The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-09

industrial training and improvau ne
of few Indians onlv Tn
many are neglected and rema;l ;3 ns
dependent conditions not Favorable o
progressive civilization. W
GOOD MEN WANTED.
The compensation allowed the aco..
and the conditions of service are not oas
culated to secure for the work men M
are fitted by ability and skill to proneriS
plan and intelligently direct the method,
best adapted TO produce the most snea5s
results and permanent benefits. Hencs
the necessity for supplemental apenc1
or system, directed to the end of promoi
ing the general and more rapid transition
of the tribes from habits and customs ~
barbarism to the ways of tcivilizatiop
With an anxious desire to deviss
some plan of operation nv
which to secure the welfare of the indians
and to relieve the treasury as far as pos.
sible from the support of an idle and az.
pendent population l recommended. in
my previous annual message, the passage
of law authorizing the appointment Of
a commission as an instrumentality auxi
larry to those already established for the
care of the Indians. 1t was designed
that this commission should be composed
of SIX intelligent and capable persons
three to be detailed from the army, hay
ing practical ideas upon the subject Of
the treatment of the Indians and interested
in their welfare and that it should
be charged under the direction of the sec \
rotary of the interior, with the manage.
ment of such matters of detail as, can not,
with the present organization, be proper.
ly and successfully corrected, and which
present different phases, as the Indians
themselves differ in their progress, needs, 4
disposition and capacity for improvement
and Immediate self-suppOrt. BY the aid
of such a commission much Unwise and
useless expenditure of money, waste Of
material, and unavailing efforts might be
avoided and it is hoped that this, or some
measure which the wisdom of congress
may better determine to supply the de.
ficiency of the present system may re.
ceive your consideration, and the appro,l
pirate legislation be provided. The-tims
is ripe for the work of such an agency.
There is less opposition to the education
and training of the Indian youths, al
shown by the increased attendance upon
the schools and there is yielding ten
dency for the individual holding of lands.
Development and advancement in these
directions are essential and should haye
every encouragement. AS the rising gen
Grafton are taught the language of civili-
cation and trained in the habits of in.
dustry they should assume the duties,
privileges and responsibility 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 so should
be stimulated 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 to set-l
tie down, are not willing to accept such
small areas when their reservations con
tain ample lands to afford them home
steads of sufficient size to meet their
present and future needs.
GENERAL LEGISLATION REQUIRED.
These inequalities of existing special
laws and treaties should be corrected, and
some general legislation on the subject
should be provided, so that the more pro-
gressive members of the different tribes
may be settled upon homesteads, and by
their example lead Others to follow, break
ing away from tribal customs and sub
shutting 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
brooding over unjust wrongs. This Is
especially so regarding their lands. M
Matters arising from the
| construction and operation of rail-
roads across some of their reservations
and claims of title and right of occu-
pancy set up by white persons to some OF
the best land within other reservations,
require legislation for their final adjust
ment. The settlement of these matters
will remove many embarrassments to-
progress in the work of leading the In
| dians to the adoption of our institutions
and bringing them under the operation Of
the influence of the protection of the
universal laws of our country.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The recommendations of the secretary
of the interior and the commissioner Of
the general land office, looking
to the better protection of public
lands and of the public surveys, the
preservation of national forests, the ad
ludicotion of grants to states corporations
and of private land claims, and the in
creased efficiency of the pnblic land service.
are commended to the attention of CON
gress.
To secure the wisest distribution Of.
public lands in limited quantities among
settlers for residence and cultivation and
thus make the greatest number of indiyid-
ual homes was the primary object of the
public 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 hum
blest citizen could identify the tract upon
which he wished to establish his home
The price of lands was placed within the
reach of all-the enterprising, industrious.
and honest pioneer citizens of the
country. 1t was soon, however, fouHd
that the object of the law was peryerted
under the system of cash sales, from
distribution of land among the people TO-
an accumulation of land capital by
wealthy and speculative persons. 10
check this tendency, preference right OF