The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-12-10

the mountains near the scene Of their out
RACES. put our soldiers a: great disad-
vantage IN their efforts to capture
them. though the expectation Is
still entertained that they will be
ultimately taken and punished for their
crimes.
The Land Laws.
The threatening and disordcriy con-
duct OF the Chcyennes OF the Indian Territory
Inst summer caused considerable alarm and
uneasincss. Investigation proved that their
attitude was due Z. q great
measure TO the occupation. of the land OF
their reservation nv immense herds Of cattle,
which their owners claimed were rightfully
theirs under certain leases made by tho
Indians. This action alarmed the Sioux
Indians, who claimed the terri
tory rs belonging to their reservation
under the treaty Of 1868. This claim was de-
term;ned after careful consideration to be
well founded. and consequently the executive
order referred to was. 10y proclamation of
April II. 1885, declared to DO imperative and
OF 10 effect, and al persons upon the land
were warned to leave. This warning has been
substantially complied with
The expense Of the Indian bureauduring the
last fiscal year was more than S6,50O.O00. 1
believe much of this expenditure may be
saved under the plan proposed. That Its
economics I'll Affects would be increased with
its continuance, that the safety of our fron-
tier settlers would be subscrycd under it's
operation and that the nation would be saved
through its results from the iinputatOn of
inhunarity. injustice and mismanagemcnt.
In order to curry out the policy Of allotment
of Indian lands in severalty and when deemed
expedient. 1t will be necessary to have sur
veys completed of the reservations, and
hope that provision will be made
for the prosecution OF this work.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
had its origin in cessions OF lands by the
states to the general government. The first
ccssion was made by the state Of New York
and the largest. which in Its area exceeded
all others, by the state Of Virginia. The ter
ritory, the proprietorship Of which became
thus vested i'll the general government. cx-
tended from the western line of PenGssl-
yania to the Mississippi river. These patri-
otto donations OF the states were incumbered
with no conditions, except tnat they
should be hell and rscd flor
the common benefit OF the United States" by
purchase with the common fund of all the
people additions were made 10 this domain
until it extended to the northern line OF Me-
leo, the Pacific ocean and the polar sea. The
original trust, "For tho common benefit OF
tue United States" attached to all in the ex-
ecution OF that trust the policy OF many
homes. rather than large estates, was adopted
by the government. That these might be
easily obtained and be IN abode OF security
and contentment the laws for the acquisition
were few, easily understood, and general in
their character. But the pressure of local
interests, combined with
A SPECULATIVE SPIRIT,
have in many instances procured the pas
sage OF laws which married the harmony OF
the general plan and encountered the system
with multitude OF general and special en-.
actlnents which rendered the land laws conf
picated, subject the titles to uncertainty and
the purchasers often to oppression and
wrong Laws that we're Intended Tor the '.com
mon benei., have been perverted SO tina,
large quantities cf iand are vesting in sight
owncrraiDs. From the multitude and char.
acter 81 laws that seemed incapable OF
correction by mere administration
II is not for the common benefit
~ The United States that q large area of the
pubic lands should be acquired, directly OF
through grant. i'll the hands Of Il single in
digiissal The nations strength is in ths
people. Tic nations prosperity is in thei
property.
THE NATIONS GLORY
is in the equality OF her justice. The ma.
fion's parpetaity is IN the patriotism Of al
.scr people, hence, rs far as practicable, thu
plan adopted for the disposal OF public land.
should have in view the original pole,
which encouraged many purchasers O
these lends for homes and discouraget
he massing OF large areas. FIX
elusive OF Alaska about thrcc-fifrh
of national domain has been sold or subjec
to contract or grant. OF tho remaining two
fifths U considerable portion Is either mount
ain or desert. A rapidly-increasing popnla
ton creates q growing demand for homes
and the accumulation Of wealth inspires al
eager competition to obtain this public lant
for speculative purposes. In the future thi
collision of interests will be more marke.
than in the past, and the execution OF tn
nations trust. in behalf of our settlers, vii
a ,eonxA
your attention the recommendation containe
in my report OF the secretary of the interior
with reference to the appeal and modification
of certain of our land laws.
Railroad Grants.
The nation has made princely grants an
subsidies to system of railroads projects
as great national highways to connect tn
Pacific states with tho East. 1t has bee
charged that these donations from the peOpl
have been diverted TO private gain and col
rupt uses, aud thus public Indignation hn
been aroused and SUI picion engendered. Gu
great nation does not 5cgrudge its geneI
| osity, but it abhors population and fraue
and the favOritc regard OF our people for tn
great corporations to which these grant
| were made can only be revive
/ by restoration OF confidence I
/ be secured by their constant VI
equivocal and early-manife6ted integrity
/ A faithful application OF this undiminish G
proceeds OF the grants to the cOnstructiO
and perfecting OF their roads an honest dis
i charge of their Obligations, and entire juStiC
to all the people in the enjoyment OF the
rights on the highways Of travel, Is vii th
/ public asks, and 1t will be content with q
| less. To secure these things should be til
| common purpose OF tho officers OF the goveri
ment as well rs Of the corporations. Wit
their accomplishment prosperity would b
4 mar
and national pride would tax
the place OF national complain
1t appears from the report OF the commi
sioner of pensions that there were on tn
| first day OF July, 1855, 345, l25 persons borr
upon the pension rolls. They were classic
as follows: Army invalids, 81, 45s; widow
minor children and dependent relatives Of d
ceased soldiers, 1851; navy invalids. g, IA
navy widows minor children and dependent
1926; survivors OF the war Of 1872, 295, an
| widows of those who served in that wal
l7,:l2, about ono man In ten OF oil tho;
who enlisted in the late war or r
ported as receiving pensions exclusi,
of the dependents Of deceased soldiers.
the first Of July, 1876, tho number of pension
ers was 234, SCI, and the increase within tn
ten years next thereafter was 10000. WIFI
there Is no expenditure OF the public funt
which the people more cheerfully apprO,
than that made in recognition of the service
OF our soldiers living aud dead, the sentimeI
underlying the subject should not be violate
by the introduction Of any fraudulent pra
tees. Therefore it is fully rs important til,
the rolls should be cleansed of all those who /
fraud have secured q place thereon, as tn
meritorious claims should be speedily exar
incd and adjusted. Tho reforms In the met
| ODDS of doing the business of this burea
which have lately been inaugurated pror
Use better results in both tn csc direction
The operations of the patent Office demo
strate the activity Of the inventive genius
the country for tho year ended June 80. ISIS
The applications for patents, including r
issues and for the registration Of trade mari
and labels, numbered 1858. During Il
same period there were % ,92s patents grant,
aud re- issued. and l.429 trade marks and
bells registered. The number Of paten
issued in tho year 1885 was 1857. The I
ceipts during the last fiscal year were $l,07a
97i,35. and the total expenditures, not inclu
Ing contingent expenses, 1884 ,l23, IL.
There were 9,7s8 applications for paten
pending on the LIST day OF July, 1854, II
5,1s6 on tho same dato in the year l8S
There has been considerable inprOyeme
made on tho prompt determination of app