The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-12-04
MOBILES REPORT.
Review of the Work in the Department
Of the Interior


The report of the secretary of the interior eX-
lnbits with great fullness and clearness the vast
work OF that department and the satisfactory
results attained The suggestions made by him
are earnestly commended to the consideration
of congress- though they cannot all be given par
ticular mention here.
The several acts of congress looking to the re
duction of the larger Indian reservations to the
more rapid settlement of the Indians upon indi-
vidual aotments, and the restoration to the
public domain of lands in excess Of their needs,
have been largely carried into effect, so far as
the work COniided to the executive. Agree
ments have been concluded since March 4 1889,
involving the cession to the United states OF
about IA, 5000 acres OF land. These con-
tracts have as required by law, been submitted
to congress for ratification and for the apprO-
priatiOns necessary to carry them into effect.
Those with the SissetOn and WahPetOn, sac and
Fox, Iowa Pottawattamies aud absentee
ShaWneeS and Cpur d Aene tribes have not re-
ceived the sanction Of congress. Attention. is
also called to the fact that the appropriations
made in the case of the Sioux Indians have not
covered all the stipulated payments. This
should be promptly corrected. II all agreement
is confirmed all of its terms should be compiled
with without delay and full appropriations should
be made.
The policy outlined in my last annual message
in relation to the patenting of lands to settlers
upon the public domain has been carried out in
the administration Of the land office. No gen
eral suspicion or imputatiOn OF fraud has been
OF individual cases upon their merits. The pur-
pose has been to perfect the title OF honest set
tiers with such prOmptneSs that the value OF
the entry might not be swallowed up by the eX
penses and extOrtiOns to which delay subjected
the claimant. The average monthly issue OF
agricultural patents has been increased about
5000.
The disability pension act, which was APP
proved on the 9th OF June last, has been put
into operation as rapidly as was practicable.
The increased clerical force provided was
le1to0 and to
part OF the force engaged III examinations on
the field was recalled and added to the working
force OF the Office. The examination and adju-
dication OF Claims have, by reason OF improved
methods, been more rapid than ever before.
There is no economy to the government in de-
lay, while there is much hardship and injustice
to the soldier The anticipated expenditure,
while very large, will not. it is believed, be in eX-
cess OF the estimates made before the enactment
OF the law. This liberal enlargement OF the gen
eral law should suggest q more careful scrutiny
of bills for special relief, both as to the cases
where relief is granted and as to the amount al
lowed.
The increasing numbers and influence OF the
non mormon portion in Utah are observed with
satisfaction. The recent letter OF WifOrd Wood
ruiz, president of the Mormon church, in which
he advised his people "tO refrain from contract
ing any marriage forbidden by law" has at
tracted wide attention. and 1t IS hoped that its
influence will be highly beneficial in restraining
all inraCtiOnS of the laws OF the United States.
But the fact should not be overlooked that the
doctrine or belief of the church that pOlygamOuS
marriages are rightful aud supported by divine
revelation remains unimpared President Wood
Iuff does not renOunce the doctrine, but refrAms
from teaching it, and advises against the pras
tice of it because the law is against it. 1t is
quite true that the law should not attempt to
deal with the faith or belief of any one: but it
is quite another thing and the only safe thing,
so to deal with the Territory OF Utah as that
those who believe pOlygamy to be rightfu shall
not have the power to make it lawful.
The admission of the states OF Wyoming and
| Idaho to the Union events full OF interest
! and CongratulatiOn, not only to the people OF
those states, now happily endowed with full
participation in our privileges and response
bties, but to all our people. Another belt
of states stretches from the Atlantic to the
! Pacific.
The work OF the patent office has won from
/ all sources very high commendatiou. The
! amount accomplished has been very largely i'll
/ creased, and all the results have been such as to
! secure confidence and consideration for the sug
geStiOns OF the commissioner.
The enumeration OF tie people OF the United
| States under the provisions OF the act OF March
| l, 1890, has been completed and the result will
! be at once officially communicated to congress
| The completion Of this decennial enumeration
! devolves upon congress the duty of making a
new appOrtiOnment OF representatives. among
| the several states according to their respective
| numbers"