Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-12-16

Onumeuuous IN my previous annual mes
sage. the passage of law authorizing
the appointment OF a commission as an in
strnmentality, auxiliary 70 those already es-
tablished for the care Of the Indians. II was
designed that this commission shouid be COM
posed of six intelligent and capable persons
three to DO detailed from tho army, having
treamont Of Indians and Interested in
their welfare, and that IL should
be charged. under the direction Of the Secretary
matters Of detail as cannot. with the present
organization. DO properly and successfully con-
Quoted, and which present different phases, 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 unwise and useless oxpendi-
ture OF money, waste of materials and unavail-
ing efforts might be avoided; and IL IL hoped
that this or some measure which to wisdom Of
Congress may better devise, TO supply the deh-
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
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, tho adjudica-
Il n of grants to States and corporations and of
OF the public lands service, Glo 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-
bers OF individual homes, was the primary
object OF the public land legislation in the carly
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 tho reach OF all
the enterprising. industrious and honest pioneer
citizens OF the country. II was soon found, how
ever, that the object of the laws was perverted
under the system OF cash sales from a distribu-
ton OF land among the people to an accumula-
ton OF land capital by wealthy and speculative
P I;ast 10 check this tendency preference
the land plan which eliminated
1871. The Foundation of this system
was actual residence and cultivation. Twenty
years later the homestead laws were devised
to more surely place actual homes in the possess
sion OF actual cultivators OF the soil Tho land
was given without price, the sole condition
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 SO
evaded and violated that their benehcent pur-
pose Is threatened with entire defeat. The
methods 81 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 fde settlements
or cultivation, and OF only without intention of
residence, but for the purpose OF their aggrega-
IlOu III large nOlulnRS, IN many cases IN the
hands OF foreigners, invites the serious and
immediate attention Of Congress-. Tho energies
OF tho Land Department have been devoted
during tho present administration to remedy
defects and correct abuses in the public land
service The results Of these efforts 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
from the reports of the Commissioner of tho
General Land Office. that the immediate effe ct in
leading cases which have come to q I'm al termi-
public lands of 2,750,0O0 acres that 2,370Q coo
acres are embraced in Investigations now pend
ing before the department or tho couIts, and
that action of Congress has been asked to
elect the restoration of 2700,00) acres nddi-
tional, besides which 40 600 acres have been
withheld from reservation aud the rights Of
entry thereon maintained. Recommend the
REPEAL OF THE PRE-EMPTIoN AND TIMBER
CULTURE ACTS,
and that tho homestead laws be so amended rs
TO better secure compliance, and cultivation
for tho period Of five years from date of entry
without communication or provision for specula-
tive REIMBURSEMENT. also recommend the re-
peal OF the desert land laws, unless il shall
be the pleasure OF Congress to so amend
these laws as 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
Last year an executive proclamation was is
sued directing the removal Of fences which
Enclosed the public domain. Many OF
these have been removed, in obedience
remains within the lines OF these unlawful
fences. The ingenious methods resorted to i'll
order to continue these trespasses, and the har-
dihood OF the pretenses by which, in some
cases. such Enclosures justified, are fully de-
tailed in the report of the Secretary OF the Inte
rior. Tho removal Of the fences still remain
ing, which inclose public lands, will be enforced
AUTHORITY
the executive branch Of the Government is or
shall be invested by the Congress for that pur-
pose.
GOVERNMENT PENSIONS.
The report Of the Commissioner OF Pensions
contains detailed and most satisfactory ex-
hibit of the operations Of the Pension Bureau.
During the last fiscal year the amount of work
done was the largest in any year since the or
ganization OF the bureau; and it has been done
at less cost than during the previous yenr in
every division On the 30th day OF june 1886,
there were $685. 7S3 pensioners on the rolls OF the
bureau. Since 1861 there have been 1,0lS,735
applications for pensions fled Of which
7S, S34 were basod upon service In the war OF
1872. There were 621, ISL of these applications
allowed including GO, 17s to the soldiers of 1872
and their widows. The total amount paid for
pensions since 1861 is SS0S,62i ,Sl7.5i. The num-
Der OF new pensions allowed during tho year
ended June 80 1886, is 1855. larger num-
save one since 1861. The names OF 222o PEN
.ioners which had been previously dropped
from the pension roll were restored during the
yenr, and after deducting those dropped within
the same time for various causes, n net increase
remains for the year of 2O,6j5 names From
January ], 1861, to December /, 1885, ], 067 pri
vate pension acts had been passed. Since the
aforementioned date. and during the last session
OF Congress. GA such acts became laws.
SPECIAL PENSION LAWS.
1t seems to mo that no one can examine our
pension establishment and its operations with
out being convinced that through its instrument
tally justice can be very nearly done to ali who
are entitled under present laws to tho pension
bounty of the Government But it is undeniable
that cases exist well entitled to relief in which
the Pension Bureau is powerloss to relieve the
really worthy casos. or this class are such as
only lack by misfortune the kind or quantity
of proof which the law md regulI-
t lions; OF the bureau require or which
for some reason or other, can not lie
justly dealt with through general laws. These
conditions fully justify application to the Con-
gross and special enactments, but resort to the
Congress for n special pension act to over-rulo
the deliberate and careful determination Of the
Pension Bureau on the merits, or to secure
favorable action when it could not be expected
under the most liberal execution OF general
laws, it must be admitted opens tho door to
allowance OF questionable claims, and presents
T. the Legislative and executive branches of
tho Government applications concededly not
within the law and plainly devoid OF
merit. but surrounded by sentiment and
| patriotic feeling that they are hard to resist
FRAUDULENT PENSION CLAIMS.
1suppose IL will not be denied that many
| claims for pension made without merit, and
| that many have been allowed upon fraudulent
representations. This has been declared from
the Pension Bureau, not only in this but in prior
administrations. The usefulness and tho justice
| Of any system for the distribution of pensions
deHend upon the equality and uniformity Of its
| operation. 1t will be seen from the report OF tho
Commissioner that there are now paid by tho
Government 131 different rates OF pension.
| The Commissioner estimates, from the best
Information he can obtain that ., 90 Of those
who have served in the army and navy OF the
| Unit d States are now supported in whole oc in
part from public funds or by organized chart