Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-02
whom it has been established, are set forth
as worthy of special notice.

it may be said without exaggeration, that OF
the whole the Indian situation is now more
hopeful than ever before. The desire of tht
Indians to maintain friendly relations will
their white neighbors, to go to work fol
their own support, to cultivate soil, to &C
quire permanent homes, to have their chill
dren educated, and to assimulate themselves
to the civilization of the country, is growing
stronger and more general every day.
Secretary Schurz remarks that experience
has strengthened his conviction, which, as
this Is his last report, he feels at greater lib
erty to express-that the management Of
Indian affairs should continue to be intrust
ed to the civil and not the military branch
of public service. His argument On thii
| topic has been fully foreshadowed in former
annual reports. He again quotes with en-.
phasis the-conclusion of the report of the
peace commission of 1878, signed by Gems.
Sherman, Harvey, Terry and Augur, in
which these distinguished officers
of the army among other
things said, in purport: 'lf we
intend to have war with them. the Indians
of the United States, the Indian bureau
should 60 the secretary of war. Ii We In
tend to have peace it should be IN civil
deplr nasnt."
desire to say that it has not been the
purpose of this department under my ad
ministration, while avoiding unnecessary
outlays of money, to cut down expenses
! merely for the purpose of making striking
EXHIBITION of eco3omy. The history of In
dian affairs shows that ill-judged parsimo-
ny has brought frequent trouble and very
costly complications. am now convinced
| that generous appropriations for agricultu-
raj implements. for stock cattle to be
distributed among the Indians, and for edu-
cational facilities, made at this time, when
| the temper of our whole India an population
Is such as to receive such aid in the right
spirit and to use the advantages conferred
| for general and rapid advancement, will pro-
| duce results certain to accelerate the solution
of the gr atest difficulties we have SO far
been contending with, and consequently
bring about great saving of money IN the
future. When an Indian lives in house he
considers his own and his fanily's, as thou
sands of families are now living, and thou
sands desire to live; when he cultivates the
acres he has fenced by his own labor, and
enjoys the products of his agricultural
work, either by his own cons npiion or IL q
sale of the surplus; when he owns bis plow
and his wagon, and uses the latter with his
ponies in freighting by which he earns lib
eral wages; when he has COWS, and swine and
poultry on his land, the care of which he
finds useful and proftable; when he can send
his children to school, and begins to hope
that they may become as civilized and pros
porous as the white people-he will soon
cease to think of leading the life ofa nonad
and the thought of war will no longer have
any charm for him.
The report also enters into many inter-
esting details concerning the present condi
tion Of individual tribes. The case of the
Poncas receives minute attention. The in
Justice done to them by their original re-
moval from their Dakota lands Is also de-
scribed, bat it is also clear to the secretary
that it would be contrary alike to their own
interests and to those of the country at
large to remove them from their present
home.
THE RAILROADS.
The secretary does not make any recon-
mendation of importance In regard to land
grant railroads, but recapi. ulates his last an
nual report and states as result of investi-
cation made by the government auditor that
this property is in good condition, that their
earnings have largely increased and that al
though the rates both for freight and pas
sengers have been reduced it is believed
there will be with the filling up of the couu-
try remunerative business enough for
each one of them.
THE oKHALAMA SCHEME.
Attempts by evil disposed persons to in.
wade Indian Territory, and take possession of
certain unoccupied lands there, have so far
been successfully frustrated by the prompt
action Of the government, but they have been
as persistently repeated. 1t is reported
that another attempt is in preparation now.
The military forces of the United States in
the Territory are instructed to arrest in
truders and take proper measures to
bring them to justice, as they have
been before, but it is evident
that the penalty imposed upon repeated in
trusion of Indian Territory, which penalty
consists in mere fine and is difficult of en-
forcement, is not sufficient to deter IawIess
characters from snch undertakings. I con-
cur with the commissioner in recommending
that law BIO passed adding the penalty of
imprisonment to that of fine. If this is
done the invaders will know that such at
tempts are not without risks to them.
TIMBER DEpREDATroNs.
Referring to the measures instituted by
the department to put a stop to depreda-
tions on public timber lands the secretary
reports they have been highly successful
during the past three years. upwards of
$240,000 has been turned into the treasury
as result of keeping department special
agents in the field to detect aud prosecute
wholesale timber trespassers; and the
illicit cutting and expectation
of timber from public lands
along Uur coasts, which had grown to an
enormous yearly aggregate, has been almost
entirely arrested.
Thesecretary again urges upon the atten-
tion of Congress the great desirability of
enactipg laws to provide for the proper pre-
servation of our forests by preventing the
reckless waste which now attends the cut
ting of timber in many parts of the country
without restraint.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The secretary recommends liberal appro-
priations for extension of the geological
survey all over the United States, and the
adoption by legislative enactment of Com
| missioner Bentley's plan for taking evidence
in pension cases by oral examinations
| throughout the country. He concurs with
Commissioner Mar BILE in asking an increased
force of clerks and examiners for the paten,
Office; recommends perfection of the public
land commission bill; indorses General
| Wol6orsc rocoro Gov o1fh1.;%x, e.