Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-12-05
PUB. DOCS.
Il Years Operations Of the Na-
tiOn'S SERVANTS.
Summary Of the annual reports Of the De-
part1seats and Bureaus.

RRPo3T or TIE SECRETARY Or THE IN
TERROR.
Secretary SchurZ, in his report, devotes con-
siderable space 10 the'subject of timber lands.
Referring 10 the measures taken by the depart
ment for the suppression of timber depreda-
tIons upon Government lands he SAYS:
1t was 10 be- expected they would meet with
stubborn opposition ON the part of the lumber
men, and others directly or Indirectly Interested
in those deprelations Here and there the pro-
ceedlngs Of the special agents OF the depart
ment were complained of ~ oppressive and
otherwise improper. and in every instance care
full inquiries into the facts were instituted.
Such inquiries resulted almost uniformly in a
vlndicatiOn of tue agents employed. We can
not close our eyes q, the fact thai anything like
complete success III suppressing unlawful prac-
fees ~ impossible unless the efforts made by
this department for the protection of public
property meet with hearty cooperation on the
part of the legislative branch of the Govern
ment Actual experience enables me 10 say
that the want OF such cooperation has been,
and will ALWAYS be- an encouragement 10 depre-
dators to persist i'll their lawless operations and
TO defy the authorities
The Secretary expresses his opinion that the
disastrous consequences which always follow
the destruction or the forests of the country
will inevitably come upon US, In a comparative
with which the timber growth of this country
Is being swept away, unless legislation be en-
acted to arrest this ln.liscriminate spolation.
20 this end he earnestly renews hin recon-
mendation for the passage of bill already III
troduced in Congress- at his suggestion which
provides that all the timber bearing lands,
chiefly valuable for the timber upon them,
shall be- Withdrawn froc. sale or other DISPOSE
uon under the existing laws, and be held by the
Government with a view to preventing indis-
criminate destruction and waste, and to the
preservation of young timber and the reproduc-
hon of forests
The Secretary devotes considerable space to
the discussion Of the Indian problem He SAYS
1t was found necessary to remove a number of
indian Agents on account of improper prac-
ices or lack OF business efficiency, and that
great care has been taken IN filling the places
with new men He is free TO say, however,
that the present condition of Indian affairs is
not what it ought to be, and says
The experience gained in earnest efforts 10
overcome difficulties and to correct abuses has
enabled me TO appreciate more clearly the task
still to be accomplished. In my last annual re-
port stated frankly, and have to repeat now,
that In pursuing policy ever SO wise and with
machinery ever 40 efficient, gradual improve
ment can be effected only by patient, energetic,
and wel-directed work in detail
L. An entirely satisfactory state OF things can
be brought about only under circumstances
which are not, and cannot be, under control Of
the Indian service alone. If recurrence of
trouble and disturbance is to be avoided, the
appropriations made by Congress for the sup
port of the Indians who are not self-supportiug
must be liberal enough to be sufficient for that
purpose, aud they must be made early enough
In the year to render the purchase and delivery
of new supplies possible before the old sup
plies are exhausted
:. The Indian service should have ut its dis
posal sufficient fund. TO be used with proper
accountability, at discretion in unforeseen emer-
gencies.
& The citizens of the Western States and Ter
r1fories must be made to understand that if the
Indians arc to cease to be troublesome paupers
and vagabonds, are to become orderly and self
supporting, they must have lands fit for agri-
culture; that on such lands they must be PEI
mltted to reign and establish permanent homes
and that such result cannot be obtained if the
white people insist upon taking from them by
force or trickery every acre of ground that is
eDod foc anything