Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-12-17

|
be in the future more
the world, and it is essential to the dig
lity Of this nation and to that peaceful
influence which it should exer, on this
hemisphere, that its navy snould be
adequate, both upon the shores of the
Atlantic and the Pacific.
THE INTERIOR.
The report of the secretary of the in |
terror shows that a very gratifying prog |
ress has been made in all of the bureaus |
which make up that complex difficult de- |
partment. The work in the bureau of |
Indian affairs was, perhaps, never so |
large "a now by reason of the numerous |
which have been proceed |
ing with the tribes for a reduction of the |
with the incident labor of |
making allotments, and never was more
conducted. The provision Of
adequate school facilities for Indian chill
dren and the locating of adult Indians
upon farms involve the solution of the
"fndian question" It will be noticed
from the report of the commissioner of
Indian affairs that already some con-
tracts have been made with district
schools for the education of Indian chill
dren. There is great advantage, think,
in bringing the Indian children into
mixed schools.
The Outbreak Among tho Sioux,
which occurred in December last, as to
its causes and incidents was fully report
ed upon by the war department and the
department of the interior. That these
Indians had some just complaints, es.
peciaIly in the matter Of the REDUCTION OF
the appropriation for rations and in the
delays attending the enactment of laws to
enable the department to perform the en-
gagements entered into with them, Is
naturally warlike and turbulent, and
their warriors were excited by their med
icine men and chiefs, who preached the
coming of an Indian Messiah, who was to
give them power to destroy their enemies.
In view of the alarm that prevailed among
the white settlers near the reservation, and
of the fatal consequences that would have
resulted from an Indian incursion, /
placed at the disposal Of General Miles,
commanding the division, the arms that
were thought by him to be required. He
thorough protection to the settlers and OF
bringing the hostiles into subsection with
the least possible loss of life.
The relation of the five civilized tribes
now occupying the Indian Territory, to
the United States, believe that best cal
culated to promote the highest advance
ment of these Indians. That there should be
within our borders five independent states
having no relations excepting those grow
ing out of treaties with the government
of the United States, no representation in
the nations legislature, its people not
citizens, is startling anomaly. 1t seems
| to me to be inc vitable that there shall be
| before long some organic changes in the
relation Of these people to the United
States. The good work of reducing the
Io, Sor, bvvu ulI Intv nyntS
in severalty to the Indians, and the cession
of the 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
| was enabled to open to settlement in the
territory of Oklahoma, 100000 acres of
tiers in single day. The rush for these
lands was accompanied by great deal of
excitement, hut was, happily free from in
cidents of violence.
| 1t was a source of great regret that
was not able to open at the same time the
surplus land of the Cheyenne and Arapa-
hoe reservation, amounting to about three
| million acres, by reason OF the insufficient
| cy of the appropriation for making the
| allotments. Deserving and impatient set
| tiers are waiting to occupy these lands
/ and urgently recommend that special
| of the small amount needed. SO that the
| aIlotments may be completed and the sur
| plus lands opened in time to permit the
settlers to get upon their homesteads il
the early spring.
| During the past summer the Cherokee
commission have completed arrangements
with the Wichita, Kickapoo and Tonkas
tribes, whereby If the arrangements ar,
ratified by congress, over 500, 600 addition
al acres will be opened to settlement il
! Oklahoma.
The negotiation for the release by tn,
Strip has made no substantial progress
SO far as the department is officiall
advised, but it is still hoped that tn,
cession of this large and valuable trac
may be secured. The price which tn
commission was authorized to offer-sl. 9
per acre-is, in my judgment, when al
the circumstances as to the title and tn
character of the lands are considered,
fair and adequate one and should hav
been accepted by the Indians.
Since March 4, 1889, about %, ,0OO, ,OO
acres have been separated from India
reservations and added to the public dc
main for the use of those who wished t
secure free homes under our beneficen
laws.
# Court OF Land Claims.
Your attention is called 20 the Difficult
experienced by the secretary OF the tnterio
to the administration of the law of Marc
8, 1891, establishing a court of private Ian
Iclaims The small holdings intended /
be protected by the law are estimated I
be more than fifteen thousand in nUmbei
The claimants are almost all deservin
and their titles are supported by Il.
strongest equities The strongest dl
! iculty grows out of land largely su'
veyed according to our methods, VIII.
the holdings, many Of which have been i
J une same family for generations, are lai
, out in narrow strips few rods wide upo
a stream and running back 20 the hill
should be made for mum bering these tract
as lots and for patenting them by sue
, numbers and without reference to sectio
Lies.
The administration of the pension br
| reau has been characterized during th
!, year by Ct eat diligence. The total nun
: Der of pensioners upon the roll on the 3t
day Of June, 1891. was 676, 100. There wer
r allowed during the fiscal year ending a
that time 250, ,565 cases. OF this numbe
, 102, ,SS7 were allowed under the law of Jun
81, 1890. The issuing of certificates ha
been proceeding at the rate of about 30
900 per month, about 75 per cent. of the-
being cash under the new law. The con
missioner expresses the opinion that h
| will be able to carefully adjudicate an
, allow 81. 600 claims during the present fl.
cal year. The appropriation for the fiscs
: year 1s90-81, was t127 ,6S5, 1885 and th
amount expended e119, $50, ,64g 20, leavin
an unexpended surplus of 90, 155, 14464.
The commissioner Is quite confident tha
there will be no call this year for a d,
> fienciency appropriation. The mistak
: which has been made by many in their e,
aggerated estimates OF the cost of per
sfons, is in not taking account of th
diminished value Of first payments, unde
E the recent legislation. These payment
] under the laws, have been for many year,
r | very large, as the pensions, when allowed
: dated from the time Of fling the claim
and most of these claims had been pend
, ing for years.
: The first payments under the law @
z June. 1890, are relatively small, and a
the per cent ei these cases increases, an
that of the old cases diminishes, the al
p nual aggregate OF first payments
largely reduced. The average first pay
ment during the four months was tlSf s