The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1886-12-07
Interior Department.
TIE INDIAN QUESTION.

THE INDIAN QUESTION.
The funds app opriated for the In
dian service tor the fiscal year just
passed. with the available increase
from Indian land and trust money,
amounting in all to $7,S5077 were
ample. There remained a balance on
hand June 80 1886, of $l,660,023.30, OF
which S1,337 ,76S.21 are permanent
funds for the fulfillment of treaties
and other like purposes, and the re-
maindor, $685., 255.09, is subject to be
carried to the surplus fund as required
by law. The amount for the ensuing
year is $5,6GS, 1884, or S442, 3S6.20 less
than those laid before congress last
year. The Indian agencies are mad
equate, but the more rapid transition
from tribal organizations to
citizenship OF such portions
of the Indians as are capable of civil
lied life is most desirable. There is
no such thing as the Indian frontier.
Civilization surrounds the people at
every point. None of the tribes are
outside of the bounds of organized
government. The Indians are no
longer hostile, but submissive to the
control of the government. They are
portion of our people, are under the
authority of our government and have
a peculiar claim upon and are entitled
to the fostering care and protection of
the nation. The government cannot
relieve itself of this responsibility I'M
til they are so far trained and civilized
as to be wholly able to manage and
care for themselves. The agents have
charge of 5000 Indians OH their respect
i've agencies. and can only attend to
the wants of few, and a supple
mental agency is recommended, to the
end of promoting the general and
more rapid transition of the tribes
from the habits and customs of bar
barsm to the ways Of civilization.
Reference is made to former
message, in which was recommended a
commission as an instrumentality aux
iliary to those already established for
the .are of the Indians. The commits
sion to consist of six persons, three
from the army, and all under the
charge Of the secretary of the interior,
so as to better and more successfully
conduct the offices of the agencies.
The time is ripe for such an agency.
There is less opposition TO the
education and training Of the
Indians than at any other time
heretofore. No obstacle should him
der the location and settlement of any
Indian willing to take land in sever
ally. There are inequalities of exist
ing laws and treaties, which should be
corrected by proper legislation, so that
settlements on homesteads could be
made. Matters of dispute arising
from the railroads running through
some of the reservations should re-
ceive the attention Of congress and
lessen the embarrassments in the pro-
gress in the work of leading the In
dams to the adoption Of our institu-
tons and bringing them under the
operation, the influence and the pro-
lection of the universal laws of our
country.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The protection of the pubic land, and of
the public surveys, the preservation of ma
tional forests, the adjudication of grants,
etc., etc, are commended to the attention of
congress. To check the tendency to de-
feat the object of the laws, preference right
of purchase was given to settlers on the
land. Then came the presumption act Of
lsi1. Twenty years later came the home
stead law. Other laws have been passed
designed to encourage the requirement and
use of lands, but though vicious administra-
ton methods then, laws have been violated,
and the original purpose threatened with
defeat. The energies of the land department
have been devoted during the present adj
ministration to remedying the defect and
correcting abuses in the public land SER
vice. So far as can be ascertaned these re-
forms have resulted in the restoration of
public lands of 1850, 900 acres; 1870, 900 acres
are embraced in the Investigations now
pending before the department or the courts
and the action of congress has been asked
to effect the restoration of 100000 acres adj
ditional. besides which 100000 acres has
been withheld from reservation and the
rights of entry thereon maintained. /
recommend the repeal Of the presumption
and timber culture acts and the homestead
laws be so amended as to better secure COM
pliance with heirrequirements Of residence
improvement and cultivation for the period
OF five years from date of entry, without
communication or provision for speculative
REIMBURSEMENT. l also recommend the ap-
peal of the desert land laws, unless congress
amend them so they will be less liable to
abuse.
PENSIONS.
The Pension Bureau has done larger bu-
siness at less cost than any previous year