The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-12-02
DEPARTMENT. or THE IsrERIoR.
Satisfactory Results Attained During the
Past Year.

The report of the secretary Of the interior
exhibits with great fullneSs and clcsrness
the vast work of that great department OF
the satisfactory results attained. The sug-
gostinns made by him are earnestly COM
mended 90 the consideration of congress. a.
all cannot be gwen particular mention here.
The several acts OF congress looking Co
the reduction Of the larger Indian rcserya-
tions 10 tEa more rapid settlement Of the
Indians upon individual hIlutments. and
the restoration 90 the pnbllf; domain of
lands ga excess Of their needs have been
largely carried into effect, 81 far ~ the
work was coniided % the executive. Agree
nenIs have been concluded slice March 4.
lsS9, involving the cession 30 the United
states Of about IL. ,00e acres Of land.
These contracts have, as required by Law,
been submitted TO congress for ratification
and for the appropriations necessary 60
carry them into effect, Those with the
sls~eton and Wahpeton, Sac aud Fox, Iowa,
pottawattamies aud absentee shhwnees,
aud Occur a Aieno tribes have not yet re-
coiNed the sanction uf congress. Attention
II also called to tho fact that the appropria-
tious made ia the case Of the Sioux Indians
have not covered all the stipulated pay
ments, This should bc promptly corrected.
II am agreement il confirmed all OF It's
terms should be complied with without de-
fay and fall appropriations should be made.
The policy outlined la my last annual
message Ina relation 10 the patcniing of
lands - settlers apon fhe uablir domain
| has been carried out In the administration
OF the land Office. M general suspicion or
lmputHtion OF fraud has been allowed 90
delay the hearing aud adjudication of In
dIsiduai cases upon their merits, Tho pur-
pose has been to perfect the title Of honest
settlers with such promptncss that the
value OF the entry might not be swallowed
up by the expense aud eXtorttans % which
delay subjected the claimant.
The average monthly issue OF agricul-
tural patents has been Increased about six
thousand. The disability pension act,
which Was approved un the 9Th OF June
last, has been pug into operation as rapidly
! a. was practicable. The increased clerical
| force provided was selected and assigned to
work, and n considerable part of tho force
engaged In examinations Ia the field was
recalled aud added "a the working force OF
tho Office. The examination and adjudica-
fion Of claims have, by reason of Improved
methods. been :nore rapid than ever before.
There Is no economy ca the government IN
delay. while there Is much hardship aud
niustice to the soldier The anticipated
expenditure, white very large, will not IL Il
believed, be- In excess Of the estimates made
before the enactment OF the law. This
liberal enlargement of the general law
should suggest more careful scrutiny of
5fity for special reffef, bot h nv tete asSes In
which relief Is granted and as 90 the amount
allowed,
1
the non MOrMon population In L tah arc OBJ
sd nltA ~ ltF4r 44s E.Aee4st tettaAE
OF Wiiford Woodruff, president of the Nor
mon church. la which he advised his people
TO refrain from contracting any marriage
forbidden by tho laws Of the land, has at
traeted wide attention, aud IL is hoped that
lts influence will be highly beneficial In re-
straiRlng infractions OF the laws OF the
| United states. But the facts should not be
overlooked that the doctrine or belief OF the
church that polygamous marriages are
rightful aud supported by divine revelation
remains unchanged. President Woodruff
| does not renonnce the doctrine, hut refrains
from teaching IL. and advises against the
Practice Of IL because the Law IL against IL.
| Now ID lsquite true that the law should not
attempt 90 deal with the faith or belief Of
any one bat Il tsiaaite another thing, and
the only safe thing, 50 20 deal with the ter
ritory OF Utah a. that those who believe
| polygamy 10 be rlahtfnl shall not have the
1 power 90 make IL lawful.
The admission OF the states of Idaho ana
| Wyoming 10 the union are events full OF
| eongratuiation. not only 20 the people OF the
states happily endowed with a fun paFtici-
| patton Ia our privilegesAnd responsibilities,
/ but 90 all our people. Another belt OF
states stretches from the Atlantic 10 the
1 Pacific
The work ofthe patent Office has won fronl
all sources a very high cOmmendatiOn. The
/ increased. as all the results have been such
as 90 secure confidence and consideration
on the suggestion ~ the commissioner.
The oniImeration Of the people of the
/ United States under the act OF March j.
1890, has been completed and the result viii
| De- at once Off1cialiy announced 10 congress.
The cognpletion'of this decennial enumera-
| tion dev0Ives upon congress the duty OF
| making new superintendent nf representa-
/ tlon among the several states according 60
/ their representative number.
AZ the last session had occasion tp return
| With my objections several bills ma king pro-
1 visions for the erection OF public
buildings, for the reason that the expend-
ltuFes contemp ated were. Ia my opinion,
/ greatly In excess of any public need. No.
1 class ~ legislation h more liable "a anuse,
or io degenerate into an unseemly scramble
absait the public treasury than this. There
should be exercised IN this matter a wise
ecolnmy based upon some responsible aad
1. impartial examination and report as 60
each ease under a general law.
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