The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1889-12-11

One OF the new ships may in fighting
strength be equal to two of the old, but it
can not do the cruising duties Of two.
1t Is important, therefore. that we should
have more rapid increase in the number of
serviceable ships. I concur in the recon-
mendation of the Secretary that the con-
struction OF eight armored ships, three gun
boats and nve torpedo boats be authorized.
THE INDIAN QUESTION
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
exhibits the transactions Of the Governments
with the Indian tribes. Substantial progress
has been made in the education of the chill
dren OF school age and in the allotment Of
lands to adult Indians. It Is to be regretted
that the policy of breaking up the tribal re-
lation and OF dealing with the Indian as an
Inoividual did not appear earlier in our leg
lslatIon. Large reservations used in COM
mon and the maintenance of the authority
OF the chiefs and headmen have deprived the
individual Of every incentive to the exercise
OF thrift and the annuity has contributec an
Affirmative impulse towards q state Of con-
nrmed pauperiSm.
The last Congress enacted two distinct
laws relating to negotiations with the Sioux
Indians of Dakota for q REIMBURSEMENT of a
portion Of their lands to the United States
and for dividing the remainder into separate
reservations. Both were approved on the
same day, March 2. The one submitted to
the Indians was a specific proposition. The
other (Sec. Of the Indian Appropriation
act) authorized the President to appoint
three Commissioners to negotiate with these
Indians for the accomplishment OF some gen.
eral purpose and required that
any agreement made should be
submitted to Congress for ratification.
On the 18th day of April last appointed
Hon. Charles Foster, of Ohio, Hon. William
nrv0 of ~ vi lot r.al
George Cook, Of the United States army
Commissioners under the last named law.
They were, however, authorized and direct
ed 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 that proposition to open negotiations for
modified terms under the other act. The
work of the Commission was prolonged and
arduous but the assent Of the requisite num-
Der was, it is understood, finally obtained to
the proposition made by Congress.
The Commission provided for by section IA
OF the Indian Appropriation bill to negotiate
with the Cherokee Indians and all other In
dams owning or claiming lands lying west
of the ninety sixth degree OF longitude, for
the cession to the United States Of all such
lands, was organized on June 70
last. Two conferences have been
held, but no definite results have appeared.
The cattle syndicate now occupying the
lands for grazing purposes is clearly one Of
the agencies responsible for the obstruction
Of our negotiations with the Cherokees. The
large body of agricultural lands constituting
what is known as 1.-The Cherokee Outlet
ought not to be, and indeed can not long be,
held for grazing and for the advantage of a
few against the public interests and the best
advantages of the Indians themselves. The
United States has under the treaties certain
rights in these lands. These will not be used
Oppressively, but it can not be allowed that
those who by sufferance occupy these lands
shall interpose to defeat the wise and bene-
ficent purposes of the Government
livery urgently recommend that Congress
at once provide territorial government for
the people of Oklahoma. Serious questions,
which may at any time lead to violent out
breaks, are awaiting the institution of
courts for their peaceful adjustment. The
American genius for self government has
been illustrated in Oklahoma, but it is
neither safe nor wise to leave these people
longer to the expedients which have tenn
porarily served them.
THE LAND LAWS.
In the 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 pur-
sued. The number Of pending cases had, dur
ing the preceding Administration been
greatly increased under the operation of
orders for time suspending final action in
a large part of the cases originating IN the
West and Northwest, and by the subsequent
use of unusual methods of examination.
Only those who are familiar with the con-
ditiOns under which our agricultural lands
have been settled can appreciate the serious
and often fatal consequences to the settler of
policy that puts his title under suspicion,
or delays the issuance of his patents.
While care is taken to prevent and expose
fraud, it should not be imputed without
reason. The manifest purpose Of the Home
stead and Pre- emption laws was to promote
the settlement of the public domain by per-
sons having bonafide intent to make homes
upon the selected lands. Where this intent
is well established and the requirements of
the law have been substantially complied
with, the claimant is entitled to prompt
and 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 a law intended to
promote small holdings and to secure,
by fraudulent methods, large tracts
of timber and other lands, both
principal and agent 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 confound these two
classes and to visit penalties only upon the
latter.
The unsettled state of the titles to large
bodies of lands in the territories Of New
Mexico and Arizona has greatly retarded the
development Of these Territories. Pro-
vision should be made by law for the
prompt trial and final adjustment, before
a judicial tribunal or commission, of all
claims based upon Mexican grants. It
is not Just to an intelligent and enter
prising people that their peace should be
disturbed and their prosperity retarded by
these old contentious. l express the hope
that differences Of opinion as to methods
may yield to the urgency Of the case.
PENSIONS.
The law now provides a pension for every
soldier and sailor who was mustered into the
service of the United States during the civil
war and is now suffering from wounds or
disease having an origin in the service and
the line of duty. Two Of three necessary
facts-muster and disability-are usually
susceptible OF easy proof, but the third
origin in the service-is often difficult and,
in many deserving cases, impossible to
establish.
That very many Of those who endured the
hardships Of our most bloody and arduous
campaigns are now disabled from diseases
that had a real, il not a traceable, origin in
service we do not doubt. Besides, there is
another class, composed of men, many Of
whom served an enlistment of the three full
years, and Of e-enlisted veterans who add
ed fourth year of service, who escaped the
casualties of battles and the assaults of dis
ease, who were in every battle line Of their