Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-12-08

THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
The report of the Secretary of the Interior,
, with its accompanying documents, presents a
full atemeat of the varied operations Of
In respect to indian affairs nothing has
I Poccurred which has changed or serious
ly modified the views to which /
devoted much space in a former com
muneation to Congress. l renew the recon-
Neutrality-suspicious. contained as to extending
to the Indian the protection OF the law; al
lotting land ia severalty TO such desire it
and making suitable provision for the educa-
! tion OF youth. such provision as the Secre-
tary forcibly maintairs Will prove unavailIng
unless it is broad loush TO include all those
who are able and willing to make use OF it,
\ and should not solely relate TO intellectual
training, but also to Instruction in such man.
ual labor aud simple industrial arts as can be
made practically ava labla.
RAILROADS.
Among other important subjects which are
included within the Secretarys report, and
Which will doubtless furnish <ion for Con-
gressional action, may be mentioned the ne
siect OF the railroad companies TO which large
grants were male BY the acts of 1862 aud 1854,
10 take title thereto and their consequent
inequtabe exc nption from local taxation.
One OF the incidents OF the marvellous exten-
sion OF the railway system of the country has
been the adoption of such measures by the
corporations which own or control the roa Is
as has tended TO impair the advantages OF
healthful competition, and made hurtul dis
criminafions in the advancement OF freights. |
These inequalities have been corrected In sese- |
raj OF the States by appropriate legislation,
the effect of which is necessarily restricted to
the limits of their own territories.
PoLY6ANY-THE TERRITORIES.
The results which have thus far attended the |
en- forcement Of the recent statute for the SUI |
preston of poysamy In the territories, are |
reported by the Secretary OF tho Interior. II |
| is not probable that any ditional legislation |
| in this regard will be deemed desirable until |
the effect Of the existing laws shall be more
clearly observe aud studied. congratulate |
you that the Commissioners, under |
whose superyis on these laws have been |
| put In operation, are encouraged TO believe |
! that the evil to which they are aiming may 4
! be suppressed without resort to such fadeal
measures as In some quarters have been
thought Indispensable or success.
The close relations OF the General Govern
ment to the Territories p epzring TO be great
States may well engage your special atten-
tion. II is there that the Indian disturbances
mainly occur, and that polygamy has found
room Tor its growth. | cannot doubt that q
careful survey OF territorial legislation would
be OF the highest utility. Life and property
would become more secure, the liability OF
outbreaks between Indians and whites would
lie lessened, the public domain would he more
securely guarde I, aud better progress would
be made in the instruction Of the Young:
Alaska Is still without any form OF civil
education OF lite people, and for the protection
OF their lives aud property, the immense re-
sources oil that region would Invite permanent
settlements and open new fields for industry
and enterprise.
DEPARTMENT or AonIcrIrrRE.
The report of the Commissioner oY Agricul-i n
ture presents an account Of the lal5Q<o
OF that Department during the past ycoG.
aud includes information OF much -
terest TO the general public. The cond!
Ion. ~ fIa If y. fiuIV uUA
the wasteful manper In VIII ch their destruction y
is taking place give cause Tor grieyous app o T.
hension. Their action 10 protecting the csFt1'1 T.
surface, IN modifying the extremes Of o1u1 n
and regulating aud sustaining The ~
springs and streams is not well undersf wv
and tier importance In relation 10 the ero1
aud pros enly o. the country cannot be sa11Iy/|
disregarded. They are fast dissppe arng 1.
before destructive tires aud the legitimate
ne lulfemcnts of our Increasing population,
and their total extinction cannot be long de-
layed unless better methods than now prevail
shall be adopted for their protection and culfi-
walton. The attention OF Congress Is Invited
10 the necess ~ OF additional legisiaeicu -
secure the preservation Of valuable i0Feets
stlll remaining On the public domain, especially
IN the extreme western states aud Territories,
where the necessity Tor their preseryl ton Is
greater than In less mountainous regions,
and where the prevailing dryness of the climate
renders their restoration. II they are once de
stroyed, well nigh impossible.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The communication which I made 10 Con-
gress at Its first session In December last con-
taine1 a some hat full statement OF my senti-
ments In relation TO the principles and rules
which ought to govern appointments TO the Z
public service. In referring 20 the various
plans which had therefor been the subject OF
discussion in the National Lcgisnturc-plans
which in the main were modelled upon the sys-
TEN which obtains In Great Br tai 4 but which
lacked certain OF the prom ncnt features I
whereby that sysicm 10 DISTINGUISHED. felt 4
bound TO intimate my thoughts. whether they !.
or any Of them would ado an adequate rem 4
edy for the evils which they aimed TO correct I
declared. nevertheless, that n the proposed
measures should prove acceptable TO Congress q
they wouli receive the unhestating support
OF the Executive. Since the suggesiio 70 were
submitted for your consider hon, there has ]
been no legislation upon the subject 10 which /
they relate, but there has meanx h le been an /,
increase 10 the public interest upon that sub
emily without distinction Of party. have In ]
various ways. and upon frequent OCCASIONS, =
gwen expression TO their earnest wish for .
prompt and de mite action. In my judgment :
such action shou no longer be postponed.
may add that my own sense Of It's p eesin I
Importance has been qui kenci b. ob-ervs- :
ON In the practical phase of the latter, TO n
which attention has more than once been .
calle bg my predecessors
The civil list now compriecs about 10000 q
persons, the larger pat Of ulom must. under Q
the terms Of the Constitution be selected by I,
the President, either directly or through his
appoinfees. In the early ycar Of the admin
istration Of Government, the personal dirrc-
ti0n Of appointments TO the civil ser
vice may not have been an irksome task
10 the Executive. but now that the :
burden has increased fuzzy hundredfold. I
u has become greater than he ought 10 bear, Z
tent on from the proper discharge Of other n
duties no less delicafc a1d resppnsible. snd :
which. IN the ~ nature Of things. cannot b. =
delegated 10 other hands. In the Judgment
q not , few, who have e.vsn s'pdy and Is &c
the provislous which ne Constitution n
has e<tabl shed for filing the minor =
ofhces IN the public servIc<. hut what
cncy Of changing the fundamental law m tbIs a
rt ard, Il is certain mu.h relief NAV be A.
forded. not only 70 tie President and 70 fh< ,
hesds Of the departments but % ee1ator I
and Re rescnt@tire IN Congress p dscreef Z
measure by tse bil nov pendine be ore IL II
>ena e. or By any other Viii. should emboIv =
lie important features from the pressure of /.
personal importantly and from The labor of 4
exHmlng co31icfinf claims aud prciensions q =
l trust before the close Of The present - =
sion some decisive action may be taken for p
lhe correction Of The evils ~hich is IN ~ e
present. nsthods Of sppose.me and - 4!
xbich ere Likely 10 co.duce 70 ~ =
md A. 20 the most . p-opr1sfe Tern 81 -
Ee1ure Of the o<Icial LIE Of s1bor1Inaee - u
ployes Of the Governmenf- n eccms 70 b - b
rrzlly agreed that whatever fI1r1r exteuf q ~
character. the one ebcuId be de1nIfe ard q y
Dt l<r stable. and that neither sbo1ld b rrxu- u
lated b. real In the serric< Il - q. or 1de15<r q
n The fortunes of an IpdirfduzL Il mo11cm 4
ffls 10 The pcop1e 81 1argc rhaf Co. | n
u<tenf person h At The hea1 q f1n -
Dep>rfmert Or Of fhnf B1ren1- II rher feel a.
he removal % one and the scr<s=ion of
,ther WIN not involve fhc rc<irD>1f Of hoI -
md ls1fhfuI s1bordinaf<s ubo@e dnfjes - =;
1urel, rd1inI<<-ntire- and h e no lrr1r5u11GI
-0nrecfion With fhe triumph q any po1I<1<11
r1nciF1es or the success of any r11iI{c4l purf<
" fa<fion- II h 70 this latter flass Of ocrs NJ
hat the s<1sf> blL 70 ~fich have a1rsu1y | Ii
9 erred exclusively spFlie=. While n<il1er -
hat BIN nor any Other Irud<nf stheme 1or
improving The civil service toDcerns he
'I-her eTsde Of of1'cisl< Who r-r- appointed b -
be Pres dent and confirmed b be senate. NJ
A EI<ArrEk1Ex<Iox CORRECTED. -
] feel bourd 70 correct /. p-<~1lcr< ui<rp-
rrhs1sion e % The f. 41encT win w1j<1
be pre-e1f Exeeu<ivt has 1i<|I1~c1 ~ h.
uut.1f Of zE once md s-pc11sed zrc<h>< ~ :
1. <'e11. j. has t--<n rr<-<zr-1Ir 17l<re1 fh1<