Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-16

subserved under it's operation, and that the ma
ton would be saved through it's results from the
/ inDutation of inhumanity, injustice and mis-
| management. In order to carry out the policy
of allotment of Indian lands in severalty, when
deemed expedient it will be necessary to have
surveys completed of the reservations, and
hope that provision will be made for the prose
cuTion of this work.
They should also be charged with the duty of
asc ertaining the number of Indians who
might properly be furnished with i1nple-
ments Of agriculture and of what kind
in what cases the support of the Gov
ernm9nt should be withdrawn; where the
present plan of distributing Indian supplies
should be changed; where schools may be
established and where discontinued; the
conduct, method and fitness of agents in
charge of reservations; the extent to
which such reservations are occupied or
| intruded upon by unauthorized persons, and
generally all matters relating tc the vel
fare and improvement of the Indian
They should advise with the Secretary of the
interior concerning these matters of detail in
management, and he should be given power to
deal with them fully, if he is not now invested
with such power This plan contemplates the
selection of such persons for commissioners
WAC are interested in the Indian question, and
who have practical ideas on the subject Of their
treatment.
INDIAN TROUBLES.
In May OF the present year small portion of
the Chiricahua Apaches on the White Mountain
Reservation in Arizona left the reservation and
committed a number of murders upon settlers
in that neighborhood. Though prompt and en-
v,
renegades eluded capture and escaped into
Mexico. The formation of the country through
which these Indians passed. their thorough ac-
quaintance with the same, the speed of their
escape and the manner in which they scattered
and concealed themselves in TIE mountains
near the scene of their outrages, put
our soldiers at great disadvantage in their
efforts to capture them, although the expecta-
ton is still entertained that they will ultimately
be taken and punished for their crimes
INDIAN RESERVATIONS PROTECTED,
Inc threatening and dlSOrderlV conduct of the
Cheyennes of the Indian Territory, early last
summer, caused considerable alarm and I'M
eas1ness. Investigation proved that their threat
4enlng attitude was due, in q great measure, to
the occupation of the land of their reservation
by immense herds of cattle, which their
owners claimed were rightfully there
under certain leases made by the Indians.
Such occupation appearing, upon examination
to be unlawful, Notwithstanding these leases,
the 1ntruders were ordered to remove with their
cattle from the land of the Indians by the Tx
ecutive proclamation. The enforcement of this
proclamation had the effect of peace and order
among the Indians, and they now quiet and
well behaved.
BY an Executive order issued on February 27.
1885, by my predecessor, q portion of the tract
OF country in the territory known as the Old
Winnebago and Crow Creek Reservations was
directed TO be restored to the public domain and
opened to settlement, under the land laws of
the United States, and large number of per-
sons entered upon those lands.
This action alarmed the Sioux Indians who
claimed the territory as belonging to their res
WAS determined, after careful investigation to be
well founded, and consequently the Executive
order referred to was, by proclamation of April
IT, 1885, declared to be imperative and of eff
feet and all persons upon the land were warned
to leave. This warning has been substantially
complied with
OUR PUBLIC LANDS
The public domain had it's origin in cessions of
land by the States to the General Government
The first cession was made by the State OF New
York, and the largest, which in area exceeded
all the others, by the State of Virginia. The ter
ritory the proprietorship of which became thus
vested in the General Government extended
from the western line of Pennsylvania to the
Mississippi River. These patriotic donations of
the States were incumbered by 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 made to this domain I'M
til it extended to the northern line of Mexico,
the Pacific Ocean, and the Polar Sea. The origi-
nal trust for the common benefit of the United
States" attached to ali. In the execution of that
trust the policy of many homes rather than
large estates" adopted by the Government.
That those might be easily obtained and be the
abode of security and content1nent the laws for
their acquisition were few, easily understood
and general in their character.
But the pressure of local interests, combined
with q speculative spirit, has in many in
stances procured the passage of laws which
marred the harmony of the general plan and en-
numbered the system with multitude of gen
eral and special enactments which render the
land laws complicated, subject the titles to I'M
certainty and the purchasers often to oppression
and wrong. Laws which were intended for the
common benefit" have been perverted SO that
large quantities of land vested in single
ownership. From the multitude and character
of the laws this consequence seems incapable
of correction by mere administration.
1t is not for the common benefit of the United
States that a large area of the public lands
should be vested directly or through fraud, in
the hands of single individual. The nations
ity is in their prosperity. The nations glory is
in the equality of her justice. The nations per-
petuity is in the patriotism of all her people.
Hence, as far practicable, the plan adopted
in the disposal of the public lands should have
in view the original policy, which encouraged
many purchases of these lands for homes and
Exclusive of Alaska, about three-fifths
of the national domain has been
sold subjected to contract or grant.
OF the remaining two-fifths a considerable por-
ton is either mountain or desert. rapidly
increasing population creates growing demand
for homes, and accumulation of wealth inspires
an eager competition to obtain the 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 diff
cult 7 therefore commend to your attention
the recommendations contained in the report of
the Secretary of the Interior with reference to
land laws
RAILROAD LAND GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES.
The nation has made princely grants and sub
sides to a system of railroads projected 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 uses, and thus public
Indignation has been aroused and suspicion en-
gendered. Our great nation does not begrudge
it's generosity, but it abhors peculation and
fraud, and the favorable regard of our people for
the great corporations to which these grants
were made can only be revived by a restoration
of confidence, to be secured by their constant
unequivoca1 and clearly manifested integrity
A faithful application of the undirninished pro-
ceeds of the grants to the construction and per-
fecting of their roads, honest discharge of
their obligations and entire Justice to all the
people in the enjoyment of their rights on these
highways of travel, is all the public asks, and it
will be content with no less. To secure these
things should be the common purpose of the
officers of the Government, as we'll as of the cor
porations. With this accomplished, prosperity
would be permanently secured to the roads and
national pride would take the place of national
comp laint.
THE PATENT OFFICE
The operations of the patent Office demon
strate the activity of the Inventive genius of the
country. For the year ended June 80, 1885, the
applications for patents, including reissues and
for the registration of trademarks and labels,
numbered 35689. During the same period
there were q, 928 patents granted and reissued,
and 1,429 trademarks and labels registered.
The number of patents issued in the year 1875
was ID, 3S7. The receipts during the last fiscal
year were $1074, 974.35, and the total expendi-
lures, not including contingent expenses, 1884,,
1871.
1ioo