Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-12-15

eminent. SO far as they are entitled to hui
man treatment and an opportunity for I'M
provement and reformation, the government
Is responsible to them and society that these
things are Forthcoming, But this duty car
scarcely be discharged without more absolute
control and direction than Is possible under
the present system.
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Theexhibit made Of the condition Of our
Indian population and the progress of the
work OF their enlightenment notwithstani
ing the many emharrassments which hinder
the better administration Of this important
branch OF tho service, is gratifying and
hopeful one.
The funds appropriated for the Indian ser.
vice FOR tho fiscal year just passed, with tn.
available income from Indian land and trus
moneys, amounting in ali to S7,S5O, 17j. ~
were ample for the service under the condi.
tions and restrictions of lawsregulating their
expenditure. There remained n balance on
hand on juno %, 1886, OF 81, $50, 0?3.3O of
which SI,33LMS.2l are permanent funds for
fuliilment of treaties and otlerlike purposes,
and tho remainder, $32!,2jjOJ, is subject to
be carried to the surplus fund n, re luircd by
| law.
The estimates presented for a appropriations
for the ensuing fiscal year amount to : 1905.
S36l, or Sil2, 3sG. 20 less than those al be-
fore the Congress last year
with an anxious desire to devise some
plan of operation 10y wLi,h TO cure the
welfare OF the Indians, AM to relieve tho
treasury as far as possible from the support
OF an Idle and dependent population, recon-
mended in my previous annual message the
passage OF law authorizing the appoint
ment Of commission ai an instrumcntality
auxiliary to those already Establish d. for
the care Of the Indians. 1t was designed
that TINS commission should he composed
Nthree tn ba IetaileJ fromi tho a arrTv"o
having practical idea; unon th3 suh'e,t Of
tbo trs,tme 81 TnJiors ana intar,,tod VI
their welfare, md thot if shorld hn choraeJ
mndnr tho direction of The Snrratorv Of 7tba,
Interior with the monogrmont of sIch mat,
iers of detail MS cannot with tho nre nnt mr..
ron1otion be nronorlv md 81 ccI ,fnIlv con.
9ucted and which pre,ent different nbases
MS the indians themsolye; Il fer in thair nro,
VreSs. needs, disnnsition nnj en-, o"itv for
Improvement or immediate s,lf.s,inpor;
Bv The aid of such n commission much MI
wise and use'eSs expenditure Of money wo :te
Of materials and unavailmg efforts might be
avoided and il is hopad that this or soma
measure which the wisdom of CONGRESS, NAV
better devise. to supply the deficiency oC the
present system. NAV receive your consdera-
lion and the appropriate lesiSlation be nro-
Via a fl,
!
aSpohcy. - ,..,.
ihere Is less oPPo1lVinGin 10 Cne eaucatlon
anu training vi VIZ in.''oi Soulli, as SHOWN
nd there is n Welding Tendency for The in.
iiydual holding of lands. DEVELOPMENT
and advancement in these directions are
essential, and should have every encourage.
nent. As tho rising generation are TAUGHT
The language of civilization and trained in
B.. habits of industry, they should assume the
,,,+;os ,rivi,ocos and RESPONSIBILITIES of
i it;no, fri'i'ee'' "'' o'f''i'I''''''0'
AGIHeilSn,p ,,o,Ii ti,,l a., ,o,o,io,ora
10 opstaeie sioui.. ~, CIV;
N'slcont VI Guy a w. ,iinotinn
se'oI'iI, III tno .t;, - a. II, III tiNns
no 81 Snou,n w iiant I'D ~ aro ' IL ,,o
"ng'l I.opos ,.nu ~ ~ 40 l,
.uVuoI s'y a., VI ~" ,o t FL 40
'9e VI .ne ,eo.; rni "i Mi th ~
illoetilehtS PFoIlieu ,or III ~ ?"'ll VA ~ ,',o
INDIANS, lholsh Teauy anu ue'iIlhS " aetli1
Town, are not Wiling 10 accept such sIhail
areas, "hen lnetr reservation, contain t nliipe
anus 10 amor tholli hollieS e'"s vi su'ilVlehU
we TO meet their present aiu future nGeuS'
Ihese Inc sualltleS VI eAlau..S sptc'al laws
ind treatle' shoulu DC coriectet ana some
general ieSsia.'ol oii 'i'e sun shouIu w
PROVIDED, SO tItG .ne li.oLt p'oalesS.le lilIlIl,
oers Oh the uiieren' ViioeS may DC SeCIled
| qpon nomesteads and by their examine lead
,thers to follow, breaking away from tribal
customs and substituting therefor the love of
nome. the interest of thh family and the rnle
,f the State.
r,or,,,,rrr>. ~, ,,,.r, ,,,,,
'io' Wv p''i' 'NNo''
The energies OF the land department have
been devoted during the present administers
non 70 remedy detects and correct abuses in
me public land service The results Of these
Efforts are so largely IN tie nature OF reforms
IN tne processes ana metAodS OF oar lanu
system a. to prevent adequate. estl-
niate; Dut IL appears by compilation
from the reports OF the Commissioner
CT the General / and Once mat the lnme-
date effect in leading cases whl"hhav come
TO n maj termination mas been the restora-
ton to the mass OF public lands of 2,,jO,OW
acres; that 2,3W, ooo acres are embraced In in
designations now pending before the depart
ment or the courts, and that the action of
congress mas Deeh asked 20 eject tne re't?ra-
u0l Oh :, ,oo,uJo acIe' huulI oiiai' oeipup3
whlch 4'oOu,ooo acres nave oe'n "''"Heiu
from Reservation, ana the rights or entry
thereon maintained
recommend the repeal OF the exemption
una tiiiloer culture actS, ana that the home
Ueau laws De so amended a, u better sc uro
compliance with the re luirGmentS OF resi-
'chee, improvement anu cultivation Tor the
period OF fve years from date of entry, with
tut Communication or provision for speculative
II the desert land laws unless it shall be the
pleasure OF the Congress to so amend these
avs as to render them less liable to abuses.
As the chief motive for an evasion OF the
avs and tho principal cause of their result
land accumulation instead of land distri-
>utlon, is the facility with which transfers
ire made OF the right intended to be secured
o settlers, 1t may be deemed advisable to
provide by legislation some guards and
'heckS upon the alienation of homestead
lights and lands covered thereby until
patents issue.
Last year an executive proclamation was
ssuel directing the removal of fences which
ncosed the public domain Many of these
lave been removed in obedience to such
rder; but much OF the public land still re-
mains within the line, of these unlawful
'ences The ingcni Us methods re sorted to
II order to continue tn sse trepa Sses and the
lardihood of the pretenses by which in some
asses such Enclosures are iu ,tified, are fully
detailed in the report Of the Secretary Of the
Interior.
The removal of the fences still remaining
which inclosc public lands will be enforced
With Mi fine authority and means Win which
;he eyecutiye branch of the royrrnmont is or
,hall be invested by the Congress for that
| ,urpose
THE PENSION Bl,REAlr
Tho report of the Commissioner of Pensions
contains n detailed and most satisfactory ex-
,ibit of the ore; ations Of the Pension Bureau
lurinp the last fiscal wear The amount of
work done was the largest in any wear since
,be organization of the Bureau aud il has