The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-17

the percentage of errors in distribution has.
during the past year, been reduced over one
hat.
Rural Free Delivery.
An appropriation was given by the last con-
press Tor the nnrnose OF making some expert.
ments In free delivery in the smaller cities and
towns. The results OF these experiments have
been SO satisfactory that the postmaster gen
mendafion, that the free delivery system be At
once extended to towns OF 5000 population.
Extension Of the Money Order system.
It Is stated that over 81, 900 neighborhoods are
under the present system, receiving mail NJ
post Offices where money orders ana postal
notes are not issued. The extension OF this
system to these communities ~ especially de.
sirable, as the patrons OF such offices are not
possessed OF the other facilities offered In more
populous communities for the transmission OF
small sums Of money.
/ have in q message to the preceding con.
gress expressed my views as to the modified
| use Of the telegraph in connection with the
New Warsbips.
The report OF the secretary OF the navy shows
q gratifying increase OF new naval vessels IN
! commission. The Newark. Concord. Benning
| ton and Miantonomoh have been added during
! the year, and an aggregate OF something more
| than 1l.UD tons. Twcnty-four warships OF all
classes are Low under construction in the navy
| yards and private shops, but while the work
| completion OF the more important vessels will
| yet require about years time. Some OF the
| vessels now under construction, II Is believed.
| will be triumphs Of naval engineering. When
| IL is recollectcd that the work OF building a
| modern navy was only initiated In the year
| 1883, that our naval constructors and ship
| builders were practically without experience
in the construction Of large iron or steel ships.
| that our engine shops were unfamiliar with
| great marine engines and that the manufacture
Of steel forgings for guns and plates was al
most Whntly a foreign industry the DrOUreSS
| that has been made Is not only highly satlsfac.
| tory, but furnishes the assurance that the
] United States will before long attain in the
construction Of vessels, with their engines
/ and ornaments the same preeminence
which 1t attained when the best instrument OF
ocean commerce was the clipper. ship and the
most impressive exhibit OF naval power the old
i wooden three decker man OF war.
Further Development Urged.
/ commend to your favorable consideration
| the recommendation OF the secretary, who has,
| / am sure given to them the most conscientious
study. There should be no hesitation in prompt
| ~ completing u navy of the best modern type.
/ large enough TO enable this country to display
its flag In all seas for the protection oil its cit
liens and its extending commerce The world
needs no assurance Of the peaceful purposes OF
! the United States but We shall probably be In
/, the future more largely q competitor in the
commerce OF the world, and il is essential TO the
dignity Of this nation and to that peaceful in
| fiuence which ii should exercise on this hem
sphere taat its navy should be adequate, both
i
/ elfic.
/ Indian schools.
The report Of the secretary OF the interior
shows that . very gratifying progress mas been
made In all OF the bureaus which make up tLa,
complex difficnlt department The work in the
| bureau OF Indian affairs was perhaps never sc
| la G as now by reason Of the numerous nego
tiatons which have been proceeding with the
tribes for u reduction Of the reservations, with
the incident labor OF making allotments
| and was never more carefully conducted
The provision Of adequate school facilities
FOR Indian children and the Location
Of adult Indians upon farms involve
Everything else-rations, annuities and tribal
| negotiations with the agents. inspectors and
commissioners who distribute and conduct
them-must pass away when the Indian has
become u citizen, secure In the individual own
ership Of = farm from which he derives his sub
sistence by his own labor, protected by ana
white man and provided by the general gov
| eminent or by the local communities in which
he lives with the means OF educating his chill
dren. When Indian becomes . either
relation to the general government
ceases. in great measure, to be tha
Of award bu. the general oagn
the burden OF the education of his children /
has been my thought that the government
schools and school buildings upon the reserva
OF the states and territories; but as 1t ha
been found necessary to protect the Indial
against the compulsory education Of his Ian,
by exempting him from taxation for perio'
Of twenty i've years. it would seem to be RICH
that the general government, certainly wher
there are tribal funds in Its possession SHOULD
what would be equivalent to the 10
cal school tax upon the property o
the Indian. It will be noticed from the repor
OF the commissioner OF Indian affairs that al
ready some contracts have been made with dis
trict schools for the education Of Indian chill
dren. There Is great advantage, think. II
txcss, I'd Aho Vn1in tnto vs,tr
schools. This process will be gradual and IL
, the meantime the present educational pro
visions and arrangements, the result Of thu
best experience OF those who have beer
charged with this work should be continued
This will enable those religious bodies, tina
, have undertaken the work OF Indian education
straining and benefcent to place their IN
stitutions In new and useful relations to tn
Indian and to his white neishbors
The Sioux War.
The outbreak among the Sioux. which oc
CURED IN December last is rs to its causes an
incidents fully reported upon by the war de
| partment and the department Of interior
That these Indians have had some just com
| plants, especially In the matter OF the reduc
: ton OF the appropriation for rations and in tn
delays attending the enactment Of laws to en-
able the department to perform the engage
| ments entered into with them, is probably true
but the Sioux tribes are naturally war-like an
turbulent, and their warriors were excited b
their medicine men and chiefs, who preached tn
1 coming OF an lnul2n MESSIAH VINO was TO CIV
!, them power to destroy their enemies. In vie,
OF the alarm that prevailed among the whit
I settlers near the reservation and OF tn
fatal consequences that would have resulte
| from an Indian incursion. | placed at the dis
+ posal OF Gen. Miles, commanding the divisio
OF the Missouri, all such forces as were though
by him TO be required He Is entitled to tn
the settlers and OF bringing the hostiles int
subsection with the least possible loss OF life.
Change Necessary.
: The relation Of the five civilized tribes nov
occupying the Indian territory to the Unite
States is not, believe, the best calculated I
promote the highest advancement OF these II
, dams. That there should be within our Dol
: tions except those growing out OF treaties wit
, the government of the United States no repre-
/, sentation In the national legislature. II
/. seems TO me to be inevitable that thel
: shall be before long some organic changes !
I the relation OF these people to the Unite
. States. What form these changes should TAX
: : do not think 1t desirable now TO suggest, eve
, u they were wei defined In my own mint
! They should certainly involve the acceptanc
OF citizenship by the Indians and represents
, tion in congress These Indians shout
have opportunity to present their claim
and grievances upon the floor rattle
p rs now ~ the lobby
D fer with them in u friendly spirit upon thi
whole subject, even II no agreement were pre-
. emily reached. the feeling of the tribes upo
this question would b. developed and discu.
2 zion would prepare the way for changes whic
must come sooner or later.
Lands Opened to settlement.
The good work OF reducing the larger India
. reservations, by alotments in severalty to Il,
indians and the cession OF the remaining land
to the United states for disposition under tn
.. homestead law, has been prosecuted durin
: the year with energy and success. In Septen
. Der last was enabled TO open to settlement
. the territory Of Oklahoma go 90 acres Of LIANT
. all OF which was taken up by settlers in
, single day. The rush for these lands was o.
, companed by q great deal OF excitement. bu
was happily free from incidents OF yiolenc,
was moi able to open at tn
. same time the surplus lands Of the Cheyenn