Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-01

THE INDIANS AND THE DISPOSITION OF THEIR
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TO CORRECT PUBLIC LAND
FRAUDS URGED-FEDERAL AID FOR EDUCATION
IN TIE SFATES-THE SUBSIDIZED RAILROADS
GoVEREMENT FOR ALAsKA-THE MORMON
QUESTION.
The Secretary of the Interior Hon. H. NJ
Teller. in his annual report speaks of the i'm
provement among the various Indian tribes dur
Ing the past year and the favorable prospect of
an entire cessation OF outbreaks against the
whites 1t is demonstrated that the Indians are
Capable OF Improvement, and there is convincing
proof that the race is not to die out but has the
Inherent strength to maintain Itself even under
quite untayorable circumstances, and that with
Intelligent assistance from the government it
may become self-suppOrting. the Indian is
TO become civilized being it must be by the
aid OF the government intelligentIy directed:
and one of the first steps to be taken is to fix
the Indian in permanent home To this end
the reservations should be reduced in size COM
meilsurate with the wants of their OCCUPANTS
The Secretary advocates the establishment Of
compulsory education among the Indians and
also compelling thcmto work. He recommends
that the sum OK -, 20 4C0 due the Indians on
account of treaties, should be devoted TO cduca-
tiOnal purposes. Referring to the refusal of the
Sioux not to dispose of their land under the re-
cent treaty. it is stated that if One-half OF the
amount proposed To he expended for their be-
Eefit was offered them in cash there can he no
question but they would readily agree to the
ceSsOn.
In regard to the discovery OF valuable coal
beds IN the San Carlos reservation Arizona the
Secretary suggests an Executive order to re-
duce the reservation. and thus throw the coal
neIoS out OF the reservation The Indians how
ever. should receive some compensation
In regard To the Apache Indians now held as
prisoners OF war by the War department on the
Gan carlos reservation. the Secretary SAYS: st
Is quite certain That the presence of the pris-
oneTs among the agency Indians has been very
GemOraiiZing. If possible they should be re-
moved from the agency to a point where there
VIII be less danger OF their escape, and where
theIr.eyit Influences will not be felt by the more
leaceab.y disposed of the tribe
The secretary endorses the Indian commits
siOner recommendation that q commission be
appointed 10 visit the CherOkees and Choctaws.
in Indian Territory. and frame rules for the gov
efhing oI the disputed question as to what per-
sons are citizens.
PUBLIC LAND LEGISLATION.
The Secretary cOnCurs in the recommendations
OF the commissioner of the general land office
for the repeal of The presumption law and the
tihOer-cUiture law. and the amendment of tine
homestead law so as to require a period Of not
less than SIX months after settlement claim has
been placed on record before final proof shall be
admitted. The report further urges the neces-
sly Oh some legislation to correct the evil arts
lEg from the custom of the railroad companies
IN not paving the cost Of surveying the public
lands and thus avoiding state taxation
THE PATENT OFFICE CLERICAL FORCE.
He repeats the recommendation of the COM
missioner OF patents that the salaries and num-
Der q: examiners and assistant examiners be in-
creased
FEDERAL AID FOR EDUCATION IN TIE STATES
IN regard TO material aid to education the
Secretary coacIrs in the recommendation of the
Commissioner OF education that some measure
OF fedora! aid he extended to public urinary
etutttl"a. based on the nImber OF illiterateS
reported By the tenth census, as a measure of
immense Importance to the present and the
future OF the nation, The appropriation by the
general government should be made deDpnder+
on siil'iitT a!tt by the states and for few wears
II should he Increase as TIE state, increases it,
facilities for its expenditure. and then, i'm like
manner. the aid from the general government
should be- gradually withdrawn. and the state
increase Its appropriation in proportion as the
national aid l. withdrawn. and ultimately the
state shoutd be left 70 conduct its school system
without national aid
THE SUBSIDIZED RAILROADS.
The report quotes from the statement made
oy the commissioner Of railroads showing the
condition Of the sinking funds of the Union and
Central Pacific companies, held by the Treasurer
Of the United States and saws that the sinking
fund has not accomplished the result anticipated
is quite evident, and may be regarded as a fail
ure tor want of suitable Investment. the high
premium paid for government bonds being as
signed as the cause The commissioner of rail-
Ioals feIeWs the recommendation to authorize
the Secretary of the Treasury to invest the sink
lhg Iui.ds In the first mortgage bonds of the
COMPANIES or such bonds as have been issued
to them 10y the United States or in other good
anu sufficient securities He also renews the
sug@estiI ~ whether it would not be wisest and
best Tor Congress to commute the present mode
oI payment by the roads which have been aided
with bonds into one of fixed amounts not de-
pendent upon the fluctuations of net earnings
Or the contingencies of competition which might
cause net earnings to disappear.
GOVERNMENT FOR ALASKA.
The Secretary states that the necessity for a
government for Alaska Is becoming very ap-
parent. \ petition has been received from
various mining companies. alleging that they
located mineral claims complying with all the
laws ot the United States applicable to the loca-
tiOn and maintenance of quartz-mining claims
and that certain miners from the British posses
slonS. without authority or right. took possess
sion OF such claims. and have held the same ever
since by force. taking therefrOm not less than
$4,000. In tile absence Of legislation the
department could net afford the relief sought
OF Washington should be. as far as applicable,
extended over il. and this for the present would
avoid the necessity OF legislature.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
In regard TO the clause in the law estab-
fishing the Utah commission which provides
that the Utah legislature shall enact such laws
as shall prohibit all poygamists from partici-
pating in the election Of public officers or
from holding any such Office the Secretary
says that 1t Is not believed that the legislature
VIII take the steps required; for, while it Is
composed entirely of Mormons who do not
practice pOlygamy. 1t Is undoubtedly true that
they are all believers In the system Of plural
marriages and only abstain from it's practice
from economical OF prudential reasons He re-
c0mmelds that Congress require the submits
sion Of such laws for Its approval before they
shall be considered By any department of the
government compliance with the require
meits OF the provisions OF such act.
THE DEAF MUTE COLLEGE DIFFICULTY.
The Secretary states that it was considered
advisable that the institutions remain allied to
the extraordinarily, the government hos
pital for the insane, the freedmen's hospital and
the Columbia institution for the deaf and dumb.
should procure their supplies in accordance with
the section OF the statutes which directs that all
purchases and contracts for supplies or services
IN any department of the government except
Nor ShaIl bf, ,lnl