The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-02
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

A Review Of the Work Done and the Re-
| suits Accomplished.
The report Of the secretary of the interi-
or exhibits with great fullness and clear
ness the work of that great department.,
and the satisfactory results attained. The
! suggestions made by him are earnestly and
very closely commended to the considera-
ton of congress, though they cannot all be
given particular mention here. The several
| acts of congress looking to the reduction
of the larger Indian reservations. to the
more rapid settlement of the Indians upon
| individual allotment, and the restoration
to the public domain of lands in excess of
their needs, have been largely carried into
effect SO far rs the work was confded to the
executive. Agreements have been concluded
since March A. 1889, involving the cession
to the United States of about 14.726,O 900
acres Of land. These contracts have, as re-
quired by law, been submitted to congress
for ratification and for the appropriations
necessary to carry them into effect. These,
with the Sisseton and Wahpeton, Sac and
Fox, Iowa, Pottawatamies and Pawnees,
Shawnees and Cteur d'Alene tribes, have
not yet received 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. They should be
promptly corrected. If lny agreement is
confirmed, all of its terms should be COM
| Piled with without delay, and full appro.
priation 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 general SUSPICION or
emulation of fraud have been allowed to
delay the hearing and adjudication of in
dividual cases upon their merits The pur-
pose has been to perfect the title of the
honest settlers with such promptness that
the value of the entry might not be swal-
which delay subjected the claimant. The
average monthly issue of agricultural pat
| ents has been increase about six thousand.
The disability pension act which was APP
proved on the twenty seventh of June last.
has been put into operation as rapidly as
was practicable. The increased clerical
force provided was selected and assigned to
work and considerable part OF the force
engaged in the examinations in the field
was recalled and added to the working
Indication of claims have by reason of i'm
proved methods been more rapid than before.
| There is no economy to the government in
delay, while there is much hardship and in
justice to the soldiers. The anticipated ex-
penditure while very large, will not, 1T is
1
before the enactment of the law. This
| liberal enlargement of the general law
should suggest most careful scrutiny or
bills for special relief, both as to the
| manner in which relief is granted and as to
the amount allowed.
The increasing number and influence of
the non Mormon population in Utah are
observed with satisfaction. The recent
letter of Milford Woodruff, president of
the Mormon church. in which he advised
no In rorfSv M n
marriage forbidden by tho law OF the land,
has attracted wide attention, and it is
hoped that its influence will be highly bene-
fetal in restraining ATTRACTIONS OF the law OF
the United States. But the fact
doctrines of belief of the church that polyg.
amous marriages are rightful and support
ed by divine revelation, remains unchanged.
President Woodruff does not denounce the
doctrine, but refrains from teaching it and
the law is against it. Now it is quite time
that the law should not attempt to deal
with tho faith or belief of any one, but the
only safe thing in dealing with the terri
tory of Utah Is that those who believe po-
lygamy to be rightful shall not have the
I power to make it law.
The admission of the states Of Wyoming
| and Idaho to the union are events full of
interest and congratulation, not only to the
people of the states happily endowed with a
/
sponsibilities, but to all our people. An
other belt of states stretches from the At
| lantic to the Pacific.
The work of the patent Office has won
from all sources very high commentator.
The amount accomplished has been largely
increased and all the results have been such
as to secure confidence and consideration
for the suggestion of the commissioner.
The enumeration of the people of the
United States under the provisions of the
act of March l. 1880, has been completed.
and the result will be officially conimuni-
Gated to congress. The completion of the
decennial enumerations devolves upon
congress the duty of making new appor-
tionment of representatives among the
several states according to their respective
number.
At the last session had occasion to re-
turn with my objection several bills making
provisions for the erection of public build
; ings. for the reason that the appropriations
contemplated we're. in my opinion, greatly
in excess of any public need. No class of
legislation is more liable to abuse or to de-
generate into an unseemly scramble
about the public treasury than this.
; There should be exercised in this matter a
wise economy, based upon some response
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