The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-09

10 the habits and customs of their ancestors,
md struggle with persistence against the
change Of life which their altered circumstances
press upon them But barbarism aud civilization
,4nDot live together; it is impossible that such
ncongruous conditions should co-exist ON the
,ame soil They are . portion of our people, are
under the authority OF our government. and have
, peculiar claim upon and are entitled 10 the
fostering care and protection of the nation. The
government cannot relieve itself Of this respon-
sbiity until they 30 far trained and civilized
- 20 be able wholly 10 manage and care for
themselvesL The paths in which they should
walk must be clearly marked out for them, and
they must be led and guided until they are IA
miliAr with the way and competent 70 assume
the responsibility Of our citizenship. Progress
in this great work will continue only at the
present slow pace and a great expense unless
the system and methods of management are i'm
proved TO meet the changed conditions and ur-
gent demands Of the service. The agents hav-
ing general charge and supervision in many cases
Of more than five thousand Indians scattered
over large reservations, and burdened with the
details OF accountability for funds and supplies,
have time 10 look after the industrial training
and improvement of q few Indians only; the
many are neglected and remain idle and depend
ent, conditions not favorable for progress in civ
ilization. The compensation allow ed these agents
and the conditions OF the service are not calcu
lated TO secure for the work men who are htted
by ability and skill to properly plan ana
intelligently direct the methods best adapted
20 produce the most speedy result and per-
manent benefit Hence the necessity for supple
mental agency system directed to the end OF pro
noting the general and more rapid transition OF tue
tribes from the habits and customs Of barbarsm TO
the WAYS of civilization With an anxious desire to
devise some plan of operation by WHICH TO secure
thu welfare of the Indians and to relieve the Treas
ury - far possible from the support OF an Idle
and dependent population. recommended in my
previous annual message the passage OF law au-
thorizing the appointment OF commission as an
fundamentally auxiliary TO those already estao-
Ished for the care of the Indians. 1t was designed
that this commission should be composed of six in
teligent and capable persons, three to be detailed
from the army having practical ideas upon the SUP
jet of the treatment of Indians and interested IN
their welfare: and that Ii should be charged. under
the direction of the Secretary OF the INTERIOR win
the management Of such matters OF detail as cannot
with the present organization, be properly and sue
cessfully conducted and which present different
phases as the Indians themselve differ in their pro
RTess needs. disposition and capacity for improve
mcnt or immediate self support BY the aid OF such
. commission much unwlse md useless expenditure
Of money, waste Of materials, and unavailing efforts
might be avoided and IL lie hoped that this or some
measure which the wisdom Of Congress may better
devise TO supply the deficiency OF the present sys
TEN may receive your consideration and the appro
pirate legislation be provided
The time is ripe for the work OF such an agency
There is less opposition 10 the education and train
ing Of the Indian youths as shown by the Increased
attendance upon the schools and there If yield NJ
tendency for the individual holding Of land Devel
opment and adyan in these directions are es
senfial and should have every encouragement A.
the rising generation taught the language o.
civilization and trained in habits of industry, they
should assume the duties, privileges, responsibll
ties Of citizenship No obstacle should hinder thu
location and settlement OF any Indian willing tt
take land in severaliy. On the contrary the incl
nation to do so should be stimulated at all time
when proper and expedent but there is no author
ify Of law for making allotments on some OF III
reservations and others ne allolments provided
for are small that the Indians, though ready ant
desiring to settle down, are not willing TO accep
such small areas when their reservations contal
ample lands to afford them homesteads of sufhclen
size meet their present and future needs. 1hes'
inequalities OF existing special laws and treatle
should be corrected and some general Legislation
on the subject should be provided so that the NOR
progressive members Of the tribes may be sett e.
upon bOmesieads and by their example lead other
70 follow breaking away from tribe customs an
subssafing therefor the love of home and interest
family and the rule of the state The Indian chara
ter and nature are such that they are not easily he
while brooding over unadjusted wrongs. This
especially regarding their lands.
Matters arising from the construction and oper;
ton Of railroads across some of the reservation
and claims Of title and right of occupancy set b
white persons to some of the best land within otht
reservations, require legislation for their final al
jnstmepf- The settlement Of these matters will r.
move many embarrassments 10 progress in th
work OF leading the Indians to the adoption Of or
institutions and bringing them under the operation
the influence and the protection OF tue unlvers
laws Of our country.
OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
The recommendations Of the Secretary Of the /
terror and the Commissioner of the General Ian
ONCE looking TO the better protection Of publ
lands and Of The public surveys, the preservation
natural forests. the adjudication of grants to STATE
and corporations of private claims and the increa
ed efficiency of the public land service, are con
meDded TO the attention of Con ress, TO secure Il
widest distribution of public lands in limited guam
ftfat
and thus make the greatest number of individn
homes the primary OBJECT of the public land legi
lafion- In the early days OF the Republic this sy
TEN Was simple one. II commenced with a
uirzble scheme of public survey by which tt
humblest citizen could identify upon which land !
wished TO establish his home. The price of liant
was placed within the reach Of all the enterprisin
Industrious and honest pioneer citizens of the cou
Try II coon, however, found that the object
the laws was perverted under the system of cas-
aales from distributor of land among the peopl
10 an accumulation OF land capital by wealthy al
speculative persons. To check this tendency
preference right of purchase was given to settle
on the land. plan which eliminated in the gener
presumption act OF le4l- The foundation al tn
Twenty years later the Homestead Lawwas devise
70 more surely place actual homes in the possessic
Of actual cultiyators of the soil The land give
without price, the sole condition being residenc
improvement and cultivation. Other laws ha
followed, each designed to encourage the acquir
ment and of land in limited individual guam
-.
administrative methods and under changed conc
tons Of communication and ansportation la
been 90 eVaded and violated that their benefce
purpose 10 threatened with entire defeat. II
methods of sueh evasions and violations are s
forth in detail in the reports of the Secretary OF &
Interior aud Commissioner Of tie General La
Once The rapid appropriation Of our public Ian
without bona tide settlements or cultivation, al
not only without intention of residence, but
the purpose of their aggregation in large holdin
In many cases in the hands Of foreigners nvolv
the serious and immediate attention OF Congress
The energies OF the Land Department ha
trEtion 10 remedy defects and CORE
abuses in the public land service. The results
these efforts largely in the nature Of reforI
In the processes and methods OF our land system
compilation from the report OF the Commission
Of the General Land Office, that the immedia
effect In the leading cases, which have come TO
1nAl termination, has been the restoration to t
mass Of public lands of $50 600 acres, that 1910
are embraced In the investigation now pending
fore the courts, and that the action of Congress
been asked 70 effect the restoration OF OOO acr
additional, besides which 600 acres have be
withheld from reservation and the rights
entry thereon maintained.
recommend the repeal OF the pre- emption al
timber culture acts and that the homestead laws
so amended as to better secure compliance with I
requirements Of resident improvement and cul
vafion for the period of five years from date
entry without Communication or provision for spec
lstiye REIMBURSEMENT. also recommend the rep
Of the desert land laws unless 1t shall be the pie
ure Of Congress TO SO amend the laws as to rend
them less liable TO abuse. AS the chief means
invasion Of the laws and the principal cause of thu
result in Land accumulation instead Of land dist
button 10 the facility with which transfers ma
Of rights intended 70 be secured to settlers 1t m
be deemed advisable TO provide by legislation sol
guards and checks upon the alienation OF hon
stead rights and lands covered thereby until pateI
issue
uwnoyING THE PRNCRs