The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-01
AFFAIRS or THE NATION.
Abstract of the Annual Report of the
Secretary of the Interior.
Gen. Crook and the Apaches- Figures of Pen
sion Business-A Forecast of the
Treasury Report.
THE INTERIOR.
The Principal Points in the Annual Report of
the Secretary.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3O.-lne nrSJ part OF
the report of the Secretary of the Interior is
devoted to the Indian question. very con-
siderable improvement in the condition of
the tribes is claimed, and the Secretary re-
news his recommendation of last year that
the Indians be disarmed, the government
purchasing their weapons Concerning edu-
cation of the Indians, the report says:
In my former report urged the necessity of
the creation of a permanent fund for the educa-
ton of Indians, and especially recommended
that the net receipts of the sale of public lands
be set apart for that purpose again urge the
necessity of some provision for permanent
fund, and again recommend that the net pro-
ceeds of the sale of public lands be set apart for
that purpose if it is considered desirable to con-
tinue to dispose of the public land in any other
manner than under the provisions OF the home
stead law.
Attention is again called to the persistent
attempts of Payne and others to invade the
Indian Territory for the purpose of settle
ment, and the Secretary recommends that
law be enacted adding Imprisonment to the
fine now provided for this offense. Legisla-
ton for Furnishing persons who unlawfully
cut timber on Indian lands is also recon-
mended. The salaries paid Indian agents
are considered inadequate and an increase is
recommended. Concerning annuities and
homesteads, the Secretary says:
During the year there has been paid to In
dams, in cash, about 100000, as interest on
Indebtedness to them, The practice of paying
cash to the Indians is a perncious one, for as
general rule, the money is expended for useless,
If not injurious articles, and ought to be dscon-
tinued
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs recon.
mends that a fund be placed at the disposal OF
the department to pay the fees of homestead en-
tries by Indians. In this l heartily concur.
think when an Indian will settle on land, intend
ing to make it his home, he ought to be enGour-
aged in so doing.
In referring to the Arizona Apaches and
the campaign of Gen. Crook, the Secretary
says:
nual raids made by the Apaches of Arizona. In
April last a number of the citizens of Arizona
were killed, and A large amount OF property
stolen destroyed by band of Apaehes that
left the San Carlos reservation in April, 1882 or
before that time. In attempting to escane they
passed into New Mexico, and killed Mr.. Nc
Comas and wife and took their young son pris-
oner The people of Arizona were greatly ex-
eitad ovor tIie murders of Uheir fellow-citizens
and the destruction of their property, and
threatened to take vengeance on the Indians on
the reservation, claiming that the murders were
committed by those Indians.
II is not at all surprising that the people of
Arizona should have been excited over these
Outrages, occurring each year with the regulari
ty of the seasons, and that in the excitement al
ways attending an Indian raid they should con-
template holding the whole tribe responsible for
the acts of a comparatively small number of the
tribe. There is Doih hing more terrible to new
I settlement than an Indian raid. No one knows
when the blow will fall, or where next the
stealthy foe will appear. 1t is not open warfare,
where every man has fair show with his an
tagonist; it is not war; it is assassination. In
such raids the indians are careful not to meet
any considerable number of whites but they
watch for the farmer at his work, the defense
less household traveller the highway.
When the citizens assemble, the Indian hides in
the mountain until they disappear and then he
awaits his time to return and wreak his venge-
on the unarmed aud defenseless citizens,
regardless of age or sex
The Indians engaged in the raid escaped into
New Mexico with but little danger TO them
selves. The commander of the district of Ar-
zOna. General Crook, pursued them into Mexico
and compelled the surrender of portion of the
hostiles, who were brought back to the reserva-
ton prisoners of war. Some difficulty oc-
Cured as to the disposal of these Indians. They
were prisoners OF war, had surrendered with the
idea that they would not be punished and
would he permitted to return to the reservation
General Crook hoped to- secure quite number
of hostiles that had not surrendered, but had,
through the prisoners taken, indicated their in
tention of so doing. After careful consideration
OF the case it was thought best to allow them 10
remain as prisoners OF war on the reservation,
hoping by so doing those still out might he Sc
cured, aud then all danger OF further hostilities
for the time at least, be avoided General
Crook was given full charge of the police of the
reservation, for 1t was not Thought to he prudent
to divide the responsibility of keeping peace on
the reservation, and the department not
willing to attempt TO keep the peace with the
prisoners of war freed from military csntro The
condition is an anomalous one and one that cam
not long continue. 1t is quite certain that the
presence of the prisoners among the agency In
dians has been very demoralizing. These Indians
are guilty OF murders ana other crimes,
and subject to the laws of Arizona and New
Mexico, where the crimes were committed Gen
eral Crook says that they were not promised i'm
munity for past offenses, but it is quite evident
that they returned with the idea that they
would not be punished for the crimes commit
TED.
Tt does not appear to be the duty of the De-
partinent of the Interior to determine whether
these offenders should be punished not. At
this time they are prisoners of war in the hands
of the War Department. II possible, they should
be removed from the agency TO some point where
there Will be less danger of their escape and
where their evil Influences will not be felt by the
more peaceably disposed of the tribe.
THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE
The operations of the Land Office are thus
summarized:
The report of the Commissioner of the General
Land Office shows that the disposal of public
lands under all acts of Congress aggregates 49,
430,032.S0 acres, of which amount $50, 235 81
acres were Indian lands and 1899, 1851 acres
railroad sections under various acts of Congress.
The total cash receipts in connection with the
disposal of the public lands amounted to $11,-
713, S33.70, of which amount 1928 ,404.27 was
account of the sale of Indian lands. The in
tine wear 1882 was &33I0 367 66 and over
that OF SSl, So sos, 07934 pre-em ptiOn and pri-
vate entries ,465, $50 40 acres; timber culture
entries, 3, l1O,930 % acres; the number of home
stead entries, $1,000, embracing S,l7l,914.3
Not included in the lands dispose of, and
i'll addition thereto, were 47,933 presumption
hllngS 4.993 SolnlerS declaratOrY statements
and 10,232 miscellaneous filings. these three
items embracing in the aggregate 100000
acres
TIE increase in the number Of claims recorded
in 1888 was 5J,54S over that of he year 1892,
and 93,700 over that OF the year ! S8l; the mum
Der Of entries approved for patenting under va
rous laws, 53, 947; an increase of 26239 over
that of the year 1882. -Four thousand two hun
dred and seventy-four con tested cases were ex-
smined and acted upon during the fiscal year
The number of pre- emptiOn cases undecided
June 20, 1888, was 1892 an increase of the
number in arrears of 1870, and 1912 new
cases were received for action. A considerable
amount of timber land was sold at lublic sale,
but no land valuable for agricultural purposes
has been offered at public sale. The vast amount
of work done by the land office during the fiscal