Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-12-10

ton, Wuntt ~ any, OF inc ftttlNhilNus tuhl
be reduced IN area, and in such cases what
part not needed for Indian occupation may
be purchased by the Government from the
Indians and disposed OF for their bencht.
What, II any. Indians may, with their con
sent, be removed TO other reservations with
view oftholr concentration, and the same
tions what Indian lands now held IN COM
mon should be allotted in severalty. In what
manner and TO what extent the In.
placed under under the projection OF our
laws aud subjected 20 their
invested d"s With Sen me faht ~ esnship ipG The
powers and functions OF the commissioners
In regard 10 these subiects should be clearly
tion with tho Secretary of the Interior. he
given nv the authority to deal definitely
with the questions presented, deemed sate
with the duty OF ascartalnlnR tho Indians
who might properly be furnished with Inn
plements Of agr culture, and OF what Kind
aud IN what cases the support OF the govern
ment should be withdrawn Where the pres.
ent plan OF distributing Indian supplies
established and whore discontinued. the con.
duct. methods and witnesses of agents in
charge OF reservations, the extent 10 which
upon BY unauthorized persons, aud generally
all matter related to the welfare and Inn
provement of the Indians.
THE PuRIic DOMAIN.
Tho public domain had It's origin In COS
ernment The FIRST ccssiol was made by the
State OF Now York, and the largest, which in
area exceeded all the others, by the state OF
Virginia. The territory, tho proprietorship
OF which became thus vested In the United
States. extended from the western line OF
Pcnneynnin to the Mississippi River. These
patriotic donations of the ptatos were en-
numbered with no condit ons except that
they should be held aud used for the CON-
mon benefit OF the United states" by pur-
chase with the common fund of all the peO-
pie, additons were made 70 this domain UNI
~ u extended 10 the northern line of Mex
leo on the Pncihc Ocean aud to the Polar Sea.
II is not for the common benefit OF the
United states that large area Of public
lands should be acquired directly or through
fraud in the hands OF single individuals: the
Nations strength is in the people; the Ma
tons prosperity Is in their prosperity; the
Natlou's glory Is IN tho equality OF justice;
the Nations prosperity is In the patriot sm
of her peeple-hencc, as far ns practicable,
the plan adopted in the disposal OF public
lands should have in view the original policy
which encouraged many purchasers OF the
lands for homes and discouraged the mass
ing OF large areas. Exciusvc OF Alaska,
has been sold or subject TO cont oct or
grant.
OF the rcmeiniug two-hfths a considerable
portion Is either mountain OF desert. "A rap
idly increasing population creates u growing
demand for homes, and the accumulation OF
wealth inspires an eager compel tion TO OBJ
tain the public land for speculative purposes.
In the future this collision OF interests will DO
more marked than In the past, and the eXecu-
tiers will be more difficult. l therefore cUm.
mend to your attention the recommendations
contained In my report OF the Secretary OF
the Interior with reference TO the repeal and
modification of certain OF our land laws.
The nation hes made prnoely grants and
subsidies to ystcm OF railroads projected
as great National highways TO connect the
Pacific States with the Eas. IL has been
charged that these donat ons from the pco-
pie have been diverted to private gains aud
corrupt uses aud thus pubic Indignation
aroused
eugendered. our great Nation does
not 6cgrudge Us generosity, but u
nbhOrs peculatOn aud fraud and the tHyOr-
able regard of our people for the great
corporations 20 which these grants were
u,sdo. Gun only be revived BY restoration OF
confidence to be secured by thuir constant,
une, ,n'vocrl aud clearly manifested integrity
faithful application OF the undiminishcd
proceeds OF the grants to the construction
and pertccting of their roads, an honest dis
charge OF their obligation aud entire justice
To all the people in the enjoyment OF their
rights on these highways OF travel Is all tho
less. lsS''' ''A' "''' - II "'' " ~ "'''
PENSIONS
II appears from the report of tho Commis.
sioncr OF Pensions that there were ON the lst
day OF July. lssi, 3i5,l2j persons borne upon
the pension rolls CLASSIFIED Us follows: Army
inyRids. 2fl,2lS; widows, MINOR children and
dope tndont relatives of deceased soldiers. 7o'
81; navy invulids. =, "a, navy widows, minor
children and dependents, l,aJ; survivors OF
the war OF 49,. su5, ana widows of those who
served in that war, l7,2l2.
About Que man ntwO who enl sted IN the
late war is reported As receiving pension,
exclusive OF the dcpendentSOf deceased sol
dicrs. ON the LIST OF july, ls7b, the number
of pensioners were @ji.osl, nnd the increase
within the ten years next thereafter was
llu,AA. while there is no expenditure of
public funds which the people more cheer
iully approve than that made IA recognition
OF the services OF our soldiers, living aud
dead, the sentiment underlying the sub
ioct should not be vitiated by the
Introduction of any fraudulent practices;
therefore, IL Is fully as Important That tue
rolls should be cleaned OF ali those, who by
fraud have secured places thereon, rs that
mcritOrious claims should be speedily exam
ined aud adjusted. Tue reforms la the meth
DDS Of doing the business of the bureau, which
have lately been inHugurated, promise better
results In both these directions.
TUE MORMON QUESTION.
In the Territory Of Utah the law OF the
United states passed for the suppression 81
pOll gumy, has been encrgctiCaliy ana faith
fuiiy executed during Tue past year with
meusurubly good results. number Of con.
vicuons have been secured for unlawful
cOhabltutlOn, ana IA some cases pleas Of
guilty have been entered ana n slight pun
ishment imposed upon u promise hy the ac.
Cuscd that thoy would hot again offend
against the law or advise, counsel, AID OF
ubet In any way Its violation by others.
The Utah Commissioners express the op.n-
ion, based upon such Information as thcS are
able To obtain. hut but few pGlyguiuOus
marriages have taken place in the territory
during the last year. They further report
that VIII lc there can not be found upon the
registration lists OF voters tile name
OF man actually guilty OF pob =
amy, and while mono OF that class
are holding office. yet NJ tine last election IN
the Territory all the Oiic 'rs elected, except IN
one county, were men who. though not ac
tually nying In tue practice OF pOlygamy
subscribe a. the doctrine OF revelation, and =
aw unto all higher aud more binding upon
the condition tnan any human law, local or
udtiOnn.
This IS the strange spectacle presented OF
community, protected by a Republican
form OF government, To which they own allie
glance, sustaining b. thcir sunrages u prin
clple and belief that sets az naugnt that oh
lgat on Of absolute existence To the law OF
the land whict. lies at the foundat on OF lie
publican institutions. The strength, perpe.
tuity ana destiny OF the Nat ON rests upon
our homes, establ shed By the law of God,
guarded Dy parental care regulated by pa.
rental authority and sanctioned by parental
love.
There should be no relaxation In the frm
hut lust execution of the law now In opera.
ton, ana 1 should be glad 10 approve such
further discreet legislation ns will rid the
country Of this blot upon it, fair name. Since
tue people uphoiding polyRamy IN our Terri
tories are reinforced by Immigration from
other lands, recommend that a law be passed
20 prevent the importation OF Mornons into
rHE CIVIL SERVICE.
The report OF the Ciyil Service Commission,
which Will be submitted, contains an account
OF the manner la which the civil service law
has been executed during the last year aud
much valuable Information on this important
subject
! am inclined 10 think that there Is no sontl.
mcnt more general in the minds OF the pcO-
pie OF our country than q constitution OF cor.
rcctncss OF principle, upon which the
civil service reform Is based. In It's pres
cnt condition tho law regulates only
part OF the subordinate public
positions throughout the country
II applies tcstH Of ntncss 60 applicants Tor
these places By means OF a competitive cX-
animation aud gives large discreet on 10 the
comm, - Oncrs a. 90 character OF oKamina-
ton and mnny other matters connected with
- execution. Thus the rules and rcguln.
tons adopted by the Commissioners have
much 70 DO with the practical usefulness OF
the statute hnd vita the result OF IL applied.
tOu.
The people may well trust the commission
10 execute the law with perfect fairness and
with ns little friction ns possible, but OF
course, no relaxation OF the principle which
underlles "a. aud no weakening OF the snfe.
guards which surround II can be expected
Experience in rs administration viii proba-