The National tribune., 1889-12-12
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF TIKI
INTERIOR.

people. The policy of the Interior Depart
ment, dealing as it does with pensions, public
lands, mines, timber, patents, Indians, res
ervations, etc, affects vast number of our
people in widely different ways
The report is very able document, rs
was to be expected from man of Gen
Mobiles intellect and experience. IL is states
manlike in its discussion of all the topics
upon which il touches, and its treatment OF
some shows a spirit which will be very gen.
orally applauded. This is particularly the
case in regard to the two subjects in which
the readers of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE as
a class have the most direct and positive
interest-public lands and pensions.
That portion of the report dealing with
public lands gives a history of the efforts
during the year to buy the Cherokee and
Sioux lands, and compliments the Commits
sioners for the skill with which they con-
Quoted the negotiations.
The arbitrary and unjust course of the
former Commissioner of the Land Office
! Sparks-is characterized in fitting terms,
and ii is pointed out that the efficiency of
the Office has been so increased that, where
Sparks issued but 1885 agricultural land
patents in 1886, 70,141 were issued for the
last fiscal year, and since the entry of the
Secretary into Office the monthly average
has been raised from 4 STA to LIP The
public and private interests have been just
as thoroughly protected and probably better
than under Sparks's administration. Inn
portant recommendations are made as 10
further improvements in the homestead and
other laws.
Much valuable work has been done in the
direction of establishing an irrigation sys-
tenn to reclaim valuable lands, and Congress
is urged to pass laws and appropriate money
to make the system more wide-reaching.
In regard to pensions, the Secretary points
out, first, that the recommendation made 10
Congress for appropriations for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1889, were inadequate,
and this must have been known Mt the time
the recommendations were made The rec
concentrations for the year ending June 30,
1883, were fully 100000 less than the
amount which il was known would be re-
quired for that year, aud this unjustiilablc
practice was repeated for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1889 so that there was a total
deficit of about 100000 handed over 10
embarrass the incoming Administration.
The object of this was 10 make n specions
showing Of economy during the cam
paign. Gen. Noble frankly accepts the bur
den laid upon his shoulders By his prede-
cessor, and recommends an appropriation of
S96,210.252 for the current year so that
liberal and legal payment may be made to
all the deserving pensioners of the Republic
This is $l6,2l0,252 more than was asked for
by his predecessor.
His recommendation in regard TO further
legislation is as follows:
II is recommended that pension be granted 10
every soldier and sailor who did subs utia service
during the war la the army or navy aud was hon
orably discharged therefrom. and who being de-
pendent on his daily labor for his support Is now
or may hereafter be disabled from procuring his
subsistence by such labor. due regard to It's own
dignity and character should prevent the Govern.
nheni from allowing any OF tie men who fought 10
alufaE fi.sI
have become 80 incapaeitnted II is we'll known 10
Rli our people that many who were never disabled
Ia the fight or the service were yet those who met
the greatest dangers of the war aud who served
continuously aud faithfully. That Providence
saved them from wounds or disease aud that their
strong constitutions withstood the bardships of the
Held, give mo- reason why they should be eft dis
regarded aud unsupported Row. The pension il
paid by the Government In reward for past services
10 those who fought to maintain It's existence II
has the sanction of the law Of self preservation
which no Government In the treatment Of it, vet
erans can safely ignore The preservation of the
nation for which these men fought aud endured 40
much TO secure, has given 10 all our people IA won.
defiul degree Of prosperity aud mn almost unlimited
ability TO pay any obligations honor imposes
am not disposed to confer upon ali who may asle
the money OF the people, and would have confined
10 weil-ascertained limits the claims of those who
demand pension. Eevertheless "A disregard of
those OF the service named whose disability has
become since the great as To make them de.
pendent would he both unjust to them aud unwor.
thy Of our country.
You, however, have considered these matters so
deeply, both la the halle Of legislation aud in your
present high position. that there would be no need
for me To mention them, were II that the PEN
sion Bureau being In my Department any omission
Of the subject Oh my part might be understood
and miscoustrued.
The average annual value Of the pensions
at the close of the year was $131 IL, being AN
increase during the year of 1913.
The Secretary recommends that the pro-
visions Of the law which allows the payment
of pensions to the widows, orphans ETC. of
those men who, having served in the rebel
army, afterward voluntarily enlisted in the
Union army, be extended to enlistments in
the navy.
Also, that a law be passed providing that
parents who are now dependent be given
the benefit of pensions, without reference to
their financial condition at the time of the |
sons enlistment or death.
Also, that the pensioners who were unwit- |
tingly Disseminated against in the passaoe |