The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-03
OUR HOME INTERESTS
Secretary Mobiles Report On the
Condition Of the Country.
Pension ouEsTIon DISCUSSED
ne rsbIie Lads. rrrfs.stsn. the csnsus
anz me rndi.ns Csne IN sss Thsir
sh.rs 81 AtssnfisE-

wAsHrxsros err. Dec. z--The annual
report of the secretary Of the Interior
opens with brief reviss of the opening O
OkIahosna. TIE successful negotiations
a treaty With the sioux Indians and the
admission o. four neu states. IN review
fue he progress 81 the work OF the Cnero-
nee commission. the secretary SPEAKS ~
length u iesxes 70 cattle corupaflies and
recommends the necessity OF congress
making stringent laws prohibiting the 81.
rect inter errnce OF citizens with the gov
eminent when attempting negotiations
with Indian TRIES. Speaking Of the COM
ing censns Of fss0. the secretary suggests.
mon the recommendation Of eupeTintend-
enf Porter. that cur decenuiat census
would be far more complete and satasfsc-
tory Il the census Office we're made per-
manent bureau
Coming dosn TO the work Of the general
land Office. The secretary says that DUR ng
the Hork OF four years u the prior adj
missssfrstion there had accumulated laO,-
90 cases over and above any former
amounts. Tbs pre- ens secretary ordered
an inyestiga ion Of the cause OF this bad
state OF tue pubic business. The cause
was not far 70 seek The secretary refers
10 the order Of Commissioner Sparks OF
April 8. ias5. snspending isnal action on
entries il Ihe West, and says the source OF
suek order can be traced only 70 an utter
disregard OF the private reputation
for integrity tf those citizens Who
had settled on this vast West
ern DOMAIN. The commissioners was
supported in THIS broad accusation by
others within the general land ONCE. and
hsd 30 wisdom Of . less suspicious nature
ipterysned, their course OF action might
have brought upon the country not only the
greatest Disgrace but pss-ibls intsrnA COM
mofions OF q serious magti ude. IL led
immediately 10 the vast accumulation OF
unaajustea claims and the general discouF-
sgemsnt OF settlement on the public DO
main. The report OF the acting commits
sioneF shows that the total number Of aGFi-
cultural patents issued for the nscal year
ending June 20. 1851, vas II III. During the
FIRST eleven months Of that year, under the
former methods 81 work, there were issued
OF said patents q total Of 5o.3lS. monthly
average Of .s7a, while during june OF said
year, under the new methods, there were
issued 1858 patents, most gratifying IN
crease under tho former management 1T
Is not 70 be understood" said the secre-
tary. that there l. any disposition 70 re-
lax examination TO an extent that will per-
nit fraad 20 exist or illegal claims 10 be
established. A great many claims deemed
illegal are now under investigation ana
many gov pending for fraudulent tnfrsc-
lion Of the law viii be prosecuted.
Patents were issued daring the year for
Il. - 7l5 acres OF land. including agricul-
taral, mineral, coal, railroad, swamp. etc.
IS 379. 40 There remain pending I'm the
Office at the end OF the fiscal year $50 6ls
fnai entries. Original entries OF all classes
are ). $50. So; railroad stations undisposed
Of ?. i4i.25l acres. not including a0l SO
acres OF Oregon wagon road selections.
scamp sections OF various states, covering
over 2.0o0. 900 acres we're undispossd Of, Is
sell - educational and internal improve
nssns selections, covering los. az acres.
On the subject o. irrigation the secretary
reviews 1T length the work OF the geologi.
cal survey. and the reports Of the survey
oFs general Of the various Western states
and territories. and recommend that the
attention Of congress be invited 70 the
necessity OF determining at It's present ses-
sion whether il win establish permanentlv
o reservation of all the irrigabls arid re-
gsons. and II 30. what general laws IL may
deem best adapted 20 regulate
the supply and use Of wafer
under government control Action,
IL IL recommended. should be taken with
cut delay and the system II prosecuted by
the national government should be based
on comprehensive. illegal and practical
provisions
Regarding private land claims, the score
tary says the proper officers have invrsti-
gated and reported upon Numerous private
land claims embracing millions OF acres,
and these reIcrts have been laid before
congress. which alone, under existing
statates, can eonfsrA or reject them. Titles
20 some have been determined a. valid. but
many are stili pending for want Of action
By the legislative body.
Regarding railroad land grants, the sec
Rotary reports that Fl $50. $50 acres have
been suspended 10 await legislation for for
festnre. and says II congress intends 10 for
felt lands all OF the facts are before H. Ehs
failure 30 act may be taken as an indica-
ton on the part Of the government that
fer the future il viii be not insi ted upon.
Such viii be the Just CONCLUSION on the
part OF ths officer. Of this department. aud
these patents may vet be ss>ued upon the
presumption thal congress does not intend
that their forfeiture wsll be exAesei and that
there i no need OF further DELAY.
There should certainly be found somewhere
moral courage 60 give evidence Of title 10
railroads a. j. given 10 individuals, il ii is
intended thai any possible forfeiture viii
aot be insisted upon. The obligation how,
ever fairly rvsts upon congress. aud 1t i
hoped that the latter viii assume il and SCI
without further delay. Not only the rail
read companies are interested IN the decl >
ten 81 THIS matter. bat also the govern,
raens. the eitsssns xko have purchased fron
The company relying upon the grant, aud
The sessseFS who are in anticipation 81 ths
restoration Of These lands 60 the public
domain and wAo have settled spau them
under the homestead or some other law.
As 10 saeh portions ot the Land grants a
agv ee1eFnsineus wsth those portions 81
roads stsa aneom eseted, IL i estimated
thai a.tn,sso acres nieht be restored o. thS
paeiic domain by an immediate declare.
ton OF tsTfesgGra
Regarding the oFeron read grants IN.
sesrxlAry says the attorney general ha.
heea furnished with 81 the data necessary
Zoe he parposs 81 snssss9siax suits ia ths
matter,
investigations are being raAs4e iato tAs
illegal grants o. what are supposed 10 X
swamp lands
Regarding The mineral lands ID a reTSortesl
that the woek Determining expAFts mEneTa
sntFses i ia arrears ahoas tso years Aad !
maathx- There have aeea suspended iisss