Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-04
THE OMAHA DAILY Bee: TUESDAY, DEcEMBER L. 1885.

tn uen of actual hnGhlplrU md CpnutuC
homes Nor sb6uld our vast tracts Of 80.
called desert lands be Welded M 10 the
monopoly Of ,,orporatlons or crashing indi.
ylduals. MS appen1,s 10 In much che tendency
under tho existing statute. The lands re-
0uirc but the SUNNY Of water to become
fertile and productive. Ii is a problem OF
great moment how most wisely, for the
public good, that factor shall be furnished !
cannot but think it pcrilOus to suffer either
these lands or the sources Of their irrigation
10 fall Into the hands of mOnOpOlies, which,
by such means, NAV exercise luriShip over
acres dependent on their treatment FOR pro.
duCtiveness. Already steps have been
taken to secure accurate and scientific
lufOrtnations of the conditions, which is the
prime basis of intelligent action. Until this
shall be gained, the course of wisdom ap.
pears clearly TO lie III q suspension OF Iulllel
disposal, which only promlsest to create rights
antAgonlSttc 10 the common interest NO
harm can follow TINS precautionary ~CohVucl.
me Iand VIII remain. auu the puoIt Eoou
presents no demands Tor nasty dlsposseSslOn
oil national ownership ana cohtrol.
! commend also the recommendations that
appropriate measures be taken to complete
the adjustment of the various grants to the
states for internal improvements and of
swamp and OvCrilowcd lands, as well as Ia
adjudlCatC and finally determine the validity
and extent of the numerous private land
claims. All these are clements oil great IN
justice and peril to the settlers upon the
Localities effected.
The conditions of Indian affairs t~cstiiics to
the value of the higher tone of consideration
and humanity which has governed the later
method of dealing with them, and commend
its continued observance. Allotmcnts in
sCvcralty have been maic on some
reservations, until all those entitled
to land thereon have had their
shares assigned. and the work is still
continued. In directing the execution of
this uuty, | have not aimed SO much at rapid
dispatch as to secure Just and fair arrange
ments, which shall best conduce to the OBJ
iects of the law, by producing satisfaction
with the results Ofthe allotmcnts made. No
measure of general effect has ever been en-
tered on from which more may be fairly
hoped, if 1t shall be discrectly administered.
II profters opportunity TO that independence
OF spirit ana lie when the lnulan pecularl-
ties need, While AT tne same llIhe, tue ma
liienablllty OF tltlc afords security against
tne risks MS lncNperlcllcc OF alalrs OF weak
ness OF character may expose nun 10 III ueal-
ing Wltl Others, Whenever oeEuh upon any
fCScrNatlOn, IL Slloulu DC miuc coliplctc' So
that all are brought 10 inc same CONDITION,
ana as soon us possible community III MINUS
should cease by opening snch as fculdih IN
allotlcu 10 selticnleht. contact WIN Ihe
ways Oh lnuuslrlOuS ana SUCCESSFUL iatihefS'
VIII, perhaps, aud a hCa!lhy emulatioh,
winch VIII both instruct ana stimulate But
no agency Tor the aueiioraloh OF this PEG
PIE appears 10 me so promising Us inc OK
tension, urged DS IHe secretary, Vi sum tpHl'
piete facilities or education as shall at
the earliest possible day embrace all
teachublc Indian youths oil pom sexes,
and retain them with u kindly and Denelicent
hold until their characters are formed ana
then facilities and dispositions trained Tor
such pursuits.
The Sioux tribes on the great reservation
of Dakota refused to assent to the act passed
by the congress at its last session for opening
a portion OF their lands to their settlement,
Notwithstanding a modification of the terms
was suggested. Which met most of their oh.
lection. 1t is at least gratifying that no re-
proach of over-reaching can in. any manner
be made against the government, however
advisable the favorable completion of the ne.
gOtiation NAV have been esteemed.
n M +boroupblv convinced that orr pnn.
oral nensiOn laws shOulj he revised and adj
iusted to meet as far as possible in the light
of our experience ali merItorious cases. The
fact that 1O2 different rates of pensions are
paid. cannot in NV opinion pc made consist p
emit with iustice to the pensioners or TO the
government and the numerous private pen.
sion bills passed. predicated upon the imper-
fectIou of general laws, while they in
crease in many cases existing inequality
and iniustiCes, lend additional force
to the Recommendation for revision of the
general laws on this subject.