Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-14

condition % soon 40 possible. Community in
lands should cease by such opening as re-
mains unAlloted to settlement, and the con-
tact with the WAYS Of industrious and success
sful farmmers will, pernsps, add healthy
e e!,. which will both instruct and
But n" agency for the amelioration of this
people appears to me 90 promising as the ex-
teoston urged by the secretary Of the interior
OF encn complete facilities Of education as
enall 1T the earliest possible moment embrace
q! t. achable Indian youths Of both sexes and
retain them with kindly and bene6cent hold
until their characters are formed and their
facilities and dispositions trained to such pur-
SUITS. Some form OF useful indus nv suited
to the capacity of the Indian mo- longer needs
demonstration. 1t is established. It remains
to make the most OF It, and when that shall
be done the curse will be lifted, the Indian
race saved and the sin Of their oppression re-
deemed. The time Of its accomplishment de-
ponds upon the spirit and Justice with which
1t shall be pros cuted. 1t cannot be too soon
Tor the indian nor for the interest and good
name of the nation.
The average attendance Of Indian pupils In
the schools increased BY over 900 in the wear
and the total enrolment will reach |, 1921. The
cost OF maintenance was not materially
raised. The number of teachable Indian
youths is noe 40. DOE, or nearly three times the
enrolment Of schools. It is believed the OBJ
stacies IN the way OF ,nstructing are sur
mountable and that the necessary expendi-
ture would be measure Of economy. The
Sioux tribe on the great reservation Of Da-
kota refused their assent to the act passed
BY congress at its last session for opening. 0
portion OF their lands to settlement, notwith-
standing modification Of the terms was sug-
mat NINA rf kao(v
Their demand 10 for immediate payment Of
the full price Of t.25 per acre for the entire
body of land, the occupancy Of which thew are
asked to reltDqutsh. The manner Of submis.
sion insured their fair understanding of the
law and their action was undoubtedly Is
mitted. It is ut least gratifying that no rel
proach OF over reaching can in any manner b
against the government however advieable
the favorable completion Of the negotiation
may have been esteemed. I concur In the
sugRestions Of the secretary regarding tic
tons In California aud the Crees. They
should, in my opinion, receive immediate t.
tentfon.
The number OF pensioners added to tfe
rolls during the fiscal year ended June 50,
1888, Is q, 252, and An increase of pensions
was granted in IS, 716 cases. The names 81
during the year forSvarious causes, and at tie
close OF the year the number OF pensions bf
all classes receiving pensions was 452, $50. Of
these there were 500 survivors of the war
OF 1929 1O, 787 widows Of those who served In
that war; $1,000 soldiers of the Mexican wsr,
and s, 1O4 widows of said soldiers. One hun
dred and two different rates Of pensions are
paid to these benefclariee, ranging from e
to SO per month. The amount paid for pen
stons during the decal year was SIS, US 6S1,
being an increase over the corresponding
period in the year 1887 Of s., 3s0, 2s0.s2.
The expenses attending the maintenance.
and operation IT the pension bureau during
that period was o, 262, 524 81, making the en-
tire expenditures Of the bureau So, O9S, 1856 81,
being 2l11 per cent Of the total expenditures
OF the government during the year SIN
thoroughly copyinced that our general pen
meet as far as possible in the light Of our ex-
perience, all merttorious cases. The fsct
that 1O2 different rates of pensions are paid,
cannot in my opinion be made consistent
with justice to the pensioners or to the gov
eminent and the numerous private pension
bills that are passed predicated upon the
imperfectton OF general laws, while they m
crease in many cases the existing inequality
and injustice, lend additional force to the
recommendation for revision Of the general
laws on this subject.
The ideas prevailing among alarge num-
per u OUT peOP4e regarding pensions il Oe-
coming every day more marked. The prin.
ciples upon which they should be granted are
in danger of being altogether ignored, and al
ready pensions are often claimed because the
applicants are as much entitled as other sue
ceseful applicants, rather than upon any dis
ability reasonably attributable to military
| service. If the establishment OF various
presidents be continued and the granting Of
pensions be not divorced from partisan and
other unworthy and Irrelevant considerations;
and II the honorable name Of veteran I'M
fairly becomes by these means but another
term for one who constantly clamors for the
aid of The government, there is danger that
injury will be done to the fame and patriot
lem Of many whom our citizens all delight to
honor, and that prejudice will be aroused
unjust meritious applicants for pensions.
The department Of agriculture has con-
tinued with good measure Of success its eff
forts t, develop the process, enlarge the re-
suits and augment the profits of American
husbandry. 1t has collected and distributed
practical information, introduced and tested
new plants, checked the spread of contag ious
disease of farm animals, resisted the advance
of noxious insects and destructive fungus
gowthe, and sought to secure to agricultural
labor the highest reward of effort and the
fullest immunity from loss. Its records of
the year show that the season 1858 has been
one Of medium productions. a generous tup-
ply for the demands Of consumption has been
assured, and a surplus for expectation in
moderation Of certain products, and bounti-
full in others, will prove benefit, alike to
buyer andgrower. -Four years ago twas found
that the great cattle industry Of the coun-
try was endangered and those engaged were
alarmed at the rapid extentton Of the Europ-
can plague Of pieuro pneumonia. Serious
outbreaks existed in Illinois, Missouri,
and Kentucky and in Tennessee Animals
Affect. d were held in quarantine in five
counties in New York, ana from one to four
counties In each of the states Of New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, which
were almost equally affected. With this great
danger upon VA and with the contsgion al
ready in the channels Of commerce with
enormous, direct and indirect, losses already
being caused by it, and when only prompt
and energetic action could be succeses1l,
there were IA none of these states any laws
authorizing this department to eradicate the
malady or giving the state officials power to
cooperate with 1t for this purpose. The de-
partment lacked both the requisite ap-
nrOnrf atiOn and anthOritv.