Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-07

gressive civilization. The compensation
| allowed these agents and the conditions OF
the service are not Gale ulated to secure for
the workmen who are fitted by ability and
skill to properly plan and intelligently di-
rect the methods best adapted to produce
the most speedy results and permanent ben
efits; hence the necessity for supple
mental agency or system directed to the
end of promoting the general welfare and
more rapid transition of the tribes from
habits and customs of barbarism 70 the
ways of civilization.
With an anxious desire to devise
some plan of operation by
which to secure the welfare of the Indians
and to relieve the treasury a> far as posi-
Die from the support OF an idle and depend
ent population, recommend in my prevl-
ous annual message the passage Of law
authorizing the appointment OF commits
sion AS al instrumentality, auxiliary to
these already established, for the Care of
the Indians. 1t was designed that this
commission should be composed OF six In
telligent and capable persons, three to be
detailed from the army having practical
ideas upon the subject OF the treatment
of the Indians and Interested In
their welfare, and that 1t should
be charged under the direction OF the Sec
rotary of the interior with the management
Of such matter of detail as cannot with the
present organization be properly and sue
cessfuly directed and which the present
different phases as the Indians themselves
differ in their progress, needs, dlSpositloh
and capacity for improvement or lmme-
diatc self support. By the aid OF such
commission much unwlse and useless eA-
penditures Of money, waste of material and
uuavaIing efforts might be avoided, and II
is hoped that this, or some measure which
the wisdom of congress may better devise
to supply the deficiency OF the
present SYSTEM. may receive your consider
alton. and the appropriate legislation be
provided The time is ripe for the work
of such an agency. There is less opposi-
ton to their education, and training OF the
Indian youth as shown by the increased
attendance upon the schools. and there Is a
Welding tendency for the individual hold
ing of lands Development and advance
ment in these directions are essential ana
should have every encouragement. Asthe
rising generation are taught the language
of civilization and trained in habits OF In
dustrv. they should assums tho duties,
privileges and responsibilities OF cit
Zenship No obstacle should hinder
the location and settlement Of any Indian
willing to take land in screralty; on the
contrary, the inclinatiOn to do 50 should be
stimulated at all times when proper anO
expedient, but there is no authority OF Ia"
| for making allotAents TN some OF the res
ervations and on others the allotments pro
vided for are so small that the Indians
though ready and desiring to settle down
| are not willing to accept such small area
when their reservations cont tin am III
! lands to afford them homesteads of suftl
cent size to meet their present and future
needs
The inequalities of existing special law:
and treaties should be corrected and sotu
general legislation ON the subject should b.
provided so that the more progressive mem
Der, of the different tribes may be settled
upon homesteads, and by their example
! lead others to follow, breaking away from
tribal customs and substituting thereto
the love of home, the interest Of the fanil,
and the rule of tbs state. The Indian char
actcr and nature are such that they are no
easily led while brvO,iins over unadJustet
wrongs. This is especially SO regariln!
| their lands. Matters arising from TIT
/ construction and operation OF rail
roads across some Of the reservation
and claims of title and right OF occupancy
set up by white persons 10 some OF ID
! best land within their reservations, requlr
/ legislation for their final adj Justneht. In
settlement of these matters Will remoV
many embarrassments to progress III IN
work Of leading the Indians to the adop
/ ton Of our institutions and bringing then
under the operation, the influence aud In
protection of the universal laws OF GU
country.
OUR PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The recommendation Of the secretary 0
the interior and the commissioner OF lii
general laad Office, looking t
The better protection Of publ
lands and their public surveys
preservation Of national forests. the adJu
dicaii0n OF grants 10 s's'sS and corpora
TONS. and of private land Claims and tn
/ increased efficiency IF the public land ser
vice, are commended 10 the attention O
/ congress to secure the widest distributor
of public lands in limited quantities among
settlers for residence and cultivation, ant
thus make the greatest number nt lntilVld
ual homes WAS the primary ooJect or IN
public legislation in the early days OF tn
republic
! This system was 3 simple one; 1t com
menced with AN admirable scheme OF pun
lie surveys by which the humbest CT
izen c,uld identify the tact upol
which he wished 10 establish his home; tn
piece of lands WAS placed within I, ach o
all the euterpri,ns. industrious ana homes
pioneer citizens Of the country. II Wa
,on. however. found that the object If tn
law perverted, under the system of cas-!
sales. from a distribution of lands anon!
the people, to an accumulation Of land helt
bv wealthy aud Speculative persons. l.
I check this tendency, preference right "
purchase WAS given To settlers 81
the land; plan which culminaie'
in the general pre-empilon act q
1871 The foundation of this system
was actual residence AMI cultivation. ear
later the homestead law WAS devised t
more surely place actual homes IN posses
sion Of actual culriva,ors OF the SOIL. ri
land va, given without price. iire sole con
clifton, ing residence. Improvement an
cultivation Other laws have followed
each designed Il encourage the arq are
urut and Use OF land Ia limited lndIv!dIa
Quantities: bat 10 later Wears these la"
through yiciou, administrative methei
ana under changed Communication an
transp ortaIion, have been - e'aded an
violated that their b-nefcla. pGrp' =
Is threatened with entire defeat In
methods Of such esa~lon> ana violation
AT. set forth in dejai in the reports Of IN
secretary of the interior and commissions
OF the general !aud Office the RAPID al
preparation, " our plaiic lands ~ithpt
. BONA nie settler or cultivation, ani II,
ONLY without intention Of residence. b'
f,r The purpose of thrir aggregation
, large holdings. in many cs'e> III the hAnt
. nr foreigners. iRvi;e The serious and lnm