New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-14
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE MONDAY FEBRUARY ID 1861

mates to-day they will probably ENJOY CHILLY oou.'
ship On ST. Valentines Day last yeartne
registered SEQ at o'clock in the evening" tne al
was full of the homesick notes OF oiueDlrus' 'no
turf was green, snOwdrops and crocuses were opeu-
inc orr earliest native spring flower. the little
dra6a re,na, had already thrown up spikes OF t'ny
white forets, and the buds of the white maple were
almost ready to burst into bloom. How different Is
everything to-day!
THE TRIBUNE last week called the attention Oh
Congress to the fact that the POncas. after all the
discussion about them. are at the present moment
prisoners, and would be held so by the Indian De-
partment unless the bill which shall be passed 1or
their relief did not distinctly give them the 1ree-
dom of choice as to their land and future action de-
manded for them by President Hayes. Since that
time bill has been prepared for Congress TO pass
by Secretary Schurz, in which they are positively
refused this liberty of choice. They are to receive
half as much land as the Commission declared them
iustv entitled to and the part of the tribe remain
ing in the Indian Territory TO be forced 10 seiect
this land there while only those who ran away from
their prison to their old homes are to be permitted
to choose land in Dakota. The Secretary, or VINO
ever prepared this bill, has made an odd mistake
and appears TO have forgotten I'M
pOrtant fact : j. g., that Congress mas
no power to ALLEVIATE the land in Dakota from the
P0ncas. The case is not a parallel one with that OF
The Utrs The POncas not only inherited their
property in Dakota, bnt bought 1t, and mad their
deeis of sale to prove their claim The Interior
Department had no more legal right to remove them
from their farms than it has to dispossess to-day
householder in New-York of his lot and messuage
When it had so dispo.sessed them. suit was brought
on their behalf IN tine United states Court at
Omaha. and the suit was decided in their favor;
The land in Dakota is theirs and no act OF Congress
can take it from them. An act may be passed en-
towering them to exchange, if they choose, this
land in DakOta for land in the Indian Territory OF
esew here. But tho attempt TO forbid them to re-
turn ut pleasure and take possession OF the property
which has been adjudged theirs by the Unlted
States Court lies beyopd tho province OF
the Secretary of the Interior of Congress 1t is
better to avoid future mistake in this matter.
Evcrvone who has had an opportunity to examine
the bulletins Issued from the New-Jersey Agrlcul-
tural Experiment Station will have some idea OF the
scOpe and thor Jughness and practical value OF the
work there accomplished. There is no place IN the
United States where better opportunities LOT
myestig ton and application are Onereu'
while all its resources are utilized to the
best advantage by honest, weIl-direcied labor ana
scent Gc accuracy. Every citizen OF NeW-Jersey,
directly or indirectly concerned in agriculture Is
encouraged to apply TO the StallOn lor IHlol
and assistance The public benefit which has
already resulted from Investigations under the
direction of Professor Cook will be largely increased
when the people of the State have more generally
discovered that they can avail themselves OF these
advantages, and with fuller and freer CO.
operation extended by farmers and moderate
and from the State the influence of the STATION VIII
be felt in every branch OF agriculture
! In small State like New-Jersey. and one so
fortunately situated in regard to markets. IL IS I'M
porant that every acre should be made to yield 10
! the extent of its capacity. No doubt these facts
will be duly considered by the Legislature, and no
wastetul economy will be allowed to curtall
the needed appropriation for the purpose in ques-
ton The triGing amount asked for will not begin
! TO measure the increased value of more than one
article of production in the State which will result
| from the Increased efficiency thus gwen TO THIS
| credit able institution.