River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-12-17

of the alarm that prevailed among the white
settlers near the reservation and OF the
fatal consequences that would nave resulted
from an Indian incursion l placed at the dis
posal OF Gen. Miles commanding the division
Of the Missouri, all such forces as We're thought
By him 10 be required lie Is entitled To the
c,edit Of having given the heroic protection TO
the settlers and OF bringing the hostiles into
subsection with the least possible loss Of life.
A Change Necessary
The relation OF the i've civilized tribes now
Occupying the Indian territory 20 the United
States Is not. I believe the best Calculated to
promote the highest Advancement Of these In
dans. That there should be Within our Dor
ders five independent states. having no rela
tions except those growing out oil treaties with
the government OF the United states no repre-
sentation in the national legislature, its
people not citizens is d startling anomaly
II seems 10 me 10 be inevitable that there
shall oe before long some organic changes in
the relation OF these people 10 the United
States. What form these changes should take
I do not think il desirable nov 70 suggest, even
I IL they were vel defined IN my own mind
fney should certainly involve the acceptance
Of citizenship by the Indians aud representa-
ton In congress. These Indians should
have opportunity TO present their claims
and grievances upon the floor rather
/ than. now, in the lobby. II commission
/ could be appointed 10 visit these tribas To con
/ fer with them in q friendly spirit upon this
| whole subject, even il no agreement We're pres
! emily reached, the feeling OF the tribes upon
this question would b. developed and discus.
| sion would prepare the way Tor changes which
must come sooner or later.
Lands Opened to settlement.
The good work OF reducing the larger Indian
| reservations, hy aliotments IN seyeralty TO the
| Indians and the cesson 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 Septem-
/ Der last was enabled 10 open TO settlement in
| the territory Of OxlahomS eJG0O acres u hand.
all OF which was taken mp by settlers in a
single day. The rush r., these lands was ac-
/ companied by g.9se deal Of excitement but
| was happy ffSe or incidents of violence.
/ II was source Of great regret that
I was not able to open at the
/ same time The surplus lands of the cheyenne
and Arapaboe reservation. amounting to about
/ 100000 acres, by reason Of the fnsufficiency
4 OF the appropriation for making the alotmeats.
| Deserving and inn atient settlers are waiting
/ to occupy these lands, ami urgently recon-
mend that a special deficiency appropriation
/ be promptly made OF the small amount needle 4,
/ so that the allotments may BE- completed and
/ the surplus lands opened in time to permit toe
settlers to get upon their homesteads in the
early spring. During the past summer the
/ Cherokee commission have completed arrange
/ ments with the Wichita lkicGapoo and ToulSawa
! tribes whereby IL the agreements are ratified
! BY congress over $1,000 additional acres Will be
! opened 10 settlement IN Okiahoma. Tle nego-
! tiations for the release by the Cherokees of
their claim TO the Cherokee Strip has made no
substantial progress. SO far as ne department
/ Is Ofiicially advised. but IL is stlll hoped
/ that the cessi0n of this large and valu-
/ price
/ which the commission was authorized TO Uner
! 81. Is per acre-is in NV idgment, when all
1 the circumstances as to title and the character
/ OF the lands are considered, fa.r ana adequate
/ one .rI Shou q have been accepted hy tue In
dians. Since March 4 1889. about 100000
acres have been separated from Indian rescr.
vatons and added to the public dom9tn for the
/ use of those who desired TO secure free homes
I under our benehcent laws. IL IS dftcult
TO estimate the increase Of wealth
| which results from the conversion Of
| these waste lands into farms, but il is
/ more diGcuit to estimate the better
| ment which will result to the families that
| have found renewed hope ana courage in the
| ownership Of "a home and the assurance OF a
| comfortable subsistence under free and health
full conditions II is also gratifying TO be able
| TO feel d we may, that this work has pro
| cecdcd upon lines OF justice towards the lnuian.
and that may now, il he will, secure for m
the fields OF industry and the serenity OF citizen
ship.
The administration of the pension bureau
has been characterized during the year by
| great diligence. The total number OF pension.
| ers upon the roll on The 3Dth day Of June, 1921,
/ was $3.50. There were allowed during the
| fiscal year ending at that time, 1565 cases.
/ OF this number, lO2.3S7 were allowed under the
| law Of June "a 1890 The issuing Of certificates
has been proceeding at the rate OF about 30 0Ou
per month, about ! per cent. OF these being
| cases under the new law. The. commissioner
expresses the opinion that he viii he able o.
| careful IN adiulicate ana allow 10000 claims
during the present fiscal year The appropra-
tion for the payment OF pensions Tor the fiscal
year 1890 81 was St27. 6S5 $3.50 and the amount
| expended sllS,5O6 l32A leaving an unexpenGed
| surplus OF 81 80, li4 Tue commissioner is
/ quite confident that there Will be ro call this
year for q deficiency appropriate n, notwith
! standing the rapidity with which the work i
| being pushed The mistake which has been
| made by many in their exaggerated estimates
/ OF the cost OF pensions IS IN not taking account
! Of the diminished vaiue OF first payments
| under recent legislation. These payments
| under the general law have been Tor many
years very large as the pensions, when al
lowed, dated from the time Of lifting the
I claim. ana most Of these claims had
been tending for years The first payments
| under the law OF June ~, 1890 are relatively
| small and as the per cent. of these cases in
| creas IS and that OF the old cases diminishes
| the annual aggregate OF hrSt payments l.
| largely reduced. The commissioner. under
date OF November 10, furnished me with the
I statement that during the last four months ll3.
i15 certificates we're issued, 27.S93 under the
| general law and IS 2S9 under the act of June ~
| lsS9 The average first payment during these
| tour months was Sl3fS5 while the average first
/ payment upon cases allowed during the year
! ending June 30 1891 was S239.33. being q re
| duction in the average first payments during
| these four months OF Sl0ais. The estimate
| for pension expenditures for the tisca
/ year ending June 20, 1898 is Slii, CSC coo
| Which after n careful examination OF the sub
icct, tho commissto Ter is Of the opinion will bt
| sufficient. Mi these disbursements to the
| disabled soldiers OF the great civil war are
large they do not realize the exaggerated esti
| mates OF those who oppose this benefcent leg
| islation The secretary Of the interior shows
/ with great fullness the care that Is taken 10 ex
clude fraudulent claims. and also the crafty ing
| fact that the persons To whom these pension
are going are men who rendered, not slight
| but substantial. war service.
Subsidized Railways.
The report OF the commissioner Of railroads
| shows that the total debt Of the sub sidiZco
| raj roads TO the Unit q States was, or Decem
Der 81, 1872 sll2,5l26i30d. large part OF this
| debt is now approaching maturity with no ad
I
/ for dealing with this debt, with view 10 its
ultimate collection, should b. at once adopt
The Census.
The work OF the census bureau is now far in
! advance and the great bulk Of the enormous
/ labor involved completed IL VIII be strict Y q
! statistical exhibit and less eneumbered by es
| says than its immediate predecessors. The
/ methods pursued have been fair, careful and
/ intelligent and have secured the approval 81
| the statisticans, who have followed them with
/ a scientific and nonpartlsan interest The APP
/ preparations necessary 10 the early eohp!ction
and early publication OF the authorized vol
| umes should be- given in time to secure against
| delays which increase the cost and at The
| same time diminish the value OF the work.
The Territories.
| The report of the crctary exhibits. with in
| tcrestin' fullness. the condition Of the terri
! tories. They have shared with the states the
| great increase in farm products and are bring
/ ing yearly large areas into cultivation BY ex-
| tending their irrigatins canals. This work is
| being done by indivi luals or local corporations
! and without that system which full prclIm
/ mary survey Of the winter supply and of the IL
ri able lands would enable them TO adopt The
/ future Of the territories Of New Mexico, Ari
iona and Utah in their material growth and in
the increase, ind tpcndence ana happiness OF
| their people Is very largely dependent upon
/ wise and timely legislation either by congress
or their own legislatures, regulating the distri
/ button of the water supply furnished by their
| streams. " this matter is much longer neg
lected. private corporations will have unre
| stricted control Of OF the elements
| Of life and the patentees of the arid lands will
! be tenants nj will Of the water companies The
! improvident granting OF franchises OF enormous
/ value without recompense to the state or mu.
nieipality from which they proceed and with
| out proper protection OF the public interests
/ is the most noticeable and fragrant evil of mod
/ ern legislation. This fault should not be com
I mtted IN dealing with subject that will be
! fore many years affect so vitality thous nds oil
/ our people.
Suppression of PoIygamy.
| The legislation OF congress for the repression
/ OF polygamy has, after years OF resistance on
/ the part of the Mormons at last brought them
to the conclusion that resistance is unproft
/ abe and unavailing The power OF congress
| over tn = subject should not be surrendered IN
! til we have satisfactory evidence that the peo-
/ PIE OF the states to be created would exercise
/ the exclusive power OF the state over this sub
/ ject in the same way.
Government for Alaska.
I recommend that provision be made for the
| organization Of "a simple form OF town govern
! ment in Alaska with power TO regulate such
/ matters usually ia the states under
/ municipal control
The Agricultural ID spartment.
II the establishment OF the department OF
1 agriculture was regarded by anyone as a mere
! concession 10 The unenliehiened demand Of a
worthy class CT people. that Impression has
! sults already attained It's home influence has
/ been very great ia disseminating agricultural