The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-03
TIE PRESS.
The Interior Department.
Report of Secretary Kirkwood.

The report of the secretary of the interior for
the fiscal year ending June so, 1881, has been
laid before the public. Indian affairs are first
treated AS q remedy for the evils arising in
connection with this matter Secretary Kirk
wood advises a reduction of existing reserva-
tons in proportion to the Indians inhabiting
them and that their titles to these lands be
fully protected by the courts 1t is recon-
mended that the Indians be taught to become
herdsmen rather than farmers, and that more
specific legislation be enacted for the defin-i
ton and punishment of crime committed on u @
reservations. The Indian trust fund is So, 1885,
$50.
The cash receipts from all soarces, sales, fees
and commissions for the last fiscal year amount
ed TO S4, 402, l12 IS The total area of the land,
States and Territories, is 1814 7S9 322 acres, OF
which 7S4 ,906, $50 acres have been surveyed
The area Of lands surveyed the last fiscal year
was greater by 6,05S,759 acres than that of the
previous year. The area Of public lands dis
posed Of the last fiscal year was less by $685.
ga, 60 acres than that OF the previous year; the
aggregate cash receipts were greater by 81, $685.
642,56 Two inspection trips have been made
during the year for the purpose of examining the
properties and accounts OF the several subsid-
lZeQ fallr 92QS. ABOUT OJUU miles OF SUBSIDIZED
and land-erant railroads subject to the super
vision of the bureau have been examined, and
their books Especially those of the Union and
Central Pacific roads) carefully compared with
the reports as rendered by the companies,
Among the properties included ia the inspec-
tions, aside from the Union and Central Pa
cifc, were those of the Southern Pacific,
Atlantic q Pacific, Central Branch Union
Pacific, and the Sioux City and Pacific COM
paDies in all of which the United States is in
teresied creditor or otherwise. Although
the past severe and protracted winter was ac-
companied by unusual floods and storms, which
destroyed much property and materially ill.,
creased the expenditures for maintaining the
same, it was noticeable that substantial i'm
provement in the property of the roads in which
the government has direct interest had been
made, and in general the reports rendered in
dictate marked increase in their business.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
The report of the commissioner of patents
shows an increase of business for the year end
ing June 30, 1881. The number of applications
for patents was 1882, an increase of 1912
over the previous year. applications for de-
signs, 5S5: reissues 5S8; caveats, 2,342; trade
marks, 464; appeals, III; disclaimers. IS;
labels, 357
The number of patents granted, including
reissues and designs, was 1910, an increase
over the former year Of 1926.
Number Of trademarks registered was 462;
labels registered, 1871; patents withheld for
s272. '' 'A' u I-A' is'' -'''' p'''A'S 9 p''su'
ape total receipts of the Office were $780,
$50 81, an increase over the previous year of
SOS. 34S 40.
The aggregate of appropriations for the office,
including deficiency of S8429 06, was S607,
299 O6. Amount expended for printing, bind
ing, etc, out of the appropriation for printing
and binding for Department of the Interior,
Sl42. 432 AZ. Total expenditure on account OF
patent office, S749,731 50. Total receipts in ex-
cess of all expenditures for the year ending
June 80, 1881, $40. 163 SO.
THE PENSION OFFICE.
June 30, 1881, there were 268,830 pensioners
on the rolls, classified as follows: Army invalids
OBS; army widows, children and dependent
relatives. 1858; navy invalids, 2lS7, navy wild
ows, children and dependent relatives, zoos;
soldiers and sailors of the war of 1872, 8898;
widows of soldiers and sailors of that war, 26,
029. During the year, %, 740 names were plac-
ed on the pension-rolI, and 1912 were dropped
making the increase for the year in the number
of pensioners, 1S02S. The whole amount paid
on account of pensions was $49, 723, 147 50, of
which SOS, 62S 176 81 was paid to pensioners
whose names were placed on the roll during the
year ending June 80, 1881, whose pensions gen.
orally extended back over a period of many
years. The average annual pension of the pen
sioners on the roll June 30, 1881, was $107 o.
1t would require S2S, 769 967 6 to pay for one
year Jn6 pensioners Oh bn6 roll at Inc 6uQ OIzluS
last fiscal year, at rates they were then recely-
ing. Since the year 1861, 431 ,439 claims of in
valid officers and soldiers for pensions have
been filed in the pension office, of which 100 $50
have been allowed, and 2S9, $40 claims of wild
ows, children and dependent relatives have
been filed, of which 1877 Ala have been allowed
In addition TO the above, since February IA, 1871
"a 54S claims OF officers and soldiers of the war
of 1872 have been filed, of which 255S5 have
been allowed; and Al, 305 claims of widows of
officers and soldiers of that war have been fled
of which 81 1868 have been allowed. Since 1861,
the sum of 506, 345, 044 81 has been paid to pen
sioners. There on file &c., 48 unadjudicat-
ed claims for pensions exclusive of those made
on account of service in the war of 1912,
of which 90 per cent were flecSoetweeIE ~ aly /
1879, and June 30, 1881. The proportion of the
whole number of cases which will be further
prosecuted cannot at present be determined.
The pension commissioner states that with the
present force of the Office the expense will ex-
coed the appropriation for the present year by
$4,000 He recommends lsgSlsgaatslonm ors def
nifely defining the circumstances under which
the pensions Of persons who are held as inmates
of the Soldiers Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers shall be paid to the Home; to the end
that the fee for procuring pension shall de-
pend upon the successful prosecution of the
claim, that it shall be secured to tie attorney
from the pension allowed, and more liberal
compensation be allowed attorneys in such
cities
LAwLEssNEss IN THE SOUTHWEST.
Secretary Kirkwood says: Bands of robbers
have operated in Arizona, New Mexico and ia
the adjoining parts of Mexico upon an extern
sive scale. Complaints of the depreciation COM
mitted by them have been received from the
government of Mexico, through the Department.
Of State. This department has information of
one organized band Of robbers numbering 100
men IN Arizona, who are robbing the citizens
of Mexico and the United States of horses and
cattle, and disposiDg of the same or converting
them to their own use. Owing to the sparse
ness of the population the local authorities are
unable to cope with such combinations. The
use Of United States troops to assist in enforc-
ing the laws is forbidden by the law relating to
{ he use of any part Of the army as posse com
itatus. The Governors of those Territories have
represented to this department that if the Unit
ed States military authorities we're free to as
sist in REFRESHING the lawlessness which prevails
there, and would SO assist, the lives and prop
erty of the citizens would be more secure, the
advancement of the interests of the people
would be promoted, and Ca uses which threaten
to disturb the peace between the United States
and Mexico would he removed / have there
fore to recommend that the law prohibiting the
use of the army as posse comitatus to assist i'll
the execution of the laws be repealed SO far as
1t applies to the Territories of Arizona and New
Mexico"