The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-14

that factor shall be furnished. can not but
think II 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 loriship over areas dependent %
their treatment for productiveness.
Already steps have been taken to secure &C
curase and scientific Information Of the eondi-
tions which is the principal basis Of intelligent
acton Until this shall be gathered the course
Of wisdom appears clearly to be in a suspension
Of further disposal which only promises to
create rights antagonistic TO the common in
terest. No harm can follow this cauticnary
conduct. The land will remain, and the public
good presents NO demand for hasty disposses-
sion of National ownership and control
commend also the recommendations that
appropriate measures be taken TO complete the
adjustment OF the various grants made 10 the
States for internal improvements and Of swamp
and overlooked lands as well as to adiudicate
and finally determine the 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 as soon as 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 enlighten-
ment and civilizing education. is in favorable
progress. Alotments in severalty have been
made on some reservations. until all those en-
titled to land thereon have had their shares
ASSIGNED, and the work is still continued. As
soon as possible community in land should
cease, by opening up such as remain unallotted
to settlement Contact with the ways
Of industrious and successful farmers
will perhaps add healthy emulation
which will both instruct and stimulate.
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 kindly and benefcent hold until
their characters are formed and their faculties
trained
The Apache Indians at Mount Vernon bar.
racks Ala. are being we'll cared for aud 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. 1888 il
&C, 252 and increase Of pension was granted in
45, 716 cases. The names of 30 pensioners
were dropped from the rolls during the year for
various causes, and at the close Of the year the
number of pensioners was - So. OF these there
were SIG survivors Of the war of 1912,
10,i67 widows of those who served in
that war; 1900 soldiers of the Mexican
war and 5,i04 widows of said soldiers.
One hundred and two different rates of PEN
sions are paid to these benefciaries. ranging
from q to s+l6.66 per month. The amount
paid for pensions during the hsesl year was
fS as, S5l. 81, being an increase ovef the pre-
ceding year OF 8. 3Os, $50 %. The expeneax at
tending the maintenance and operation ~ the
Pension Bureau during that period was o. 49,
524.67. making the entire expenditures Of the
bureau $50 OBS 1885,. being 81. per cent Of the
gross income and nearly 81 per cent. of the to-
tai expenditures Of the Government during the
year.
1 am thoroughly convinced that our general
pension laws should be revised and adjusted to
meet. as far as possible in the light of our
perience. all merltorious cases. The fact that
one hundred and two different rates of pensions
are paid can not in my opinion be made con
sistent with justice to the pensioners or to the
Government. and the numerous private pen
sion bills taat are passed. predcated upon the
imperfection of general laws, while they in
crease in many cases existing inequality
and injustice, lend additional force to
the recommendation for a revision of
the general laws on this subject.
The laxity OF ideas prevailing among a large
number of our people regarding pensions is be-
coming every day more marked. The principles
upon which they should be granted are IN dam
ger Of beng altogether ignored, and already
pensions are often claimed because the appli-
cants are as much entitled as other successful
applicants, rather than upon any disabil
ity reasonably attributable to military
service. If the establishment OF
various precedeuts be continued, if
,r,.,
partisan and other unworthy and irrelevant con
siderations. and the honorable name of veteran
unfairly becomes by these means but another
term for one who constantly clamors for the al
Of the Government there is danger that injury
will be done to the fame and patr' otism az many
whom our citizens delight to honor and that
a prejudice will be aroused unjust to merftori
Gus applicants for pensions.
AGRICULTURE.
The Department of Agriculture has continued
with a good measure Of success in its efforts to
develop the processes, enlarge the results and
augment the profits OF American husbandry.
II has collected and distributed practical
information. introduced and tested new plants
checked the spread of contagious diseases
of farm animals. resisted the advance of
noxious insects and destructive fungus
growths and sought to secure to agricultural
labor the highest reward Of effort and the full.
show that the season of 1sSs has been ore OF
medium production. A generous supply OF the
demands of consumption has been assured and
q surplus for expectation. moderate in certain
products and bountiful in others. will prove
benefaction alike TO buyer and grower.
Four years ago it was found that the great
cattle industry of the country was endangered
and those engaged in 1t were alarmed at the
rapid eXtention of the European lung plague of
nj Ell ks vi tod
in Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky. and in
Tennessee animals affected were held in
quarantine. Five counties in New York and
from one to four counties each in the States Of
New Jersey, Pennsylvania Delaware and
Maryland were almost equally affected. With
the great danger upon US and with the con-
tagion already IN the channels OF commerce;
with the enormous direct and indirect losses
already being caused by it and when only
prompt and energetic action could be success
full there were in none of these States any laws
authorizing this department to eradicate the
malacy or giving the State officials power to Co
operate for this purpose The depart
meut even lacked both the requisite ap-
preparation and authority. By securing
State cooperation in connection with
authority from Congress, the work Of eradica-
ton has been pressed successfully and this
dreaded disease has been extirpated from the
Western States, with the exception of a few re-
stricted areas which are still under supervision.
The danger has thus been removed and trade
and commerce have been freed from the
vexatious State restr ctions which were deemed
necessary for time.
An exhaustive study has also within the same
period been undertaken Of the subject OF food
sdulteratiou and the best araly tical method
for determining it. A part OF the results Of
this work has already been published o.
the department which. with the matter in
course Of preparation, Will make the most
complete treatise on that subject that ever
has been published in any country. The de
partment seeks progressive development It
would combine the discoveries Of science with
the economies and amelioration OF rural prac-