Thomas County cat., 1890-12-04
DEPARTMENT of the Interior.


| tionS Of the secretary.
Department of the Interior.
The report of the secretary OF the inte
| rior exhibits with great fullness and
clearness the vast work of that great de-
| partment and the satisfactory results at
tanned. The suggestions made by him
are earnestly commended to the con-
| gress, though they cannot all be given
particular mention here.
INDIAN RESERVATIONS.
The several acts of congress looking to
| the reduction of the larger Indian reser-
vations, to the more rapid settlement of
the Indians as individuals, and the resto-
ration to public domain of lands in excess
of their needs, have been largely carried
into effect so far as the work was con-
| fided to the executive. Agreements have
been concluded since March 4.
| 1889, involving the cession to
the United States of about 14,120,O00
acres of land. These contracts have, as
required by law, been submitted to con-
gress for ratification and for the appro-
! priations necessary to carry them into
effect. These with the Sisseton and
Waupeton Sac and Fox, Iowa, Pottawa-
tonnes and absentee Shawnees and COeur
D. Alcne tribes, have not yet received the
sanction of congress.
Attention is also called to the fact that
the appropriations made in the case of
Sioux Indians Lave not covered ell the
stipulated payments. This should be
promptly corrected. If an agreement is
confirmed all of its terms should be COM
piled with without delay and full appro-
prIations should be made.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The policy outlined in my last annual
message in reiation 10 the patenting of
lands to settlers upon the public domain.
has been carried out in the administra-'
tion of the land office.
No general suspicion nor imputation
of fraud has been allowed to delay the
hearing and adjudication of individual
cases upon their merits.
The purpose has been to perfect the
title of honest settlers with such prompt
ness, that the value of the entry might
not be swallowed up by the expense and,
extortions to which delay subjected the
claimant.
The average monthly''issue of agricul-i
tural patents has been increased about.
six thousand.
PENSIONS.
approved on the 9th of June last, has
been put into operation as rapidly as was
practicable. The increased clerical force
rs provided, was selected and assigned to;
the work and a considerable part of the
force engaged in examinations in the,
field was recalled and added TO the work
ing force of the Office.
The examination and adjudication of
claims have by reason of improved
methods been more rapid than ever
before. There is no economy TO the
government in delay while there is,
much hardship and injustice to the SOL
der The anticipated expenditure while
very large, will not, it is believed, be in
excess of the estimates made before the
enactment of the law. This liberal en-
largement of the general Law should sug-t
gest more careful scrutiny of bills not
only for special relief but as to the cases
where relief is granted and as to the
amount allowed.
THE MORMONs.
The increasing numbers and influence
Of the nom Mormon population in Utah
are observed with satisfaction. The recent
letter of Wilford Woodruff, president of
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 it is hoped that its influence will be
highly beneficial in restraining infrac-
tions of the law of the United States.
But the fact should not be overlooked
that the doctrine or belief of the church
that polygamous marriages are right
and supported by divine revelation re-
mains unchanged.
~OAI do
the doctrine, but refrains from touching
it and advises against the practice of it
because the law is against it. Now, II Is
quite true that the laws should not at
tempt to deal with the faith or belief of
any one. but it is quite another thing to
deal with the territory OF Utah, where
those who believe polygamy to be right
shall not necessarily have the power TO
make il lawful.
NEW STATES.
The admission of the states Of Wyom-
ing and Idaho to the union are events
full of interest and congratulation, not
only to the people of those states now
happily endowed with full participa-
tion in our privileges and responsible
ties, but to all our people.
Another belt of states stretches from
the Atlantic to the Pacific.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
The work of the patent Office has won
from all sources very high commendationf
The amount accomplished has been very'~
largely increased and all the results BIZ
been such as to secure confidence
consideration for the suggestions of
commissioner. 81
THE CENSUS. XHA
The enumeration of the people Of -,
United States aadAx tAs 4Dnsslsion Of Nj