Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-12-13

statutes OF 1885,. and the opinion is expressed
i that under such . Arm and vigtlAne exocutaon OF
| these laws and the advance Of ideas opposed to
the forbidden practices, polyg1my within the
United States is virtually at end.
Suits instituted by the Government under
| the provisions of the act. d March j. 1881. for
| the termination of the corporations known Is
| the perpetual Emigrating Fund Company and
| the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
have resulted. in degree, favorable TO the
| Government, declaring the charters OF these
corporations forfeited and escheating their
property. Such property, amounting in value
to more than s600,0u0 is in the hands OF . re-
ceiver, pending further proceedings, IN appear
having been taken to the Supreme Court OF the
United States.
PUBLIC LAND MATTERS
In the report OF the Secretary of the Interior,
which will be laid before you. the condition Of
the various branches of our domestic affairs
connected with that Department and its opera
tions during the past year are fully exhibited
But brief reference to some Of the subjects
discussed in this able and interesting report
can be here made, but recommend the entire
report to the attention OF Congress and trust
that the sensible and valuable recommends
tions it contains will secure careful considera-
ton
I can not too strenuously insist ON the i'm
portance Of proper measures to insure right
disposition of our public lands. not only as
matter Of present Justice but in forecast Of the
consequences to future generations The
broad, rich acres of our agricultural plains have
been long preserved by nature to become her
untram uelled gift to people civilized and free
| upon which should rest. in well distributed
ownership, the numerous homes of enlightened,
equal and fraternal citizens. We came to Ma
| tional possession with the warning example in
| our eyes of the entail of ineQuities of landed
prsprietorship which other countries have per
mitted and still suffer.
We have no excuse for the violation OF prin-
| ciples, cogently taught by reason and example,
moi for "a al lnVCa M r1r6 g
sometimes exposed our land to colossal greed
Laws which open door to fraudulent acQuisi-
ton On administration which permits the
rapacious seizure by favored few OF the ex-
| banded areas that many should enjoy-are &C
cessory to ofenses against our National welfare
and humanity and can not be too severely con-
demned or punished
It is gratifying to know that something has
been done at last to redress the injuries to our
people and check the perilous tendency OF the
reckless waste of National domain. That over
eighty million acres have been wrested from
illegal usurpation, improvident grants and
fraudulent entries and claims must AFFORD q
profound qualification to right feeling citizens
as 1t is recompense for the labors and
struggles of the recovery.
Our dear experience ought sufficiently to urge
the speedy enactment of measures of legisla-
| tion which will confne the future disposition
| OF our remaining agricultural lands to the uses
| OF actual husbandry and genuine homes. Nor
should our vast tracks OF so-called desert land
be yielded up to the monopoly OF corporations
or grasping individuals appears to be much
| the tendency under the existing statutes The
lands require but the supply Of water to become
| fertile and productive. It is problem of great
moment how more wisely for the public good
that factor shall be furnished can not but
think it perilous to suffer either those lands or
the sources of their irrigation to fall into the
| hands OF monopolies which by such means,
may exercise lordship over areas dependent on
their treatment for productiveness.
Already steps have been taken to secure
md iGo info OFF, he
tfons which is the principal basis OF intelligent
act on. Until this shall be gathered. the course
OF wisdom appears clearly to be in suspension
OF further disposal which only promises to
create rights antagonistic to the common in
terest No harm can follow this cautionary
conduct. The land will remain and the public
good presents no demand for hasty disposses-
sion of National ownership and control
I commend also the recommendations that
appropriate measures be taken to complete the
adjustment Of the various grants made to the
States for internal Improvements and of swamp
and overlooked lands well as to adjudicate
and finally determine tn validity and extent
OF the numerous private land claims. All these
are elements OF great injustice and peril to the
settlers upon the Localities affected, and now
that their existence can not be avoided no duty
is more pressing than to FIX soon possible
their bounds and terminate the threats OF
trouble which arise from uncertainty.
THE INDIANS.
The condition of our Indian population con-
tinues to improve and the proofs multiply that
the Transforming change so much to be desired,
which shall substitute for barbarism enlghten-
ment and civilfzing education. is in favorable
progress. A1otments In severalty have been
made on some reservations. until all those
titled to land thereon have had their shares
ASST ned, and the work is still continued. AS
soon as possible community in land should
cease, by opening up such remain unallotted
| to settlement. Contact with the ways
| OF industrious and successful farmers
will perhaps add healthy emulation
| But no agency for the amelioration of this
people appears to be SO promising as the ex-
tension urged by the Secretary of such COM
plete facilities OF education as shall at the
| the earliest possible day embrace all teach
| able Indian youths of both sexes and retain
! them with a kindly and benehcent hold until
| their characters are formed and their faculties
| trained.
| The Apache Indians at Mount Vernon bar.
racks Ala. are beng well cared for and their
children carefully educated, and there is no
good reason why they should be returned to the
| reservation. They should be kept in restraint.
| PENSIONS.
The number OF pensions added to the roll
during. the fiscal year ended June 30. 1885, is
| 69,s52. and increase OF pension was granted in
| 1915 cases. The names of IS I'D pensioners
were dropped from the rolls during the year for
| various causes and at the close Of the year the
number of pensioners was 452 $50. or these there
were 800 survivors of the war of 1872
| 10sS7 widows of those who served in
| that war; 5000 soldiers ef the Mexican
| war and 5,10i widows OF said soldiers
One hundred and two different rates of pen
| sions are paid to these beneficiaries. ranging
from $2 to sd16-G6 per month. The amount
| paid for pensions during the fiscal year was
$7S, u.s. S51. 81, being increase over the pre-
ceding year of 8, EOS $50 p. The expenses at
tending the maintenance and operation of the
Pension Bureau during that period was g. e62.
| 52467. making the entire expenditures OF the
bureau $50 O38 1885,: Z. being 21H per cent of the
gross income and nearly 81 per cent of the to-
of laeaC
year.
I am thoroughly convinced that our general
pension laws should be revised and adjusted to
meet. as far as possible in the light of our ex.