The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-12-09

locating of adult Indians upon farms,
involve the situation of the sIndian
question" There is great advantage
think, in bringing the Indian children
into mixed schools. This process will be
gradual, and in the meantime the pres
ent educational provisions, and ar
rangements, the result of the best ex-
perience of those who have been charged
with this work, should be continued.
This will enable those religious bodies
that have undertaken the work of Indian
education, with so much zeal, and with
results so restraining and benefcent,
to place their institutions in new and
useful relations to the Indian and his
white neighbor. General Miles is en-
titled to the credit of having protected
the settlers and of bringing the hostiles
Sioux into subjectIon last December with
the least possible loss of life.
The administration of the pension
bureau has been characterized during
the year by great diligence. The total
number OF pensioners upon the roll on
the 30th day of June 1891, was 676, $50.
There were allowed during the fiscal
year ending at that time 250,525 cases.
OF this number 102, ,4S7 were allowed
under the laws of June 81, 1890. The is
suing of certificates has been proceeding
at the rate of about 10000 per month,
about rs per cent of these being cash,
under the new law. The commissioner
expresses the opinion that he will be
able to carefully adjudicate and allow
$4,000 claims during the present fiscal
year. The appropriation for the pay
ment Of pensions for the fiscal year of
1S90-91 was $127 1856, 1889 and the
amount expended was $119 $50, $40. 20,
leaving an unexpended surplus of $780,
144.64
The report of the commissioners OF
railroads shows that the total debt of
the subsidized railroads of the United
States was on December 81, 1890, $112,-
512,613.06. A large part of the debt is
now fast approaching maturity, with no
adequate provision for its payment.
Some policy for dealing with this debt
with view to its ultimate collection
should at once be adopted. AS it is
very difficult, well-nigh impossible, for
so large body as congress to conduct
necessary negotiations, / therefore
recommend that provision be made
for the appointment of a commission to
agree upon and report a plan for dealing
with this debt.
1.-THE work of the census bureau is in
advance and the great bulk of the enor-
nous labor involved completed. It will
be more strictly statistical exhibit and
less encumbered with essays than it's
immediate predecessors. The methods
pursued have been fair, careful and in
telligent and have secured the approval
of the statisticians who have followed
them with scientific and non partisan
interest.
If irrigation matters are much longer
neglected private corporations will have
unrestricted control of one of the ele
ments of life and the patentees of the
arid lands will be tenants at will of the
k11
should part with its ownership of the
Water sources and the sites for reservoirs
whether to the states and territories or
to individuals or corporations, only upon
conditions that will insure to the settlers
their proper water supply upon equal
and reasonable terms.
The legislation of congress for the re-
preston of polygamy after many
years of resistance on the part of the
Mormons, has at least brought them to
the conclusion that resistance is un-
of congress over this subject should not
be surrendered until we have satisfac-
tory evidence that the people of the state
to be created would exercise the exclu-
sive power of the state over this subject
in the same way.
recommend that provision be made
for the organization of a simple town
government in Alaska, with power to
regulate such matters as are usually in
the statutes under municipal control.
The local organizations will give better
protection in such matters than the
present skeleton territorial organization.
Proper restrictions as to the power to
levy taxes and to create debts should be
imposed.
If the establishment of the depart
ment of agriculture is regarded by any
one as a mere concession to the un-
lightened demand of worthy class OF
people, that impression has been most
efectually removed by the great resul s
already attained.
The grain crop of this year was the
largest in our history. Fifty per cent
greater than that of last year and yet
the market that has opened and the
larger demand resulting from short
crops in Europe have sustained prices tc
such an extent that the enormous sur
plus of meats and bread stuffs will be
marketed at good prices. The value Of
the grain crop of the United
this year $500, ,000, 900 more than last
year and of meats $3.50 ,000, 900 more and
all products of the farm $700, ,000, 900 more
1t is not inappropriate, think, how
ever, to suggest here that our satisfac.
tion in the completion of this marvellous
addition to the national wealth is un-
clouded by any suspicion of the late cur.
rency by which it is measured and in
which the farmer is paid for the product
of his fields.
The heads of the several executive
departments have been directed TO the
establishment at once of an efficiency
record as a basis of comparative rating
of clerks within classified service with
a view to promoting methods thereon
have twice before called attention o
congress to the necessity of legislation
for protection of the lives of railroad
employees, but nothing has yet beer
done. During the year ending June 80
| 1900 $50 h,-a alcannan xuera killad and z2d1