Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-12-17

meantime increased the expcnd turc re.
suitiDa III deficiency in the revenue To
meet the expenses OF the department of S..
25oO0 for the year 1884. ard IS $50 :s3 33i5 i'm
the last fiscal year. The anticipated and
oppressed and retarded by the unfavorable
business condition OF the country of which
the postal Service is a faithful indicator.
TIE gratifying fact is shown. however, by
the report that our returning prosperity is
maAked by gain of $4,000 in the revenue
q We latter half of the last year over the
corresponding period Of the preceding year.
The change in weight of frs. cdss matter
VIII oh may be carried for 3 nglu rate post
age from a half ounce to an ounce, and the
reduction By One-half cent of newspaper
postage. which. under recent legislation, be-
gan with the current year, VIII operate to
restrain the augmentation OF receipts which
otherw Sc M ht have been expected to such
degree that the scale of expense may gain
upon the revenue and cause an Increased
deficiency to be shown at its close. Yet after
so long period of increased prosperity it is
confidently anticipated that even the present
low rates are AS favorable as any country af.
fcius, and Will be adequate to sustain the
cost of service.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior,
containing an account of the ope ration OF
this important department and mach inter-
estng informal on, will be submitted for
your cOasidcrat on. The most intricate and
difficult subject in charge of this department
is the Treatment: and management of the In
dams | sat SIZED that some prO9re as
MAJ be noted in their condition, rs 4 feshlt
of a prudent aditnistratCn Of the present
laws rid rcgn latons tor the r comfort. But
il is adm tied that there is lack of q fixed
purpose or policy on this subject VIII ch
should be supplied. Il is useless 10 dilatc I'D.
on the wrongs of rhc ndans. and rs use
less 10 indulge in the healtleSs belief that be-
cause their wrongs are rpvcngcd in tlrcir own
atrocious manner, therefore they should be
extcrInnated. They are within the care of
cur Government and their rights should be
protected from invasion by the most solemn
Obligations. They are properly enough called
the wards of the IioverEntent. and il should
be borne in mind that this guardianship in
vokcs on our part efforts for the improve
ment of their condition and tao enforcement
of their rights.
Cur Indian populat on exclos We of these
in hlaska. is reported ia mum 0ering 2jtD 0J0.
nearly nj; being located on lands set apart
Tor their use and occupation. agpregating
over l3i,0M,HD Of acres These lands are in
ciuted i'll boundaries of ia reservations
OF different dilncns ons, scattered in twenty
one States and Territories. presenting rE:tt
variat chs in climate and III the kind and
quality OF Their soils. Among tie JGd ans
upon thSsc several reservations there exist
the must marked differences in National
traits ard disposition and m their progress
toward civil ZetiOn.
The story Of all Progress which has been
made in the e, viiizatiOn of Indians, ! think
Will disclose the fact that the beg ming has
been religious teach nE. followed by. or ac
company ng secular education. While the
seif-sacr icing and p:ous men ana wp.net
who have aided il tits good work, by Their
independent cndcayor have for their reward
The bencficent results of their labor and
consciousness of Christian duty well per-
formed. Their valuable scrv ccs should i,e
fully acknowledged by al WHO. under the
law are charged with the control and nl;,n
agciRent OF orr Indian wEt;is.
4 recommend the passage OF a law author
iZing the appointment OF six commissioners,
three OF whom shall he detailed from the
army. TO hc charged with the duty Of a care
full inspection, from lime 30 time of all the
IRtians upon our reservations or subject to
the care and control of the Government. with
Ticw of aScertaning their exact condition
ana needs, and determining what steps shall
be taken on behalf of tie government to
improve their situation in the direction
OF their SelfsuppOr. and complete civi liza
ton, that they ascertain from sEch inspec
ton, what, if any, OF the reservations lIiiy
be reduced in area AND il; such eases what
part not needed for Indian OCCUPATION NAV
hc purchased by the Government from the
Indians and disposed OF for their benefit.
What, if any, Indian: may, with their con-
sent, be removed to other reservations with
q view of their concentration, and the same
on their behalf of their abandoned reserya-
tons. What Indian lands now held in com
mon should be allotted i'll severalty. in what
manner and to what extent the In
placed under the protection of our
laws and subjected to Their
penalties, and which. if any, Indians should
powers and functions of the Commiss. oncrs
i'm regard to these subjects should be clearly
defined though they should, in cOnjunc-
ton with the Secretary of the Interior. be
given all the authority to deal definitely
with the Questions presented, deemed safe
aud consistent. They should be also charged
with the duty of ascertain ny the Indians
who might properly be furn Sne1 ". til i'm
plcmcnts OF ayr culture, and OF what kind,
and iu what cases the support of the govern
mont should &c withdrawn. Where the pres
ent plan OF str;bmtng Indian supplies
should be changed, where schools should be
established ana where discontinued, the con-
duct. methods and witnesses of agents IN
charge Of reservations, the extent 10 which
upon by unautlior zed persons, and generally
all matter related to The welfare and i'm
proveincnt Of the Indians.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The public tionaia had its Orig'n in ces-
sous of land 10y the States to the general Gov
eminent The first cess:O 1 was made by the
State Of New York. AMI the largest, which i'm
area exceeded all the Othors. by the State of
Virgin n. Tie territory, the propr;etorship
Of which became thus vested III the United
States extended from the Western line of
Pennsylani TO the hissss pp River. These
patriotic donations of the States were ell.
numbered with no condt Ons except that
they should be he'd end used tor the COIL
mon benefit of the Tn ted states" BY pur-
chase with the common fund of all the peO-
pie, additions were made TO this domain un-
I'll it extended 20 the northern ne Of Mex
leo on the pac. ic Ocean and TO the Polar Sea.
Ii is not for the common beneit OF the
United States that II large area of public
lands should be acquired directly Or through
fraud n the hands Of single individuals: the
Nations strength is in the people: the Ma
items prosperity is in their prosperity: the
Nations glory is in the equality OF justice;
the Nations prosper ty is in the patriotism
of her pccple-hence, rs far as practicable,
the plan adopted IN tue disposal of publ C
lands should have in view the original policy
which encouraged many purchasers OF the
lands for homes. ami discouraged the mass
ing OF large areas. Exclusive of Alaska,
about three tifshS of the National domain
has been sold or SUBJECT to contract or
grant.
or the remaining two-ffths a considerable
portion is either mountain or desert. A rap
idly increasing population creates Il growing
demand FOR homes and the accumulation of
wealth inspires an eager cOmpcttio to Oh
tain the public Ian for speculative purposes.
In the future this collision of interests Will be
more marted than in the past, and the execu-
ton OF the Nations trust in behalf Of our set
tiers will be more difficult. | therefore COM
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 has made princcly grants and
subsidies to 4 system OF railroads projected
as great National highways to connect the
Pacific States with the EaSt- 1t has been
charged that these donations from the peo-
pie have been diverted to private gains ana
SOlyupt uScS anu tuitS puhlC
has been aroused and suspicion
engendered. Our great Nation does
not begrudce its generosity, but 1t
abhors pcculation and fraud and the favor
able regard of our people for the great
corporations to which these grants were
made can only I've revived by a restoration of
confidence to he scared by their constant
uneouiSocal and clearly manifested integrity.
n faithful application of the uEdimnishcd
proceeds of the grants to the construction
and perfecting of their roads an honest dis
charge OF their obligation and entire Justice
10 all the people in the enjoyment of their
rights On tteSe highways of travel is all the
public asks and it win not be content with
less.
PENSIONS.
1t appears from the report of the Commits
sioner OF Pensions that there were on the 1St
day of July. 1885. 3i5.l25 persons borrc upon
the pension rolls. classified as follows Army
a. h. -