The Forrest City times., 1890-12-06
The Interior Department.


 Ti,. Interior Department.
 Tho report of the Secretary Of the In. terior exhibits with great fuiluoSs and clear, ness the vast work of that great depart. ment and the satisfactory results attained The suggestions made by him are earnestly commended ,o the consideration of con grcss, though they cannot all be given. par tcular mention here. The several acts oi congress looking to tho reduction of the larger Indian reservations, 10 the more rapid settlement of theiindians upon indi. vldusl allotments aud to the restoration "a the public domains cf lands in excess of their needs have been largely carried into effect, so far us the work. was coaiided to the executive.
 rHg rArENrINa OF LANDS,
 Tho policy outlined in my last annual message iu relation to the patenting of lands to settlers upon the public domain has bccu carried out in tho administration of the land office. No general suspicion nor imputation of fraud has been allowed 10 delay the hearing and adjudication of individual cases upon their merits, Their purpose has been to perfect the title of honest settlers with such promptness that the value of the entry might not ba swallowed up by the expense and extor- tions to which delay subjected the claim ant. The average monthly issue of arri- cultural patents has been Increased about six thousand.
 THE PENSION BUREAU.
 The disability pension act, which was approved on the 2.th of June last, has been put into operation as rapidly as was practicable. The increased clerical force, as provided. was selected and assigned to work, and u considerable part of the force engaged In examinations in the field was recalled and added to the working force Of the office. The examination and adiudiea-
  methods, been more rapid than ever be- fore. There is no economy to the govern ment in delay, while there is much hard ship and injustice to the soldier The an- ueipated expenditure, while very large, will not, it k believed be in excess of the estimate made before the enactment of the taw. This liberal enlargement of tho general law should suggest a more careful scrutiny of bills for special ralief, both as Go the cases where relief is granted and as to the amount allowed.
 THE MORMON QUESTION.
 The Increasing numbers and influence of the non. Mormon population in Utah are observed with satisfaction. The recent letter of Wilfori Woodruff, president og the Mormon church, In which he advised his people ito refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the laws of the land has attracted wide attention, and is is hoped that it's influence will be highly 'r@athAsaA LII if>ttatuinS lutkaNktouS or kAt law of the United States. But ttie fact should not ho overlooked that the doctrine or belief of tho church, that polygamous marriages arc right and supported by divine revelation. remains unchanged President Woodruff does not renounce the doctrine, but refrains from touching 1t, and advises against the practice of st because the law is against it Now. it is quite true that the law should not attempt to deai wsfh tho faith or belief oE anyone. but it Is quite another thing to deal with the ter. ritory of Utah, So that those who helievo polrgamy to be right shall not have the power to make is lawful
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
 At tho last session 1 had occasion to re- turn, with nN objections, several bills making provisions for tho erection of pub tic buildings. for the reason that theAex penditures contemplated were in ID, opinion, greatly in exress of public need No class of Legislation Is moro liablc te abuse
 GooD WORDS FOR KERRY RusK.
 Tho Secretary of Agriculture deserves especial attention in view of the fact tha. the year has been marked in very anusua. degree by agitation and organization