The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-12-12
MOBILES REPORT.
Review Of the Work in the Department
of the Infaeinr

of the Interior.
The report OF the secretary OF the interior OK.
h,bits with great funcss 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
ticulnr mention here.
The several acts OF congress looking to the r..
duction OF the larger Indian reservations. to the
more rapid settlement OF the Indians upon ndi.
vidual Allotmente and the rest Grafton to the
public domain Of lands in excess OF their needs,
have been largely carried into eject SO fur as
the work WAS confded to the executive. Agree
ments have been concluded since March 4. 1889.
involving the cerson TO the United states of
about l412G,0OO acres Of land. These con.
tracts have. as required by law. been submitted
to congress for ratification and for the arpro
gr,atioLs, necessary to carry them into effect;
Fox. Iowa Pottawattamies aud absentee
Shawnees and C,nur Alene tribes have not re-.
crived the sanction OF congress- Attention Ia
also called to the fact TINT the appropriations
made In the case u tbs Sioux Indians have not
covered I'LL the stipulated payments. This
should be promptly corrected. Il an agreement
with without delay and full expectations should
lie made.
The policy outlined In myln.t annual message
upon the public domain has been carried out in
the administration Of the land office. No gen.
csal suspicion or imputation OF fraud has been
allowed to delay the hearing and ADJUDICATION
OF Individual cases upon their merits. The pnr.
pose has been TO perfect the title OF honest set
tiers with such rromptneas that the value Of
penses and eX;ortons to which delay subjected
tlr claimant. The average monthly Issue OF
acricm,urnl patents has been increased about
C,UOU.
The disability pension act which was an.
proved on the 9th OF June last, has been put
into operation as rapidly MS was practicable
lected and assigned to work. aud n considerable
part Of the force engaged IN examination. on
the field was recalled and added to tn. working
force ioi the Office The examination and adju.
dieation 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 IL 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 ennctm
OF the law. This liberia! enlargement OF the gen.
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 Wifor,i W ood.
ruff, President Of the Mormon church. in which
ing any marriage forbidden by law" has at
trncted wide attention, aud it is hoped that its
influence will be highly beneficial in restraining
all iniractions Of the laws Of the United states
But the fact should not be overlooked that the
doctrine or belief Of the church that polysnnuus
marriages are rigidful and supported by divine
revelation remans unimpaired. President Wood
iuH does not renouilce the doctrine, but reiraus
from teaching It, and advises against the Iruc-
tice OF il because the law Is against 1t. II is
quite true that the Law should not attempt to
deal with the faith or belief OF any one: but it
is quite anoth~r thing. and the only safe thing,
So to deal with I'll. Territory OF Utah ms that
those who believe polygainy to be righttul shall
not have the power to make j. lawful.
The admission OF tle states OF Wyoming and
Idaho to the Union are events full OF interest
and cou2ratulation. not only to tho people Of
those states. now happily endowed With full
participation In our privileges and RESPONSE
bllities, but to all our people Another belt
OF states stretches from the Atlantic to the
Pacific.
The work OF the .patcnt Office has won from
all sources very high commentator. The
amount accomplished has been very largely in.
creased, and all the results have been such rs 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
I. 1890. has been completed and the result will
be at once officially communicated TO congress.
The completion OF this decenn,a enumeration
devolves upon congress the duty OF making II
new apportionment OF representatives "among
the several states according to their respective
numbers"