The examiner., 1881-12-10

| pancy of immense reservations in the West, and of encouraging them to live l savage lives; ttndisturbed by any earnest and well directed efforts to bring them under the influence of civilization. The unsatisfactory results which have sprung from this policy are becoming apparent l to all, as the white settlements have crowded the borders of the reser- | vations. The Indians, sometimes con- tentedly and sometimes against their 1 will, have been transferred to other hunting grounds from which they have again been dis lodged whenever theirnew found homes | have been desired by the adventurous , settlers. These removdls, and the from | tier collisions by which they have often been preceded, have led to frequent and disastrous conflicts between the races: It is profitless to discuss here which of them has been chiefly responsible for the disturbances whose recital occupies so large a space upon the pages of our history. We have to deal with the appalling fact that though thousands of lives have been sacrificed, and hundreds of millions of dollars expended in the attempt to solve the Indian problem, it has within the last few years seemed scarcely nearer a solution than it was half a century ago; but the government has been cautiously but steadily feeling its way to the adoption of a policy; which has already produced gratifying results, and which in my judgment is likely, if Congress and the executive accord in its support, to relieve us ere long from the difficulties which have hitherto beset us.
 For the success of the efforts now making to introduce among the Indians the customs and pursuits of civilized life, and gradually to absorb them into the mass of our citizens, sharing their rights and holding to their responsibili. ties, there Is imperative need for legis- lative action. My suggestion in that regard will be chiefly such as have been already called to the attention of Con- gress, and have received to some extent its consideration: First, recomend the passage of an act making the laws of the various States and Territories ap- plicable to the Indian reservations within their borders, and extending the laws of the State of Arkansas to the portion of the Indian Territory not occu. pied by the five civilized tribes. The Indian should receive the protection of the law. He should be allowed to maintain in court his rights of person l T for this privilege. Its exercise would be very valuable to him in his progress toward civilization. ..I
 Second, of even greater importance is 6 measure which has been frequently recommended by my predecessor in office, and in ftlrtherance of which several bills have been from time to time introduced in both houses of Con- gress. The enactment of a general law permitting the allotment in several ty, to such Indians at least as desire 1t, of a reasonable quantity of land secured to them by patent, and for their protec- ton made inalienable for twenty or twenty-five years, is demanded for their present welfare and their permanent advancement. In return for such considerate action on the part of the government there is reason to believe that the Indians, in large numbers, would be persuaded to sever their tribal relations and to engage at once in agricultural pursuits.
 AGRICULTURE.
 The report of the commissioner of agriculture exhibits results of the ex- periments in which that department has been engaged during the past year, and makes important suggestions in refer ence to the agricultural development of the country.
 The steady increase of our population and the consequent addition to the number of those engaging in the pursuit of husbandry are giving to this depart ment growing dignity and importance. The commissioners suggestions touch deserve attention, as it more and more i de fo hn int yV was created to promote. PENSIONS. It appears from the report of the commissioner of pensions that since 1860, 769 ,O63 original pension claims have been filed; 0,949 of these have been allowed and inscribed on the pen- sion roll; 72,539 have been rejected and abandoned, being thirteen plus per cent. of the whole number of claims settled. There are now pending for settlement 265, ,575 original pension claims, 227 ,O40 of which were filed prior to July l 1880. These, when allowed, will involve the payment of arrears from valid, and from date of death or ter mination of prior right in all other cases. From all the data obtainable it is estimated that fifteen per cent. of the number of claims now pending will be rejected or abandoned. This would show the probable rejection of 34 1000 cases and the probable admission of about l93 ,000 claims, all of which in- volve the payment of arrears of pension. With the present force employed, the number of adjudicatlons remain ing the same and no new business intervening, this number of claims | Q93 ,0OO), could be acted upon in a period of six years, and taking January | l, 1884, as a mean period from which to estimate in each case an average amount of arrears, it is found that every case allowed would require, for the first payment upon it, the sum of 1850 dol lars. Multiplying this amount by the whole number of probable admissions gives $250 ,0O0 ,000 as the sum required for first payments. This represents the sum which must be paid upon claims which were filed before July l, 1880, and are now pending and entitled to the benefits of the arrears act. From this amount (s25O, O,OO0 ,OO0) may be deducted from ten to fifteen millions for cases where, the claimant dying, there is no person who under the law would be entitled to the pension, leaving $235, ,0OO OOO as the probable amount to be paid. In these estimates no account has been taken of |