The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-18
~tratton, and the sale on their behalf OF vtrn
abandoned reservations; what Indian landsno~

! tration, and the sale on their behalf Of vurn
| abandoned reservations; what Indian lands now
| held in common should he allotted in severally:
in what manner and to what extent the indians
upon the reservations can be placed under the
protection of our laws and subjected to theii
penalties, and which. if any, Indians should be
invested with the right of citizenship. The
powers and functions OF the commissioners in
regard to these subjects should be clearly de-
fined, though they should, in conjunction with
the secretary OF the Interior, be given all the an
tEority to deal definitely with the auea-
lions presented, deemed safe and consistent.
They should also be charged with tho duty OF
ascertain.ng the Indians VINO might properly be
furnished with implements of agriculture and
of what kind: in what cases the support of the
government should be withdrawn: where the
present plan of distributing Indian supplies
should be changed; where schools may be es-
tablished and where discontinued: the conduct.
methods and fitness of agents in charge OF res
ervations; the extent to which such reserva-
tlons are occupied or iEtruaed upon by every I'M
authorized person, and generally all matters
relative TO the welfare ard management of the
Indians. They should advise with the secretary
of the interior concerning these letters of detail
In management, and he should be given power
to deal with them fully. If he is not vested
with such power, this plan ~contemplates the
selection of persons for commissioners who are
Interested In the Indian question, who have
practical ideas on the subject OF their treatment.
The expense of the Indian bureau during the
last fiscal year was moro than Sc SOC. 900. / be-
lleve much OF this expenditure may be saved
under the plan proposed; that its economical
effects would be increased with its continuance:
that the safety of our frontier settlers would
DE Subscrved under its operation. and that the
nation would be saved through its results from
the imputat1on of inhnmantty, injustice and
Encouragement In order to carry out the pol
Icy of allotment of Indian lands in severalty
and when deemed eypedient, it will be necessary
TO nave surveys completed of the reservations,
and l hope that provision will be made for the
prosecution OF this work. In Nav Of the pres
cnt year q small portion of
THE CHInICAHuA APAcHEs,
a n tho Whtan ny tf,r i~ k~t-n~o
left the reservation and committed a number of
murders and depredattons upon the settlers in
TINT neighborhood, Though prompt and ener-
setic action was taken by the military, the rene
gaaes eluded capture and escaped into Mexico.
The formation OF the country through which
these Indians ~passed-the speed OF their escape
and the lnannsS IS whiah they scattered and
concealed thsTr VA among the mountsins
near the scenyH Sss4aA Il out put our soldiers
ture them, ~thouxss5he expectation IL still enter
tanned that they will be ultimately taken and
punished for their crimes. The threatening and
disorderIy conduct of tho Cheyennes Of the
Indian Territory last summer caused consider
able alarm and uneasiness. Investigation proved
that their threatening attitude was due, III q
great measure, to the occupation of the land OF
the reservation by immense herds of cattle,
which their owners claimed were riGhtfully
theirs, under certain leases made by the Indians.
such occupation appearing, upon examination,
to be unlawful, Notwithstanding these leases,
the intluders were ordered to remove with their
cattle from the lands of the Indians by executive
proclamation. The enforcement Of this procla-
nation had the effect of restoring peace among
the Indians, and they are now quiet and WELL
behaved. Gy an executive order issued on Feb.
81, 1888, by NV predecessor, a portion Of the
tract OF country In the territory. known as the
old Winnebaso and Crow Creek reservations,
was directed to be restored to the public domain
aud opened to settlement under the land laws OF
the United States, and a large number of persons
entered upon these lands. This action alarmed
the Sioux Indians. who claimed the territory as
belonging TO- their reservation, nnder the treaty
OF 1865. This claim was determined, after
careful Investigation. to he we'll founded md
consequently. the executive order referred TO
was, by proclamation of April II, 1885, de-
persons upon the land were warned to leave.
This warning has been substantially complied
with.
THE FUB1Ic DOMAIN
had its origin in sessions OF land by the stntes
to the general government. The first cession
was made by the State Of New York, and tho
largest. whose area exceeded all others, by tho
State OF Virginia. The territory, the proprietor
ship of which became thus vested in the general
Pennsylvania to the Mississippi river. These
patriotic donations of the states were incun-
lbered with no condition except that they should
be held and used For the common benefit of the
United States" BY purchase with the common
fund OF all the people additions were made to
this domain until it extended to the northern
line of Mexico, the Pacific ocean and the Polar
sea. The original trust, For the common ben
eht of the United States" attached to all. the
execution 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 the abode of security aud con-
tcat!ncnt. 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 in
stances, procured the passage of laws which
married the harmony of the general plan and
lncumbered the system with q multitude OF gen.
erai and special enactmeuts which rendered the
land laws complicated, subjected the titles to IN
certainty and the purchasers often to oppression
and wrong. Laws that we're intended for the
common benefit" have been perverted SO
lNat large quantities of land are ypStjNp
in sight ownerships. From the multitude
and character OF the laws this seems incap-
1t Is not for the common benefit of the United
States that n large area OF the public lands
sho hsn Se a az u s;ny d.r ind,y, or through AZ. fraud, in
strength is in the people: the nations prosper
ity Is in their prosperity: the nations glory is
Ill the equality OF her justice: the nations per-
petuity is in the patriotism of all her people:
hence as far as practicable the plan adopted for
the disposal of public lands should have in view
the original policy which encouraged many pur-
chasers of these lands for homes and discouraged
the massinS Of large areas, exclusive Of Alaska
been sold or subjected to contract or grant: of
the remaining two-tfths a considerable portion
Is either mountain or desert. A rapidly increas-
ing population creates a growing demand for
homes, and the accumulation of wealth inspires
IN eager competition to obtain this public land
for speculative purposes: In the future this
collision Of interests will be more marked than
In the past, and the execution of the nations
trust in behalf OF our settlers will be more diff
cult. L therefore commend 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
QUIZ A Avs.
The nation has made princely grants and SUBJ
sides to a system OF railroad projected as great
national highways to connect the Pacific states
with the East. 1t has been charged that these
donations from the people have been diverted TO
private gain and corrupt uscs. and thus public
INDIGNATION has been aroused and suspicion en-
gendered, Our great nation does not beprudge
its generosity, but it abhor, POPULATION and
fraud, and the favorable regard of our people for
were made can only be revived by u restoration
of confidence to be secured by their constant.
unequivocal and early manifested integrity. A
ceeds of the grants to the construction and per-
fecting Of their roads, an honest discharge of
their ob!iEations and entire justice to all the
highways of travel ia all the public asks, and it
VIII be content with no less. To secure these
things should be tho common purpose OF the
officers of the govern. aent as well as of the cor
Dorations. With this accomplishments prosperity
would be permanently secured to tho roads, and
national pride would take the place OF national
complaint.
PENSIONS.
1t appears from the report of the commits
sioper Of pensions that there were, on the first
day OF July, 1885. 345, 1875 persons borne upon
the pension rolls, who were classified as follows;
Widows, minor children and dependent
relatives Of deceased soldiers .......... 7s,s41
Navy Widows. minor children and de: 4'
pendents. ................ ........... 1926
Survivors of the war of 1S12........ 295
And widows OF those who gel we'd in that
80. !. 1912
About one man in ten of all those who en-
listed ! in the late war or reported as receiving
pensions, exclusive OF the dependents OF de-
ceased soldiers. On the first of July, 1873, the
number OF pensioners was 23l,S2l. and tho
increase within the ten years next thereafter
was 1lo. 3Oi. While there is no expenditure Of
public funds which the people more cheerfully
approve than that made in recognition OF the
services Of our soldiers living and dead, the
sentiment underlying the subject should not bo
vitiatcd by the Introduction OF any fraudulent
practices. Therefore it is fully as important