The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-12-09
VOL. 20 mo. At

by ability and skill 70 properly plan and
intelligently direct the METHODS Dest
adapted to produce the most speedy re-
suits and permanent benefits. Hence,
the necessity for supplemental agency
or system directed to the end OF pro-
noting the general and more rapid tran
sitiOn Of the tribes from habits
and customs OF barbarism to the
ways Of civilization. With an enx-
ious desire for some plan OF operation BY
which 20 secure the welfare OF the
Indians and to relieve the treasury a.
far as possible from the support of an
idle and dependent population, re-
commended In my previous annual
message the passage OF . law authorize
ing the appointment Of . commission a.
an instrumsntaIty auxiliary 70 those Al
ready established for the oare OF the Iu-
dians. It was designed that this COM
mission should be composed OF six IN
telligeDt and capable persons, three to
be detailed from the army, having prac-
tical ideas upon the subject OF the
treatment of the Indians and interested
in theIr welfare and that ft should
be charged under the direction of the
secretary OF the interior, with the man
egement of such matters OF detail as can
not with the present Organization be
properly and successfully directed, and
which present different phases as the In
diAns themselves differ In their progress,
provement or immediate self support.
By the aid OF such commission much
unwise and useless expenditures Of money
waste Of materials and unavailable
efforts might be avoided, and II IL hoped
that this, or some measure which the
wisdom OF congress may better devise,
to supply the deficiency OF the
present system may receive your consid-
Grafton and the appropriate legislation be
provided. The time Ia ripe for the work
Of such an agency. There Is less oppo-
eition to their action, 81 d training OF the
Indian youth, IS shown by the increased
attendance upon the schools, and there il
yielding tendency for the individual
holding OF lands. Development and adj
vAncement in these directions are essen
tiAl, and should have every encourage
ment. As the rising generation are
taught the language of civilization and
trained in habits Of industry they
should assume the duties, .privi-
leges and responsibilities OF citizen
ship. No obstacle should hinder
the location and settlement OF any Indian
willing to take land In severalty. On the
contrary the inclination to do 90 should
be stipulated at all times when proper
and expedient. But there Is no authority
Of law for making allOtments on some Of
the reservations, and on others the allot-
ments provided for are so small that the
Indians, though ready and desiring 70
settle down, are not willing TO accept
such small areas when their reservation
contains ample lands 70 afford them
homesteads Of sufficient size to NEST
their present and future needs. These in.
CAPABILITIES OF existing special laws
and treaties should be corrected, and
some general legislation on the subject
should be provided, SO that the more
progressive members OF the different
tribes may be settled upon homeeteads
and by their example lead others TO fol-
low, breaking away from tribal customs
and substituting therefor the love of
home, the interest of the family and the
rule OF the state. The Indian character
and nature are such that they are not
easily led while br0oding over unadiusted
wrongs. This is especially 80 regarding
their lands. Matters arising from the
construction and operation Of railroads
across some Of the reservations
pancy set MP by white persons to some
OF the best land within other reserve
tons, require legislation for their final
adjustment The settlement Of these
matters will remove many embarraes-
ments TO progress IN the work of leading
futions and bringing them under the
operation. the irfiaence and the protec-
ton Of the III iversel ass Of cur country.
TIE LAND OFFICE.
The recommendations of the secretary
Of the Interior and the commits
siOner Of the general land Office,
looking to better protection Of public
land and Of their public surveys, the
preservation Of national forests, the adj
judication OF grants TO states and corpor:
atiOns and OF private land claims, and
the increased efficiency Of the public
land service, are commended 20 the at
Tention Of congress TO secure the widest
distribution OF public lands in limited
quantities among settlers for residence
and cultivation, and thus make the most
homes, was the primary object Of legis-
latiOA in the early days OF the republic.
This system was . simple one. Itcom-
mencced with an admirable
by which the humblest citizen
could identity the tract upon
which he wished to establish his home.
the reach OF all the enterpfisiDg, in
dustriOus and honest pioneer citizens Of
the country. IL was soon, however,
found that the object Of the laws was
perverted under the system Of cash sales
from . distribution Of land among the
people to an accumulation OF land and
capital by wealthy and speculative per-
sons. To check this tendency Q pref
erence right 70 purchase was given to
settlers, plan which eliminated In the
general presumption act Of 1881.
The foundation Of this system
was actual residence and cultivation.
Twenty years later the homestead law
was devised 70 more purely place actual
homes in the possession of actual cult
vstors OF the soil. The land was given
without price, the sole conditions being
residence, Improvement and cultivation.
Other laws have followed, each designed
TO encourage the &C quirement and use Of
land in limited. Individual quantities.
But In later years theee laws, through
vicious administrative methods and un-
der changed conditions Of communica-
| ton and transportation, have been 50
evhded and violated that their
benefcent purpose Il threatened
with entire defeat. The meth.
| DDS Of such evasions and violations
are set forth in detail in the reports Of
/ the secretary Of the interior and commits
sioner Of the general land Office. The
rapid appropriation Of Cur public lands
/ without bona 6de settlers and eultva.
i ton and not only without intention Of res
| idence butt for the purpose Of their aggre-
/ CATION In large holdings, In many Gases
Ia the hands Of foreigners, invites the
serious and immediate attention Of con-
gress. The enerSies Of the land depart
| msnt have been devoted during the pres
| ent administration 70 remedy defects and
correct ebusee In the public land service.
/ The results Of these efforts are 30 largely
on the nature ef reforms in the processes
and methods Of the public land system
as 20 prevent adequate estimates, bus fs
| appears By . compilation from there
| ports Of the commlesioner Of the general
i land ofice that the immediate effect in
/ leading cases which have come 60
definite termination kas&eeE the restofs.
/ ton 70 the mass Of public lands Of two
| million seven hundred and fifty thousand
acres, that two million three hundred
and seventy thousand acres are en-
braced In Investigations now pending BE-
fore the department or courts, and that
action Of congress has bean asIzed %
effect the restoration Of two mfIIIoae
/ seven hundred and ninety thousand aeras
additional, besides which four million
eeHes have been withheld from reserva-
lions and the right Of entry thereon maIn.
tanned. IEecommend the repeal Of the