Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-12-18

modern tyne, large enough TO enable this
country To display its flag in all the seas for
the protection OF Its citizens and OF Its extend
ing commerce.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary OF the Interior
shows that a very gratifying progress has been
made In all OF the bureaus which make up
that complex difficult department. The work
In the Bureau Of Indian Affairs was. perhaps,
never so large as now by reason OF the numer-
Gus negotiations which have been proceeding
with the tribes for reduction Of the reserva-
tions, with the incident labor OF making allot-
ments, and was never more carefully conduct
ed. 1t will be noticed from the report OF the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs that already
some contracts have been made with district
schools for the education OF Indian children.
There Is great advantage. think, in bringing
the Indian children into mixed schools. This
process Will lie gradual, and in meantime the
present educational provisions and arrange
ments, the result of the best experience OF
those who have been charged with this work,
should be continued.
1t seems to me to be inevitable that there
shall be before long some organic changes In
States. What form these changes should take
do not think IL desirable now to suggest, even
II they were well defined in my own mind.
They should certainly involve the acceptance
OF citizenship by the Indians and Represent
alive in Congress. These Indians should have
opportunity 70 present their claims and griev-
ances upon the floor rather than, as now' In
the lobby.
INDIAN LANDS.
The good work or reducing the larger Indian
reservations by allotments in severalty to the
Indians, and the cession of tho remaining
lands TO the United States for disposition
under the homestead law, has been prosecuted
during the year with energy and success. In
September last l was enabled to open TO
settlement In the Territory OF Oklahoma 900.-
GOO acres OF land, all of which was taken up by
settlers In single day; The rush for these
lands was accompanied by great deal OF ex-
OF violence.
1t was source of great regret that was not
able TO open at the same time the surplus lands
OF the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation,
amounting to about 3,0OO,OO acres, by reason
or the insuhiciency of the appropriation for
making the allotments. Deserving and impa-
tient settlers are waiting TO occupy these
lands, and urgently recommend that spe-
cial deficiency appropriation be promptly
made of the small amount needed, so that the
allotments may be completed and the surplus
lands opened in time 10 permit the settlers TO
get upon their hOmesteads in the early spring
The negotiation for the release by the Chero-
KEGS Of their claim TO the Cherokee strip has
made no substantial progress. so far as the de
partment is officially advised, but IL is still
hoped that the cessioa of this large and vRlu-
able tract may be secured.
Since March 4. 1889, about 23,000,000 acres
have been separated from Indian reservations
and added 10 the public domain, for the use of
those who desired TO secure free homes under
our benehcent laws.
THE LAND OFFICE.
Early In this administration a special effort
was begun TO bring up the work OF the General
Land Office. BY faithful work the arrearages
have been rapidly reduced. At the end of the
last fiscal year only a,l72 final agricultural
entries remained undisposed of. and the Com
missioner reports that, with the present force,
the work can be fully brought up by the end
Of the next fiscal year.
THE PENSION BUREAU.
The administration of the Pension Bureau
has been characterized during the year by
great diligence. The total number OF PEN
sioners upon the roll on the Goth day OF June,
1891, was O76,lGO. There were allowed during
fiscal year ending az that time 2j0,jG5 cases.
OF this number, lO5,3Sl were allowed under the
law of June p, 1890. The issuing OF certificates
has been proceeding at the rate OF about $1,000
per month, about 20 per cent Of these being
cases under the new law. The Commissioner
expresses the opinion that he will be able to
carefully adjudicate and allow 10000 claims
during the present fiscal year. The appro-
priatiOn for the payment of pensions for 1901
was 81 .7,aSj.1g3 50, and the amount expended
SllS,530649 p, leaving an unexpected sur
plus of S9.l55,lH 81. The Commissioner is
quite confident that there will be no
call this year for deficiency appropriation,
Notwithstanding the rapidity with which the
work Is being pushed. The mistake which has
been made by many in their exaggerated esti-
mates of the cost Of pensions is in not taking
account of the diminished value OF first pay
ments under the recent legislation. These
for many years very large, as the pensions,
when allowed. dated from the time of filing
the claim, and most of these claims have been
pending for years. The first payments under
the law Of June, 1890, are relatively small, and,
as the per cent of the cash increases and that
of the old cash diminishes, the annual aggre-
crate Of first payments Is largely reduced.
The Commissioner. under date OF November 13,
furnishes me with the statement that during
the last four months 1915 certificates were
issued, q, S93 under the general law and 81, 2e2
nndpr
first payment during these four months was
Sl3l s.. while the average first payment upon
cash allowed during the year ending June 30,
1891. was $3.50 80. being reduction in the aver
age first payments during these four months
The estimate for pension expenditures for
the fiscal year ending June co. 1888 is Sl44, 956-
00O, which, after a careful examination OF the
subject, the Commissioner Is Of the opinion
will be sufficient. While these disbursements
TO the disabled soldiers Of the great civil war
are large, they do not realize the exaggerated
estimates Of those who oppose this beneficent
shows with great fullness the care that Is
taken TO exclude fraudulent claims, and also
the gratifying fact that the persons to whom
these pensions are going are men who rendered
not slight, but substantial, war service.
RAILROAD SUBSIDIES.
The report Of the Commissioner Of Railroads
shows that the total debt of tho subsidized
railroads to the United States was December
81. 1880, 12,5l2.6l3 %. A large part of this
debt is now fast approaching maturity, with
no adequate provision for its payment. Some
policy for dealing with this debt, with n view
to its ultimate collection, should be at once
adopted. IL Is very difficult. well nigh i'm
possible for so large body as the Congress to
conduct the necessary negotiations and inves-
LEGATIONS. | therefore recommend that pro-
vision be made for the appointment Of a COM
mission to agree upon and report a plan for
dealing with this debt.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
The legislation of Congress for the repres-
sion OF polygamy has after years of resistance
on the part Of the Mormons at last brought
them 20 the conclusion that resistance is I'M
profitable and unavailing. The power OF Con-
rendered until we have satisfactory evidence
that the people of the state TO be created
would exercise the exclusive power of the
state over this subject in the same way. The
question Is not whether these people now
obey the laws of Congress against polygamy,
but rather would they make, enforce and
maintain such laws themselves III absolutely
free TO regulate the subject? We cannot
afford TO experiment with this subject, for
when q state is once constituted the act Is
final, and any mistake irretrievable. No COM
pact in the enabling act could, in my opinion,
be binding or effective.
ALASKA.
/ recommend that provision be made for
the organization of simple form of town gov
eminent In Alaska with power TO regulate such
matters "a are usually In the states under
municipal control
DEPARTMENT or AGRICULTURE.