ~ compared with /
the precp,liuv year II j. believed that the ]