Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-07

nonulatlou, ! recon mended IN nv previous
asHTnual message the passage OF law author
,,for the appointments Of commission as an
,,,n.trnmentallty auxiliary TO those already
..lfabi he'd for the care of the Indians. IL
', a. deslgnru that this commission should be
composed of six Intelligent and capable per
ans, three to be detailed from the army, hav-
M pracural ideas upon the subject If
az treatment Of Indians and interested
~ thar wefare: and that it should
he charged under the direction of the Secre-
tsrv ~ q Interior with the management OF
smrh matters OF detail as cannot with the
present organization DE properly ana success
r,lIv ronducted, AID which present different
aliases rs the Indians themselves differ in
iineir progress, needs, disposition and oapa-
civ for improvement or Immediate self-sup-
rori By the aid of such commission much
unUise and us less expenditure of monev.
ulosto Of materials and unavailing efforts
might be avoided, and IT is hoped that this or
s1me measure which the wisdom OF congress
may better dew to supply the deficiency OF
The present system may receive your consid-
GRAFTON and that appropriate legislation be
provided.
EVERYTHING PROPITIOUS.
Tho time is ripe for the work of such an
agency, There is less opposition TO the edu-
csfion and training. of the Indian youths,
SHOWN by the increased attendance upon the
srhoos and there is yielding tendency for
he individual hold of lands. Development
essential, and should have every encourage
ment, As the rising generation are taught
me language OF civilization and trained in
tne habits Of industry they should a-sum0
the duties. privileges and responsibili-
ties OF citizenship, No obstacle should hinder
the location and settlements of any Indian
willing to take land in seVeralty. On the
contrary. the inclination to do so should be
stimulated at all times when urOper and e.
nedient but there is no authority of law Tor
n iOf n
lions, and on Others the allOtments prov ,ded
for are so small that the Indians. though
ready and desiring to settle down. are not
willing to accept surh email areas when their
reservation contains ample lands TO
sford them hOmesteads of sufficient sizes
10 meet their present and future needs.
These inequalities of existing special laws
and treati should be c0rrec ed. and some
general legislation on the subject should he
prOvlued 30 that he .noro progressive mem
bars of the different tribes may be settled
unop homesteads aud by their example load
others TO follow, breaking away from tribal
customs and substituting therefor tho love of
home and interest of family and the rule OF
the State. The Indian character and nature
are such that they are not easily LED while
brOodng on unaGjustCd wrongs. This is es-
pecmlly so regarding their lands. Matters
arising from the construction and operation
Of railroads nc ross some OF the reservations,
and claims Of title and right or occupancy set
BIZ white persons to some of the best land
within other reservations, require leg sia-
ton for their final adjustment, The settle
ment OF these matters Will remove many
embarrassments to progress in the work OF
leading he Indians TO the adoption of our
institutions and bringing them under the
opera ion, the influence and the protection of
the universal laws of our country.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The Recommendations of the Secretary of the
Interior aud the Commissioner Of The General
Land Office, looking TO the better protection
Of the pub ic lands and of the public SURVEYS
ADJUDICATION OF grants to States and corpora
TONS and of private land claims ami he in
crease Of the 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 set
Tiers for residence and cultivation. and thus
make the greatest nun Der OF observation-disclosures.
the primary object OF the public land legisla-
ton IN the early days of the republic. This
system was simple one. 1t commenced
with an admirable scheme of public survey
could identity the tract upon
which he wished to establish his home. The
price Of lands WAS placed within the reach OF
all The enterprisng, industrious and honest
pioneer citizens Of the country. 1t was soon.
however, found that the object of the laws
VS. perverted under the system Of cash sales
iron dist button of land among The people
W III accumulation Oh ldDu CT pl al Dy wealthy
ana speculative persons. To che K this ten
dency preference right of purchase was
gwen TO settlers on the land, a plan which
eliminated In the general exemption act
Of H4l. The foundation of this system
was actual residence and cultivation, Twenty
years later the homestead law was devised t.
more surely place actual homes in the possess
sion Of actual cultivatOrs of the soil. The
land was ven without price. the sole cOudi-
IONS being residence, improvement and culti-
hon llsa f.1I Il
signed TO encouraae the requirement. and use
Oh land IN United individual quantities, but
mate years these laws, through vicious adj
illustrative methods and under changed con-
uuons OF communication and tran p Irtation,
nave been 50 eYaded and violated mat their
| oenehcenG purpose is threatened with entire
| leeat.
BAD METHODS EXPOSED.
The methods of such evasion and violations
arc Set orth IN detail in The reports of the
secretary Of the Interior and the Commits
sIoheF OF the General Land 'Itiice. Tle raid
appropriation Of our public lands without
coma ME settlements or Gu tivatiOn, and got
lo' only W thuut intention of residence, but
of ,ne purpose of Their aggregation in larg,
uolulnss, IN many cases in the hands of for
eglers, invites the serious and Immediate at
Tulpn OF the Congress. The energies OF the
aahu department have been devoted, during
ne present inistratiOn, to remedy de-
wv anu correct abuses in the public land SER
nCe' Inc results of these efforts are so largely
~,tV nature OF reforms in the processes and
Ms'uods 0i our and system as to prevent an
''4uate tslm mate, butt appears by cOmpil a
nuA nom the r ports OF the Commissioner of
~ General Land Office that the immediate
sleJI III trading cases which have come to a
a p"l lsrmlndlOn has been the restoration to
wy I1ss of pubic lands OF ., $50, OOO acres, thai
s "'o''uV acres are embraced in designations
~" lcnu ns before The courts aud that the
"NoH OF Congress has been asked to
S, yL ihe restoration OF 2,790,0OO acres adj
S ao!a', besides which 100000 acres have
STon Nlthheld from rG-erva alton and tho rights
on'y the con maintained
REPEAL RECOMMENDED.
recommend The repeal OF the pre- -emption
~ ,sa tI,hper culture acts, aud that the home
" .aa avs nc % amended as to bctlcr secure
.r d %hce with their requirements of resi-
,sr,o,;, itipro ement ana cultivation for the
V In,U.t u h'o years from the date of entry,
,.OGt commu tation or prov sion for specn-
49, r'o ltsilhlOishment, also reconmen I'D the
M OF Inc desert land va, unless 1t shat
hAV pressure Of the Congress to 30 amend
.lH1 avs as 10 render them less lab g TO
I'm, L. As Tue thieI motive for an evasion
~ IV Jaws and the principal cause of their
SUI IN ldnd accumulation instead of land
n, anu .I"n Is the facility with which trans
wrsS maze or the right intended 10 be e.
~. 10 Nettlers, It may be ueomed advi able
omOVle ny legisia alton some suards and
|r5fs uPlh the alienation of homestead
1' "nu lahds covered thereby until patents
N. LAst year an executive procl tmatiou
Srs, |'ued directing the removal o.
|bnsf, "hlcn inciosed the public
sSaa, Many Of these have been removed.
NM, IIencs to such order, but much Of he
~. .oC !. hu still remains within the lines Of
rs "u awful fences The ingenious meth
Nse'orled to In order to continue these
wS'nss ana the hai dlIood OF the preicuces
sg,sgalGGn' In some cases, such inc osures are
crS,a u. afe iuly delaiied in the report OF the
H.. go w., OF the interior. The removal of he
LAM remaining which enclose the pub
- A.