Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-12
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
The Indian Question as Viewed
by Secretary Teller.
Che Comptroller of the Currency on the
Operation of the misunderstanding
System-yiews as to the Rela-
tions of Silver and Gold.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

WASHINGTON, Nov. S2.-Thc annual re-
port Of Secretary of the Interior Teller
gives most prominence to the Indian ques-
ton, and renews the opinions expressed in
his previous reports. Figures are given
showing a large increase in the number of
Indians in the schools on reservations
and throughout the country.
The Secretary thinks the greatest
agency for the civilization of the Indian is
the manual-labor schools. and says that it
Is only necessary to multiply their number
80 as to include all the Indian children of
school age, to forever set at rest the ques-
ton as to "what shall be done with the Ip-
dians." An honest compliance on 1.-THE part
of the Government with the conditions of
the treaties with the various tribes concern
ing schools will substantially provide all the
schools required.
The report renews the recommendation
that the Indians be disarmed, as their horses
and guns are the great hindrances to their
civilization. The necessity for legislation
for the punishment of crimes on the reSer-
vations is urged, as it has been decided that
the United States Courts are without juris-
diction.
Secretary Teller does not think the leas-
ing of their lands to stockmen by the Indi-
ans is illegal, but the Indians are not paid
what the land is worth, and he thinks the
matter should be controlled by the Gov
ernnlent, with the consent of the Indians,
and fair rental charged. Regarding the
d%epredations by the Indians upon the
stock of the whites, the report says
they can not be prevented so long as
the Government fails in its duty and per-
mits the Indians to staryc. But the diff
Guilty is being obviated by the apparent
greater desire of the Indians during the
last year to abandon their savage life.
Among the Secretary's recommendations
concerning the Indians are: That their an
nuity be paid in stock or farming imple-
ments instead of cash, and that the
temporary law appropriating 81, 900 aid to
Indians availing themselves of the Home
stead law be made permanent.
The report reviews at length the fraud
perpetrated on the Government under the
presumption and timber culture laws, where
by valuable land is possessed for purposes
of speculation or to strip it of its timber,
and recommends the repeal of these
laws, as the Homestead act affords abund-
ant opportunities for the possession of
land by actual settlers. Secretary Teller
concludes that if the presumption and
timber culture laws are not repealed more
liberal appropriations should be made for
the detection and punishment of fraud OH
the Government through the agency of those
laws. But even with liberal appropriations
for the detection Of frauds it will be impos-
sible to prevent INSCRIPTIONS persons in the
thinly-settled regions of country from appro-
priating public land by a mere technical
compliance with the laws, while the spirit
Is violated. There is but one remedy, and
that is in the repeal of the law no longer
necessary to enable the actual settler to Sc
cure a title to the land he occupies on the
public domain. The public lands ought to
be Reserved for actual settlers, and should
be conveyed only when the settler has
shown his good faith by a residence on the
land for the period provided for by the
Homestead law. No communication of home
steads should be allowed.
The Secretary deplorcs the waste of the
public domain and its absorption by syndi-
Gates and accepts the views of the Land
Commissioner as follows:
"It is my opinion that the time has fully ar
rived when wastctu1ness in the disposal of
public lands shall cease, and that the portion
still remaining should be economical for the
use OF actual settlers only. An act reserving
the public lands, except mineral lands and
thn Hnnastesd i'T vrsry nAcinS,aeiN mnq e
Homestead Laws SO as to prevent the present
easy evasion OF wise restrictions and essential
requirements, would be a measure meeting
demand"
The Secretary urges a severe. overhauling
of the laws in relation to the taxation on
railroad lands. He calls attention to the
necessity for some legislation to compel the
railroad companies having earned the land
granted to them to take a patent therefor,
so that the States or Territories in which
such lands lie may have the benefits derived
from taxing the lands within their boundar-
les.
Congress is again urged, as in previous
reports from the department, to legis!ate in
reference to lapsed railroad grants, so as to
open them for settlement, as the depart
ment has no power to declare for
feited grants not earned.
With regard to pensions the Secretary re-
peats the figures i'll Commissioner Dudley's
recent report, and recommends that the
limitation on the time Of filing claims inn
posed by the arrears of pension act of 1879
be repealed.
In the Patent Office during the year ended
June 80, 1884, $500 applications for pat
ents, trade marks, etc, were received, and
2,672 caveats We're filed; 24,G1S patents
were granted. The work of the office is six
months behind, and more money and room
are asked fol-.
The report reviews at length the affairs
OF the Pacific railroads and what has been
uolle Ill ana Out OIL congress relative to the
payment to the United States of the
amounts due from the roads. On June 80,
1854, the net Indebtedness of the roads to
the Government was S102, 934, 794.0s. The
Secretary suggests that under existing
law the debt is steadily increasing
at the rate of over ST, 900, 900 per
annum. The Secretary is of the opinion that
the best method of dealing with this indebt-
edncss would be to authorize the funding of
the debt OH an extension of time and to re-
quire the payment of liked amounts at
stated periods.
Secretary Teller urges the appropriation
OF $4,000 for educational purposes in AL
aska and concnrs in the recommendation of
the Commissioner of Education that National
aid be extended to public primary education
based on the number of illiterates in the
various States.
The Secretary expresses confidence in the
Civll-Scrvice act, and says that the expert
ence of one and a half years has shown the
system to be a valuable one, and one that
should have the support Of both the Legis-
lative and Executive Departments OF the
Government.