The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-12-11

Affairs I'm Alaska.
Provisions should be made for the acquisi-
ton OF title to town lots in the towns now es,
tablished i'm Alaska, for locating town sites and
for the establishment of municipal govern
ments. Only the mining laws have been ex-
tended TO that territory and no other form OF
title TO lands can now be obtained. We have
fortunately not extended TO Alaska the mis-
taken policy of establishment OF reserva-
uons Tor the Indian tribes, and can
deal with them from the beginning dividu-
ais, with, am sure, better results. But any
disposition OF the public lands and any regula-
tions relating TO timber and TO the fisheries
should have IA kindly regard to their interests.
Having no power TO levy taxes, the people OF
Alaska are wholly dependent upon the General
government TO whose revenues the seal hsh-
cries make large annual contribution. An
appropriation for education should neither be
overlooked nor stinted
The smallness of the population aud the great
distances between the settlements offer serious
obstacles 10 the ostabi shment Of the usual Ter
utorial folm of imont. Perhaps the or
eanization OF several sub-districts with small
municipal council OF limited powers for each,
would be safe and useful.
The Public Lands.
In tho administration OF the land laws the
policy of facilitating, in every proper way, the
adjustment of the honest claims OF individual
settlers upon the public lands has been pursued.
The number of pending cases had, during the
preceding administration, been greatly increased
under the operation OF orders for time sus-
pending final action in large part OF the cases
originating in the West and Northwest, and by
tho subsequent use Of unusual methods OF ex-
animation. Only those who are familiar with
the conditions under which our agricultural
lands have been settled can appreciate the seri-
Gus aud often fatal consequences To the settler
of n policy that puts his title under suspicion, or
delays tie issuance OF his patent. While care is
taken 10 prevent and to expose fraud il should
not be imputed without reason.
The manifest purpose OF the homestead and
pre-emption laws was 60 promote the settle
ment OF the public domain by persons having
a bona fide intent TO make n home upon the Sc
lected lands. Where this intent is well estab
lished and the requirements OF the law have
been substantially complied with, the claimant
is entitled TO n prompt and friendly considera-
ton OF his But where there is reason to
believe that the claimant Is "A mere agent Of an
other, who is seeking 20 evade the law and TO
secure by fraudulent methods large tracts OF
timber and other lands, both principal and
agent should he made TO feel the full penalty OF
criminal statutes. The law should be so
administered rs not to confound these two
classes, and TO visit penalties only upon the
latter
Tho unsettled state OF the titles 10 large
bodies OF lands in the Territories OF New Mex
leo and Arizona has greatly retarded the devel-
opment OF those Territories Provision should
be made by law for the prompt trial and final
adjustment before n judicial tribunal or com
mission, OF all claims based upon Mexican
grants.
Pensions.
The law now provides a pension for every
soldier aud sailor who was mustered into the
service of the United States during the civil war
aud is now suffering from wounds or disease
having an origin in the service and i'm the line
OF duty. Two Of the three necessary facts viz
muster and disability, are usually susceptible OF
easy proof but the third, origin in the service,
is often difficult, aud in many deserving cases
impossible TO establish. That very many OF
those who endured the hardships Of our most
bloody and arduous campaigns now dis
ablcd from diseases that had real
but not traceable origin i'm the service, i do not
doubt. Besides these there is another class
composed of men many of whom served an en-
gfT1nqn of fnraa f11l md Of Is1f,
veterans who added efourtn year OF service who
escaped the casualties of battle and the assaults
OF disease, who we're always ready for any detail,
who were in every battle line Of their command,
and were mustered out in sound health. aud
have since the close of the war, while fighting
with the same indomitable and independent
spirit the contests OF civil life been overcome by
disease or casualty
a Dependent Pension Bill Urged.
! am not unaware that the pension roll al
ready involves very large annual eXpendi-
ture, neither ann | deferred by that fact from
recommending that Congress grant pension
to such honorably discharged soldiers aud sail
ors OF the civil as, having rendered sub
stantial service during the war, are now de-
pendent upon their labor for main
tenance, and through disease casualty are
incapacitated from earning 10. Many of the men
who would be included in this form of relief
are now dependent upon public aid, and IL
does not, in my opinion, consist with the ma
tiolal honor that they shall continue to subsist
upon the local relief given indiscriminatelv TO
paupers instead OF upon the special and gener-
Gus provision OF the nation they served so GAL
lantly and unselhshly. Our people will, / am
sure, very generally approve such legislation.
And am equally sure that the survivors of the
Union army and navy will feel grateful sense
of relief when this worthy and suffering class of
their comrades is fairly cared for.
There are some manifest inequalities in the
existing law that should he remedied. To some
of these the Secretary OF the Interior has called
attention. 1t is gratifying to be able 10 state
that by the adoption of new and better meth
DDS in the War Department the calls OF the
Pension Office for information as TO the mill
tary and hospital records of pension claimants
are now promptly answered and the Injurious
CURED are entirely avoided. This will greatly
facilitate the adjustment of all pending claims.
The New States.