Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-12-12


ceding administration have been greatly in
creased under the operation of orders for
time suspehding final action In large
part Of the cases originating In the west
and northwest, and by the subsequent use of I'M
usual methods OF examination only those who
are familiar with the conditions under which our
agricultural lands have been settled can ap-
preciate the serious and often fatal consequences
TO the settlers Of policy that puts his title under
While care is taken TO prevent and 10 expose fraud.
il should not be imputed without reason.
The manifest purpose Of the homestead and pre-
emption laws was to promote the settlement OF
the public domain by persons having bona fide
intent to make home upon the selected lands.
Where this intent is wei established and the re-
quirements OF the law have been substantially
complied with the claimant Is entitled to prompt
ana friendly consideration of his case. But where
there is reason TO believe that the claimant is the
mere agent OF another who is seeking to evade 8
to secure by fraudulent methods large
tracts Of timber and other lands, both
principal and agents, should not Only be thwarted
in their fraudulent purpose, but should be made
to feel the full penalties OF our criminal statutes
The laws should be so administered as not to con-
found these two classes and TO visit penalties
titles TO large bodies Of lands in the terri
tories OF New Mexico and Arizonia has
greatly retarded the development OF those
law for the prompt trial and final adjustment be
fore Judicial tribunal or commission Of all
claims, based upon Mexican grants. It is not
just to intelligent and enterprisng people that
their peace should be disturbed and their prop.
erty retarded by these old contentious. Iexpress
the hope that differences of opinion as to meth
DDS may yield to the urgency Of the case
Suggestions Applicable to Alaska
We have fortunately not extended to Alaska
The mistaken policy Of establishing reservations
turthe Indian tribes and can deal with them from
the beginning as individuals with, am sure bet
J ter results. But any disposition Of the public
lands and any regulations relating to timber, and
To the fisheries, should have kindly re-
gard to their interests. Having no power
20 ley taxes, the people of Alaska are
wholly dependent on the general government %
whose revenues the seal fisheries make large
annual contribution. An appropriation for edu-
cation should neither be overlooked nor stnted.
The smallness OF the population, and the great
distance between the settlements offer serious OBJ
ataeles TO the establishment of the usual terri
lorlal form OF government. Perhaps the organl-
zatuu of several sub-dstricts with a small munic.
Ipal council of limited powers for each, would
be safe and useful
Attention Is called in this connection TO sugges.
tons of the secretary of The treasury, relating TO
the establishment Of another port of entry in
Alaska, and of other needed custom facilities and
regulations.
The New States.
The advent Of four new states, South Dakota,
North Dakota, Montana and Washington, into the
Union under the constitution in the same month,
and the admission of their duly chosen represent
atives TO our national congress at the same ses.
sion, is an event exampled as it is interesting
The certifcaton of the votes cast and of the con
solutions adopted in each OF the states was filed
with me as required by the eighth section OF the
act of February - 1889, by the governors Of said
territories respectively. Having after a care
full examination, found that the several con
situations and governments were republican ~
form and not repugnant TO the constitution OF
the United States, that all the provisions of the
act of congress had been complied with, and that
q majority of votes cast in each OF said pro
posed states was in favor of adopting constltu.
tons submitted therein, ! did so declare by a
separate proclamation as TO each as to North
Dakota and South Dakota, on Saturday, Novem-
her p; as 10 Montana, on Friday, November 3.
and as 10 Washington on Monday, November II
Each Of these states has within it resources the
development OF which viii employ the energies
of, and yield q comfortable subsistence to great
population. The smallest Of these new states,
Washington, stands twelfth, and the largest,
Montana, third among the forty-two in area. The
people of these states are already well trained,
intelligent and patriotic American citizens, hav.
ing common interests and sympathles with those
of the oder states, and a common purpose TO de-
fend the integrity Of, and uphold the honor OF the
nation
The Interior Department..
: The report Of the secretary OF the interior ex-
hibits the transactions OF the government with
the Indian tribes. Substantial progress has been
made in the education OF the children OF school
age and the allotment of lands 10 adult Inolans.
IL is 10 be regretted that the policy OF breaking up
the tribal regulation and OF dealing with the In
dian as an individual, did not appear earlier in
our legislation. Large reservations held in COM
mon and the maintenance of the authority Of the
chiefs and head men, have deprived the individual
Of every Incentive 10 the exercise OF theft and
the annuity has contributed an affirmative inn
pulse toward state OF confirmed pauperism.
our treaty stipulations should be observed with
fidelity, and our legislation should be highly con.
siderate of the best interests Of an ignorant and
. helpless people The reservations are now gen
! orally surrounded by white settlements We can
no longer push the Indian back into the wilder
/ ness, and ii remains only, by every suitable
/ agency, to push him upward into the state of a
selfsupporting and responsible citizen. For the
adult, the first step is to locate him upon farm,
and for the child to place him in a school. And
school attendance should be promoted
! by every moral agency and those fail
ing should be compelled. The national schools
! for Indians have been very successful, and
should be multiplied, and as far as possible
should be so organized and conducted as to facil-
tate the transfer of the schools to the states or
J territories in which they are located when the
/ Indians in the neighborhood have accepted citi,
zenship and have become otherwise fitted
( for such q transfer. This condition Of things
will be attained slowly, but it will be hastened
by keeping il in mind. And in the meantime
I that cooperation between the government
/ ard the mission schools which has wrought
| much good, should be cordially and i'm,
/ partially sustained. The last congressFenacted
two distinct laws relating to negotiations with the
/ portion Of their land to the United States. and
for dividing the remainder into separate reserva-
tons; both were approved on the same day,
! March 2 The one submitted to the Indians a
specific proposition, the other (sectOn OF the
ludan appropriation sCt) authorized by the pres
ident 10 appoint three commissioners to negotiate
with these Indians for the accomplishment of the
same general purpose and required that any
agreements made should be submitted TO CON
gress for ratification.
On the 18th day Of April last, appointed Hon
Charles Foster IF Ohio, Hon. William Wayne, OF
Z Missouri, and Major General George Crock Of
/ the United States army, commissioners under the
/ last named law. They were, however, authorized
and directed first to submit TO the Indians the
! definite proposition made to them by the act first
mentioned, and only IN the event of a failure To-
/ secure the assent Of the requisite number TO thar
proposition, TO open negotiations for modified
terms under the other act The work Of the com
! ASsiOn was prolonged and arduous, but the as
sent Of the requisite number was, it is
understood, finally obtained to the proposition
/ made by congress, although the report Of the