Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-12-12
THE INTERIOR,
A Showing OF tho Vast Work of
This Deparrment

A Showing OF the Vast Work of
This Department.
The report of the secretary of the in
terror exhibits with great fullness and
clearness the vast work of that depart
ment and the satisfactory results at
tanned.
The several acts Of congress looking toI
the reduction Of the larger Indian reserva,i
tons. to the more rapid settlement of the,
Indians upon individual allotments and
restoration to the public domain of lands in
excess or their needs, have been largely
carried into effect, so far as the work was
confded to the executive. Agreements have
been concluded since March 4, 1889, in
volving the cession to the United States of
about
FOURTEEN MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED
AND TWENTY-sIx THOUSAND
acres of land. These contracts have. as
required by law, been submitted to
congress for ratification and for the
appropriations necessary to carry
them into effect Those with the
Sisseton and Wahpeton, Sac and Fox,
lowas, Pottawattomfes and absentee Shaw,
nees and Couer d'Alene tribes have not vet
received the sanction Of congress. Atten-
ton Is also called to the fact that the ap-!
preparations made IN the case of the Sioux
Indians have not covered all the stipulated
payments This should be promptly cor
rected. IL an agreement is confirmed, all
of Its terms should be complied with with
out delay and full appropriations should be
made.
The policy outlined In my last annual
message In relation to the patenting of
has been carried out.
The average monthly issue of agricultural
patents has been increased about six thous-
and.
THE DISABILITY PENSION ACT,
which was approved on the 9th of June
last, has been putinto operation as rapidly
as was practicable. The examination and
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 soldier. The
anticipated expenditure, while very large,
VIII not 1t Is believed, be in excess of the
estimates made before the enactment OF
the law. This liberal enlargement of the
general law should suggest a more careful
scrutiny of bills for special relief, both as
to the cases In which relief is granted and as
to the amount allowed.
The increasing numbers and influence of
THE NoN-MoRMoN POPULATION
in Utah are observed with satisfaction. The
recent letter of MILFORD Woodruff, presi-
dent OF the Mormon church, In which he
advised his people Ito refrain from con-
tractng any marriage forbidden by the
laws Of the land" has attracted wide attep-
ton, and 1t is hoped that its influence will
be highly beneficial In restraining infrac-
tions of the laws of the United States. But
the fact should not be overlooked that the
doctriI or belief of the church that polyga-
nous marriages are rightful and supported
by divine revelation remains unchanged.
PRESIDENT Woodruff does not renounce the
doctrine, but refrains from teaching 1t and
ad vises against the practice Of 1t, because
the law is against 1t.
The work of the patent office has won
from all sources very high commentator.
The amount accomplished has been very
largely Increased, and all the results have
been such as to secure confidence and con-
sidcration for the suggestions of the COM,
missioner.
The enumeration NJ the neople of the
United States under the provisions of the
act of March !, 1890, has been completed and
the result will be at once officially commu-
nicated to congress. The completion Of
this decennial enumeration devolves upon
congress the duty of making a new
APPoRrIoNMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Among the several states according to-
their respective number"