The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-12-10

an idle and dependent population, REQ
commended In my previous annual mes-
t tSse anp sao passage OF law authoizng
| strumentality, auxiliary 20 those already
tabiished for tho care OF the Indians. It was
designed that this commission should be COM
| posed OF six intelligent and capable persons,
three to be detailed from tho army, having
practical ideas upon tho subject Of the
their welfare. and that i Il should ID
be charged, under the direction OF the Secretary
OF the Interior with the management of such
matters OF detail as cannot, with the present
| organization, be properly and successfully con-
Quoted, and which present different bases, as
the Indians themselves differ in their progress.
needs, disposition, and capacity for improvement
| or immediate self-support. By the aid Of such
commission, much unwiso and useless expendi-
| ture OF money waste of materials and unavail-
ing efforts might be avoided; and it is hoped
| that this or some measure which the wisdom of
| Congress- may better devise, to supply the def
| cheney OF the present system, may receive your
| consideration, and that appropriate legislation
be provided The time Is ripe for the work OF
| such an agency
EDUCATION OF INDIAN YOUTH.
There 10 less opposition to the education aud
| training OF the Indian yonth, as shown by the
there is n yielding tendency for the individual
holding OF lands. Development aud advance
ment in these directions arc essential, and
should have every encouragement AS the
rising generation arc taught thu language of
civilization, and trained in habits of industry,
they should assume the duties privileges. and
LANDS IN sEvERAITY
No obstacle should hinder the location and
settlement OF any Indians willing to take land In
sevefalty. On the contrary the inclination to
do so should be stimulated at all times by
proper oxpedients but there is no authority of
law for making allotments on some OF the res
cryations, and on others the allotmonts pro-
vided Tor are so small that the Indians, though
ready and desiring to settle down, are not will
creations contain ample lands to afford them
homesteads OF sufficient sizo to meet
their present and future needs. Tho. in
equalities OF existing special laws
and treaties should DO corrected and some
general legislation the subject should be
provided. SO that the mere progressive members
of the different tribes may be settled upon
homesteads, and by their example teach others
to follow, 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 brooding over
unadiusted wrongs This is specially 80 re-
garding their lands. Matters arising from
the. construction and operation of rail-
roads across some OF the reservations.
and claims Of title and right of occupancy set up
by white persons to some Of the best land within
other reservations, require legislation for their
final adjustment The settlement of these mat
tors will remove many embarrsssments to pro-
gross in the work OF leading the Indians to the
adoption Of our institutions and bringing them
under the operation, the influence and the pro-
lection OF the universal laws of our country.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The recommendations of the Secretary of the
Land Office, looking to the better protection OF
public lands and Of the public surveys, the
preservation Of national forests the adjudica-
ton OF grants to States and corporations, and Of
private land claims, and the increased efficiency
OF the public lands 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 num-
6Srs Of ind homes was tho primary
days or the Republic This system was a
simple one. 1t commenced with an admirable
blest citizen could IDENTIFY the trent e ppon
which he wished to establish his home The
price of lands was placed within the reach OF all
citizens OF the country. TWAS soon found, how
ever, that the object OF tho laws was perverted
under the system of cash sales from q distribu-
ton of land capital by wealthy and speculative
persons. TO check this tendency preference
right OF purchase was given to settlers on
in the general presumption act of
1911. The foundation of this system
was actual residence and cultivation. Twenty
years later tho homestead laws were devised
to more surely place actual homes in the posses
sion OF actual cultiyators Of the soil The land
was given without price, the sole condition
being residence, improvement and cultivation.
Other laws have followed, each designed to
encourage the requirement and use OF land in
limited individual quantities, but in later years
these laws. through vicious administrative
methods and under changed conditions of COM
munication and transportation, have been
evaded and violated that their benefcent pur-
pose Is threatened with entire defeat. The
methods OF such evasions and valuations
are set forth in detail in the reports of the Sec
rotary Of the Interior and Commissioner Of the
General Land Office The rapid appropriation of
our public lands without bona fide settlements
or cultivation, and o. only without intention Of
residence, but for the purpose OF their aggrega-
ton in large holdings, in many cases IN the
hands OF foreigners, invites the serious and
immediate attention Of Congress. The energies
OF the Land Department. have been devoted
during the present administration to remedy
defects and correct abuses In the public land
service. The results Of these efforts arc largely
in the nature of reforms In the process and
methods Of our land system as to prevent ade-
quate estimates, but it appears, by a compilation
General Land Office. that the immediate effe ct in
leading cases which have come to a final termi-
nation hos been the restoration to the mass Of
public lands of 2750,000 acres that 2,370,o00
acres arc embraced in Investigations now pend
ing before the department or the courts, and
effect the restoration of ESQ ooc acres V addi.
tional, besides which 100000 acres have been
withheld from reservation and the rights OF
entry thereon maintained recommend the
REPEAL OF THE PRE-EMPTIoN AND TIMBER
CULTURE ACTS,
and that the homestead laws be SO amended as
to better secure compliance and cultivation
for the period Of five years from date Of entry
without communication or provision for specula-
tive ACCOMPLISHMENTS also recommend the re-
peal of the desert land laws, unless it shall
be the pleasure OF Congress to so amend
these laws rs to render them less liable to
abuse. The facility with which transfers are
made results in land accumulation instead Of
land distribution. and that the public domain
be secured to settlers, it may be deemed advis-
able to provide by legislation some guards
and checks upon the alienation of vested
rights and lands covered thereby until patents
issue.
FENCING PUBLIC LANDS.
Inst year executive proclamation was is
sued directing the removal of fences which
Enclosed the public domain. Many OF
these have been removed, in obedience
to such order but much of the public land still
remains within the lines OF these unlawful
fences. The ingenious methods resorted to in
order to continue these trespasses, and the har-
dihood Of the pretenses by which, in some
cases, such Enclosures are justified are fully de-
tailed in the report of the Secretary OF the Into
rior The removal Of the fences still remain
ing which inclose public lands, will be enforced
with all tho authority and means with which
the executive branch of the Government Is or
shall be invested by the Congress for tina. pur-
pose
GOVERNMENT PENSIONS.
Tho report of the Commissioner OF Pensions
contains a detailed and most satisfactory ex-
hibit OF tho operations of tho Pension Bureau
During the last fiscal year the amount of work
done tho largest in any year since the
Qanization OF the bureau and it has been done