The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-10

far as the department is officially advised. but
1t IL still hoped that the cession of this large
and valuable tract may be secured
Tho price which the commission was au-
thorized TO offer. ono dollar and quarter
per acre. IA, in myjudgment. when all the cir
cumstances, titles and the character OF lands
~ considered. fair and adequate one. and
should lave been accepted By the Indians.
SINCE March 4, 1889. about %. OOO. 900 acr-g
nave been separated from the Indian reserya-
tloh and added to the public domain for use
OF those who desired TO secure free homes
under our benefcent laws is difficult 20.
estimate the increase Of wealth which will
result from the conversion OF these
waste lands into farms but is more difficult
70 estimate the betterment which will result to
families that have found renewed hope and
courage in the ownership OF n home and the
assurance of n comfortable subsistence under
tree and beautiful conditions II is also graft
fvlng 70 be able TO feel "a we may that this
work has proceeded upon lines OF justice to-
ward the Indian. and that he may now, if he
VIII, secure TO himself the good influence Of a
settled habitation the fruits of Industry and
the security Of citizenship. Early in this adj
ihlnlstrauOn special effort was begun to
bring mp the work of the general land Office.
By faithful work the arrearages have been
rapidly reduced.
Al the end OF the last fiscal year only Si.i72
maj agrcultural entries remained undispOsed
OF and the commissioner rep rts that with
the present force the work can be fully
brought up by the end Of TIE next fiscal year
PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS.
Your attention Is called to the difficulty
presented b. the Secretary of the Interior as
10 the administration OF the law of March s.
1871, establishing + Court of trIvate Land
Claims The small holdings intended 20 be
protected 10y the law are estimated TO be more
III h. and IN he 81 ~
ants are a most deserving class and Their titles
are supported by the strongest equities. The
diihculty grows out OF the fact that the lands
have largely been surveyed according 20
our methods. While tie holding Of many,
which have been III the same amily for gen
erat ons are aid cut IN narrow strips "A rev
rods wide upon stream and running back To
the hills for pasturage and timber. PROVISION
should he made for mum ering these tracts a.
j L and for patenting them b. such numbers
and withoutreference 10 section lines.
PENSIONS.
The administration OF the Pension Bureau
has been characieri ed during tie year by
great diligence, and tie total nnmLer OF pen
sloners upon the roll on tie 30th day OF June
Us 10 was bl 40. There were allowed dur
Ing the ts al year at tiat time -.O.Jl cases.
o; THIS number lOz.yoi were allowed under the
Jaw oi iuLe 2 1870
ing at c rate OF about 20, 900 per month about
81 per cent. OF tines being cas- under tie new
Jaw Inc Commissioner expresses the Opin
ION that he VIII be abe 10 carefully adiudl-
cate and allow $50. 900 claims during tie pres
sent fiscal year. The appropriation for pay
ment OF pensions for fiscal year l5JJ-Ji was
izi,O'J.7Jj.o9 and the am unit expended
Sll7,5 O.Gi3.Zj. leaving an unexpended sur
plus or eJ.l5j. l3i.6i. The Commissioner IS
cutie confident that there VII be no cal this
year for deficiency APP rOpratiOn. nOtwith-
standing the rapllty with which the WORK
is be ~ pushed. This mistake which has
been made by many IN their eXag geratcd es.l-
mates OF the cost ol pensions. Is in not taking
&C cunt Oi the dlminlsae value o. first pay
meuts under the recent legislation. These
payments under tic general aW laye cen .0r
many ears very large, as the pensions when
allowed dated from the time OF Ming the
CAIN. an most Of these claims had Oeen
pending for years. The nrst payments III 4er
TIE law OF June. 1880. are Talar ve.y small. and
as the per cent. OF these cases Increases and
that Of the old cases dimiuishes the annual
aggregate OIL fist payments "a largely re-
duced Tie COuIis toner's under date
OF November 18th furnished me with the
statement tuat during the last iour months
1871 - certificates were issued z,,5 , under
tho genera. law. ald ,J.-8Z u der the at OF
June 20 1880. The ave age FIRST payment dur
.ng the G four months vas l3l.61. while tn
ayeraIe lrst payment upon cases allowed
curing the year ending June 30 1871. WIS
Sz5J.,3. being reduction IN the average first
payments during these our months OF lOI lis.
The estimate Tor pension expenditures for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 3, Is -lii,-
y56.0o0 winch alter q care.u nj examination OF
the 81 Get the commissioner Is or tue .piniOn
Will De ~ tcient
While these disbursements % the disabled
soldiers Oh the great war are large they do
4 - ftaa III
who oppose this beDehceut legislation. The
.ecfetar, Ol the lnterur shows WIKI great
iuluess tie caro- tuat is taken to exclude
fraudulent claims auu also the gratifying act
that the persons % whom these pensions are
going are men WHO rendered not slight but
substantial war service
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
The report Of the Commissioner of Rail
roads shows that the tJta debt az the sgbsl-
died railroads TO the nited states, WIS, on
December 81, ID tll2.jl-. 81 ..O1. a large
part OF this deat Is now approaching maturity.
WITH no aQeg uate provision iOf It's payment.
some policy for dealing with TINS department
with view to It's ultimate collection sA uid De
at once adopted. it.s very difficult tor SO large
a. body as the Congress 10 conduct the neces-
sary negotiation aud inyesu cation. ! there
fore recommend that provision be made for "A
commission 10 agree aud report on plan Tor
dealing with this department.
THE CENSUS.
The work of the Census Bureau is now far
in advance and the great bulk of labor iu-
y0lyed completed. 1t will be more a strictly
statistical exhibit, less encountered by
ESSAYS than its immediate predeces-
sors. The methods pursued have been
fair. careful and intelligent and have secured
the approval or the stair tlcians who nave fol-
lowed them with scientific ami non-partisan
interest. The appropriations necessary b the
early completion and publication of the
authorized volumes should be given IN time TO
secure against delays. which increase the cost
and at the same time diminish the value Of
the work
CONDITION OF THE TERRITORIES.
The report of the Secretary exhibits, with
iullness tie cOnd ton Of the Terri
tories Iney have shared with the States the
great increase IN farm products, and are
bringing yearly large areas into cultivation by
extending their irrigatlng canals.
This work is being done by individuals or
local corporation. and without that system
which a iull preliminary survey Of the water
supply and of the irrgable lands would
enable them 10 adopt. The future OF the
Territories Of New Mexico. Arizona and Utah
IN their material growth and IN the increase
and happiness of their people
ia very largely dependent upon wise and
timely legislation, either by Congress or their
own Legislatures regulating the distribution
OF the water supply furnished by their
streams II this matter is much longer neg