Wiarus. (Winona, Minn.) 1886-1893, 1890-12-11

Review of the Work in the Departmen ant
of the Interior.

The report of the secretary of the interior eX-
hlDits with great fullness 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
ticular mention here.
The several acts of congress looking to the re-
duction OF the larger Indian reservations. to the
more apid settlement of the Indians upOn indi-
vidunl allotments, and the restoration to the
public domain of lands in excess of their needs,
have been largely carried into effect. so far as
the work was contided to the executive. Agree
ments have been concluded since March 4, 1889,
involving the ceSSiOn to the United States. of
about IA. 726. 900 acres OF land. These con
tracts have, as required by law, been submit ted
to congress for ratification ana Tor the appro.
p]riations necessary to carry them into effect.
Those with the Sisseton and Wahpeton. sac and
Fox, Iowa POttawattalnies aud absentee
ShaWnees and Cnur q A!ene tribes have not re-
ceived the sanction OF congress. Attention is
also called to the fact that the appropriations
made III the case of the Sioux Indians have not
covered all the stipulated payments. This
should be promptly corrected. If an agreement
is confirmed all of it's terms should he complied
with without delay and full apprecIntious SHOULD
be made.
The policy outlined in mylast annual message
in relation TO the pntentlng Of lands to settlers
upon the public domain has been carried out i'll
the administration of the land office. No gen
eral suspicion or imputatiOu 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 prOmptneSS that the value of
the entry might not be swallowed up by the ex-
penses and eXtortio,s to which delay subjected
the claimant. The average monthly issue of
agricultural patents has been increased about
5000.
The disability pension act, which was APP
proved on the 9th OF June last, has been put
into operation as rapidly AS was practicable.
The increased clerical force provided WAS Sc.
Iprt ed and ASSIGNED To work and n fDnSiIprl HE
part OF the force engaged III examinations on
the field was recalled and added to the working
force of the Office. The examination and adju-
dication OF Claims have, by reason OF improved
methods, been more rapid than ever before.
There is no economy to the government i'll de
lay. while there is much hardship and Injustice
to the soldier. The anticipated expenditure,
while very large, VIII not, 1t il believed, be in eX-
cess OF the estimates made before the enactment
of the law. This liberal enlargement OF the gen,
eral law should suggest Il more careful scrutiny
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 MILFORD Wood
ruff, president OF the Mormon church, in which
he advised his people ITO refrain from contract
ing any marriage forbidden by law" has at
tracted wide attention, and 1t is hoped that its
influence will be highly beneficial in restraining
all infractions of the laws of the United States.
But the fact should not be overlooked that the
doctrine or belief of the church that polygamous
mar IiEeS 7 fiShtl'ii anu supported oy ulNllle
revelation remains unimpaired. President Wood
iuff does not renouuce the doctrine. but refrAinS
from teaching it, and advises against the prac-
tice of 1t because the law is against ii. |; is
quite true that the law should not attsmpt to
deal with the faith or belief of any one: but it
is quite another thing. and the only safe thing,
so TO deal with the Territory of Utah AS that
those who believe polygamy to be rightful shall
not have the power to make it lawful.
The admission Of the States OF Wyoming and
Idaho to the Union are events full OF interest
ana CONCENTRATION, not ONLY to he people oil
those states. now happily endowed with IA full
participation i'll our privileges aud RESPONSE
bilities, but to all our people. Another belt
OF states stretches from the Atlantic to the
Pacific.
The work OF the patent office has won from
all sources very high commentator. The
amount accomplished has been very largely In.
creased, and NIL the results have been such us to