The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-12-17

ms euss.toa would y developed md diseus.
zion ,ost would prepare the wsy fe ohanees which
Lands Opened to Bsttlsnent. i
the good work Of reducing tho larger Indisn
reservations, b sllotmenss IN severalty to the
INDIANS and The cessioa Of the remaininE lands
homestead law, has been prosecuted during
the year with energy and success In septeus-i
& e e ,G
al Of which was taken up by settlers in Z
single day: Tho rush for these lands was ~
compsnted BY = treat deal Of excitement but
vas happily FREQ from incidents of violence.
II vas . source Of great regret that
IL, VAS = -, not able TO open At the,
snd Arspahoe reservation iona amounting to about
& az spps6ssistion tos @.fins tho aiosmeess;
to occupy these lands, ana urgently recon-.
mend that special deficiency appropriation
be promptly made Of the small amount needed,
%ig e Rs
eettlers TO get upon their homesteads In the
G eaa.y sprln9 During tho past summer tho
tribes whereby II the agreements are ratified
by congress over go. o0 additional acres viii be
opened opened to settlement in Oklahoma; The nego.
tlatlons for the release by the Cherokees of
their claim to the Cherokee Strip has made NO
substantial progress, so far as the department
that tae yesson but 1t still:
which hi !. the commission was authorized to oeer
the circumstances Is TO title and the character
| OF the lands are considered, fair and adequate
one. and should have been accepted BY the In.
acres have been separated from Indian reser.
| vations and added to tho public domain for the
use S, OF those who desired to secure free homes
sIr sss acrsase .; @ssss
which results from the conversion Of
these waste lands into farms, but it is
ment which will result to the families that
nave found renewed hope and courage In the
ownership OF q homo and tho assurance of q
| comfortable subsistence under free and health.
oi ,e conditions 1t /. also gratifying to be able
ceeded upon lines Of justice towards the indian,
ia he may he WILL for him
ship.
Pensions.
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 3oth day Of June, 1891,
fiscal year ending at that time, 250565 cases.
OF this number, los, 3s7 were allowed under the
law OF June q, 1890. The issuing of certificates
per month shout i per cent Of these being
| cases under the new law The commissioner
expresses the opinion that he will be able to
during the present fiscal year. The appropria-
ton ior the payment Of pensions for the fiscal
year ls9o9l was sls7 6s5 1893 80 and the amount
surplus Of 20, 49, l44.64 The Commissioner is
quite confident that there will be no call this
y year tor deficiency approximation; notwith.
being pushed. The mistake which has been
made by many in their exaggerated estimates
OF tne COST OF pensions is in not taking account
under recent legislation. These payments
under the general law have been Tor many
years very large, as the pensions, when al
claim, and most Of these claims had
been pending for years. The first payments
under the law of June 80, 1922, are relatively
creases and that Of the old cases diminishes,
the annual aggregate of first payments is
largely reduced. The commissioner under
statement that during the last four months 1l3.
IT'S certificates were issued, 1883 under the
general law and Is, ese under the act Of June e.
four months was $751; S. while the average first
payment upon cases allowed during the yea,
ending June 30 1891 was e.3o. 80, being a re-
months Of The anpae
year ending June 80, 1888 is si44, eo6 go
ject, the commissioner is of the opinion will BIZ
sufficient While these disbursements to the
disabled soldiers OF the great civil war arr
mates OF those who oppose this benefcent leg
lsation. The secretary Of the interior shows
with great fullness the care that is taken to ex
clude fraudulent claims, and also the gratifying
fact that the persons to whom these pensions
are going are men who rendered, not slight
but substantial, war service
Subsidized Railways.
| The report Of the commissioner OF railroad,
| 0ft ho uhcid
raj roads to the United States was, on Decem
Der 81, 1880, t1l2, SIP 6l3O8 large part of this
debt is now approaching maturity with no ad
equate provision for its payment. Some policy
for dealing with this debt, with view to its
ultimate collection, should be at once adopt.
ed. 1t is very dificult, well-ntgh impossible
for so large body as the congress to conduct
the necessary negotiations and investigations
Therefore recommend that provision be made
for the appointment OF Q commission to agree
debt.
The Census.
The work OF the census bureau is now far IL
labor involved completed It will be strictly :
I statistical exhibit and less encountered by es
says than its immediate predecessors. The
methods pursued have been fair, careful and
intelligent, and have secured the approval Of
the statisticians, who have followed them with
scientific and nonpartisan interest. The ap
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 secretary exhibits, with in
teresttng 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 es.
tending their irrigating canals. This work ID
being done by individuals or local corporations
mary survey Of the water supply and Of tho tr
riRable 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 independence and happiness OF
| their people is very largely dependent upon
wise and timely legislation. either by congress
button of the water supply furnished by their
streams II this matter is much longer neg.
lectec. private corporations will have unre.
Of lie and the patentees Of the aria ,snds viii
| be tenants at will of the water companies Tho
improvident granting Of franchises OF enormous
nicipality 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.
mitted in dealing with subject that will be.
fore many years affect SO vitality thousands OF
our people
| Suppression Of Polygamy.
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 unprofit-
| aO.e ana unaVal1ng. Inc power OF congress
over this subject should not be surrendered I'M
| 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 q simple form Of town govern
ment In Alaska with power to regulate such
matters as are usually III the states under
I municipal control
! The Agricultural D Department..
| II the establishment Of the department of
I agriculture was regarded by anyone mere
| concession to the unenlightened demand of q
| worthy class Of people. that impression has
| been most effectualy removed by the great re-
| suits already attained Its home influence has
| been very great in disseminating agricultural
and horticultural information; in stimulating
and directing further Investigation OF crops
in detecting and eradicating diseases OF domes-
| tic animals; and more than all. in the close
and informal contact which it has established
| and maintained with the farmers and stock
| raisers of the whole country Every request
| for information has had prompt attention and
| every subject merited consideration. The sci
entific corps of the department is Of high
| order and is pushing its investigations with
| method and enthusiasm.
| MAat .TnRnActiOn.