Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1886-12-10

service for the fiscal year just passed, with
the available income from Indian land and
trust moneys, ,!amOunting in all to $780,
775.l2, We're ample for the service under the
conditions and restrictions Of the laws reg
ulatlng their expenditure. There remained
81, $780, 0233O. of which 81 SSSS7 ,76821 are per-
manent funds, for the fulfillment of treaties
and other like purposes, and the remainder,
SSS222,255O9, is subject to be carried to the
surplus fund, as required by law. The es-
Inmates presented for appropriations for
t1e t1e g ensuing fiscal @ year amount to $685.,
fore congress last year. The present sys-
tenn of agencies, while absolutely necessary
and we'll adapted for the management of
our Indian affairs, and for the ends in view,
was adopted when the stage of Indian
management was Inadequate, standing
alone for the accomplishment of an object
the more rapid transition from tribal or
ganizations to citizenship of such portions
OF the Indians as are incapable of civilized
life. When the existing system was
adopted the Indian race was outside of the
limits OF organized states and territories,
and beyond the Immediate reach and oper-
mainly directed to the maintainance Of
friendly relations, and the preservation of
peace and quiet ON the frontier. All this is
now changed. There is no such thing as
the Indian frontier. Civilization, with the
busy hum of industry and the influence of
christianity, surrounds these people at ev-
cry point None OF the tribes are outside
OF the bounds of organized government
and society, except that the territorial sys-
tenn has not been extended over that por-
tion of the country known as the Indian
territory. AS race the Indians are no
longer hostile, but may be considered as
submissive to the government as few of
them only are troublesome. Except the
upon other stations, it is impossible for
them to subsist by the chase and the spOn-
taneous productions of the earth. With an
abundance of land, if furnished with the
means and implements for profita-
bic industry, their life of entire depend
ence upon government rations from day to
day is no longer defensible. Their inclina-
ton, long fostered by defective system of
control, is to cling to the habits aud Gus
toms of their ancestors, and struggle with
persistence against the change of life
which their altered circumstances press
upon them. but barbarism and civilization
cannot live together.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The recommendations OF the secretary of
the interior and the commissioner of the
general land Office looking to the better pro-
lection of public lands and of the public sur
veys; the preservation of national forests,
the adjudication of grants to states and cor
porations and of private land claims and
the increased efficiency of the public land
service are commended to the attention of
congress to secure the widest distribution
of public lands in limited quantities among
settlers of residence and cultivation and
thus make the greatest numbers of individ-
ual homes, was the primarysobject of the
public land legislation in the early days of
the republic. This system was simple
one. 1t commenced with an admirable
scheme of public surveys, by which the
humblcst citizen could identify the tract
npon which he wished to establish his
home. The price of lands was placed with
in the reach of all the enterprising, indus
trious and honest pioneer citizens of the
country It 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 accumula-
ton of land capital by wealthy and specu-
lative persons. TO check this tendency
a preference right Of purchase was given
to settlers on the land. plan which cul-
minated III the general pre-emptiOn act Of
18l. The foundation of this system was
actual residence and cultivation. Twenty
years later the homestead laws were de-
vised to more surely place actual homes in
the possession of actual cultivators of the
soil. The land was given without price,
the sole conditions being residence, i'm
provement and cultivation. Other laws
have followed, each designed to encourage
the requirement and use of land in limited
hdyidua indy But in Later years
methods and under changed conditions
of communication and transportation
have been SO evaded and violated
that their benefcient purpose is threat
ened with entire. defeat. The methods
of such evasions and violations
secretary Of the interior and commissioner
Of the general land Office. The rapid ap-
preparation of our public lands, without
bona fide settlements or cultivation, and
not only without intention Of residence, but
for the purpose of their aggregation in
large holdings, In many cases i'll the hands
mediate m attention Of congress. @ r The a ener- M
gies Of the land department. have been de-
voted during the present administration, to
remedy defects and correct abuses in the
public land service. The: results of these
efforts are 80 largely III the nature OF re-
forms in the process and methods of our
land system, as to prevent adequate esti-
mates, but it appears by a acompilation from
the reports of the commissioner of the gen.
eral land Office, that the immediate efectin
leading cases which have come to final
termination, has been the restoration to the
mass of public lands of 2,750O00; that 2, $780,
600 acres are embraced in Investigations
now pending before the department or
courts, and that the action of congress has
been asked to effect the restoration of g.
10000 acres additional, besides which 4,
100000 acres have been withheld from reser-
vation, and the rights Of entry thereon
maintained. 49,
TO REPEAL LAND LAWS.
recommend the repeal of the pre-emp-
ton and timber culture acts, and that the
homestead laws be so amended as to better
secure compliance with and cultivation for
the period Of five years from date of entry
without communication or provision for spec
ulative REIMBURSEMENT. I also recommend
the repeal of the desert land laws, unless it
shall be the pleasure of the congress to SO
amend these laws as to render them less
liable to abuse AS the chief motive for
the evasion of the laws, and the principle