The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-12-11
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Work in the Bureau OF Indian Affairs Is
on the increase.

Work in The Bureau OF Indian Affairs Is
on the increase.
Gratifying progress has been made in all the
bureaus OF the interior, and great attention has
been paid to the education OF Indian children.
1.-THE president says the Sioux probably had
some cause Of complaint. but their latest out
break was caused by the medicine men who
preached the coming Of the Messiah. A speca!
Choctaw and Chickasaw appropriations: He
refers to the opening. of the Oklahoma lands
time the surplus lands of the Cheyenne and
Arepahoe reservation. The president believes
on organic change in relations Of the Indian and
Since March, 1880, 100000 acres have been
separated from reservations and added to the
public domain.
The Pension Bur. au
The administration Of the pension bureau has
diligence. The total number of pensioners
upon the roll on the 3Oth day OF June, 1891, was
s,S eo There t We're allowed we % during the sea-
number l023S7 were allowed under the law OF
June "a, 1890. The issuing of certificates has
month about per cent Of these being pes
under the new law. The commissioner ex
presses the opinion that he will be able to care
the present fiscal year. The appropriation for
the S PsnsSHs d ff the cal
pended Sis, $50, 6i9.29. leaving an unexpended
surplus of SO, l25, lA.GO The commissioner is
quite confident that there will be no call this
for tbs th nStw T
being pushed. The mistake which has been
made by many in their exaggerated estimates
of the cost of pensions is in not taking accoun'
of the diminished value of first payments,
under the recent legislation. These payments
under the general law have been for many
dated from the time of fling the claim, and
most OF these claims had been pending for
years.
Expenditures for the Fiscal Year.
The first payments under the law of June,
1890, are relatively small, and, as the per cent.
of the ca es increases and that Of the old cases
diminishes, the annual aggregate of first pay
ments is largely reduced. The commissioner.
under date of November ID, furnished me with
the statement that during the last four months
General aw and under the act of anT June w.
1889. The average first payment during these
four months was Sl3l.s5, while the average first
payment upon cases allowed during the year
ending June 30, 1891, was $685. %, being a reduct-
ion in the average first payments during these
four months of Sl07 AS The estimate for pen
sion expenditures for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1893, is $l44,056,0W, which, after care
full examination af the subject, the commits
sioner is of the opinion will be sufficient While
these disbursements to the disabled soldiers of
the great civil war are large, they do not rea-
lie the exaggerated estimates Of those who
oppose this beneficent legislation. The secre
tary of the interior shows with great fullness
the care that is taken to ex' lude fraudulent
claims, and also the gratifying fact that the
men who rendered not slight, but substantial
war service.
Debt OF Subsidized Railroads.
The report Of the commissioner Of railroads
shows that the total debt of the subsidized rail
roads to the United States was, on Dec 81 1850,
S112512, 6l3.06. A large part of this debt is now
fast approaching maturity, with no adequate
provision for It's payment Some policy for
dealing with this debt, with view To it's ult-
mate collection, should be at once adopted. 1t
Is very difficult, well nigh impossible, for so
large a body as the congress to conduct the
necessary negotiations and Investigations.
Therefore recommend that provision be made
for the appointment OF commissio to agree
upon and report plan for dealing with this
debt.
The work of the census bureau is now far in
advance and the great bulk of the enormous
labor involved completed. 1t will be more
strictly a statistical exhibit and less encum-
bered by essays than its immediate predeces-
sors. The methods pursued have geen fair,
careful and intelligent, and have secured the
approval Of the .statisticians, who have fol-
lowed them with a scientific and bipartisan
interest The appropriations necessary TO the
early completion and publication of the author
lied volumes should be given in time to secure
against delays, which increase the cost aud at
the same time diminish the value of the work.
1.-THE condition of the territories are improv
ing and large areas of land are brought into
cultivation by irrigatng canals. But their
future depends upon wise legislation in regulat-
ing the distribution of the water supply.
simple form of town government is recon-
mended for Alaska