Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-12-03
DEPARTMENT OF TnE INTERIOR.


The report OF the secretary OF the interior
exhibits with great fullness aud clearness
the vast work OF that great department OF
the satisfactory results attained. Tho sug-
res,ions made by him are earnestly COM
,ncndcd To the considcrat ton OF congress- as
all cannot bc gwen particular mention here.
The several acts OF congress looking to
the reduction Of tho larger ludian rcserva-
tions, u the more rapid settlement OF tho
Indians upon individual alloi, i,ncnis. and
the restoration 10 the public domain of
lands In cNcess Of their needs have been
largely carried into effect, 50 far as the
work was coniided TO the executive. Agree
meuts have been concluded slice March 4,
1880 involving the ccs>iou to tho United
States OF about 1t,72J. .gu0 acres OF land.
These contracts have, as required by law,
been submitted 10 congress for rntiIica l. ion
and for The appropriations necessary to
carry them into eject. Those with the
Slssctop aud Wahpcton, Sac and Fox. Iowa,
pnttawatiamics and absentee Shawnccs,
and Occur d'Alene tribes have not vet re-
ccivcd the sanction OF congress. Attention
is also called to the fact that the approprla-
tions made in the case Of the Sioux Indians
have not covered all tho stipulated pay
mcnts. This should be promptly corrected.
Ii an agreement is confirmed all of its
terms should be complied with without de-
Law and full concentrations should bc made
The policy outlined in my last annual
message in relation to the patcptipg Of
lands to settlers upon the public donna in
has been carried out in the sdminjstra, ion
of the land Office. No general suspicion or
imputation Of fraud has been allowed 70
DELAY the hearing and adjudication Of in
diyIdual cases upon their merits. The pur-
pose has been to perfect the title of honest
settlers with such promptness that the
value OF the entry might not be swallowed
nm by the expense and cxtortions To which
The average monthly issue of agricul-
tural patents has been increased about six
thousand. The disability pension act.
which was approved on the c7th Of June
last, has been put into operation ms rapidly
as was practicable. Tho increased clerical
force provided was selected aud assigned TO
work, and q considerable part OF the force
engaged in examinations in the field was
recalled and added 70 the working force OF
the Office The examination and udjudica-
tion Of claims have, by reason OF improv ed
methods, been more rapid than ever before.
There is no economy to the government in
delay. while there ~ much hardship and
in Justice TO the soldier. The anticipated
expenditure, while very large, will not, 1t Is
believed. be in excess OF the estimates made
before tbs enactment OF the law. This
liberal enlargement OF the general law
should suggest more careful scrutiny Of
bills for special relief. both as to the cases in
which relief s granted and rs 10 the amount
allowed.
The increasing numbers and influence Of
the nom Mormon population In Utah are OBJ
served with satisfaction. Tho recent letter
of Wilford Woodruff. president Of the Nor
mon church, in which he advised his people
to .'refrain from contracting any marriage
forbidden by the laws OF the land" has at
tracted wide attention. and IT 10 hoped that
Its influence will be highly beneficial In re-
tNfu tvn4e ct fpf a NJ IN