, 1890-12-04


the cession to the United States Of about
IA, 726. 100 ncres OF land. These contracts
have, as required by law, been submit
tod to congress for ratification and Tor
the appropriations necessary to carry
them into effect. Those dealing with
the Sisscton and Wahpeton, Sac and
Fox, Iowa. Pottawattamie and absentee
ShawnecS and Cnur d'Alcno tribes
have not yet received the sanction OF
congress. Attention Is also called to
the fact that tho appropriations made
In the case OF tho Sioux lndianS have
not covered all the stipulated payments,
They should be promptly corrected. If
any agreement is confirmed, all of its
terms should he complied with without
delay and fun appropriation should be
made.
Tho policy outlined In my last an
nual message III relation to the patent
ing of land to settlers upon the public
domain has been carried out. In tue
administration of the land office no
general suspicious of fraud have been oil.
lowed to delay the hearing and adjudico'
ton OF individual cases upon their mer'
its. The purpose has been to perfect
the title of honest settlers with such
promptness that the value of the entry
might not be swallowed up by theeN'
pcnso and extortions 10 which delay
subjected the claimant Tho average
monthly issue OF agricultural patents
has been increased about O, 200.
PENSIONS.
The disability pension act, which was
approved on the 9th 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 work
ing force of the Office. The reclamation
and adjudication of claims have by reas'
on of improved me thods been mere rapid
than ever before. There is no economy
to the government in delay, while there
is much hardship and injustice to the
soldiers. The anticipated expenditure,
while very large, will not, it is believed,
he IN excess OF the estimates made before
the enactment of the law. This liberal
enlargement OF the general law should
suggest u most careful scrutiny OF bills
for special relief both as 10 the manner
in which relief is granted and as to the
amount allowed.
THE MoRMoSs.
The increasing number and influence
OF the non Mormon population in Utah
are observed with satisfaction. The
recent letter OF Wiliord Woodruff, prcsi
dent OF the Mormon church, in which
he advised his people to refrain from
contracting any marriage forbidden by
the law of the land has attracted wide
attention, and it is hoped that its in-
fuence will bo highly beneficial in
restraining violations of the law of tho
United States; but the fact should not
overlooked that the doctrines OF belief oi
the church that polygamous marriages
are rghtful and supported by divine
authority remains unchanged. Presi-
dent Woodruff does not denounce the
doctrine. but refrains from teaching II
and advises against the practice OF 1t be-
cause the law is against IL. Now il Is
quito true that the law should not at
tempt to deal with the faith or belief OF
any one, but it is quite another thing,
and the only safe thing, to deal with the
territory of Utah so that those who be-
lieve polygauy to ne rightiu shall not
have the power to make its laws.
The admission OF the states of Wyom-
ing and Idaho to the Union are events
full OF interest and congratulation, not
only to the people of the states happily
endowed with full participation in our
privileges and responsibilities, but to oil
our people. Another belt of states
stretches from the Atlantic to the Pa
ciiic.
The work of the patent office has won
from all sources very high commcnda-
ton. The amount accomplished has
been largely increased and all the re-
suits have been such rs to secure con-
iidence and consideration for the sug-
gcstion OF the commissioners.
The enumeration of the people OF the
United States under the provisions of the
act of March l. 1890, has been COM
pleted, and the result will be officially
communicated to congress, Tho com
pletion OF the decennial enumcrations
devolves upon congress the duty OF max.
ing a new apportion of representa-
tives among tho several states according
TO their respective number.
At the last session l had occasion to
return, with my objection, several bills
making provisions for the erection OF
public buildings, for the reason the ap-
propriations contemplated were greatly
In excess OF any public need. No class
of legislation Is moro liable to abuse or
degenerate into an unseernly scramble
upon the public treasury than this,
There should be exercised in this matter
wise economy based upon some re-
sponsibe and impartial examination
and report as to each case under gem
eral law.