The Portland daily press., 1891-11-30
NEARING THE HIGH WATER MARK.
Uncle Sans Payments to the Vet
Grams VIII Soon Grow Less.
the Census commended-Repo
of the Interior apartment.
Some Big Figures Which Tell About
the iron Roads.

WASHINGTON, November 29.-The an
nual report of the Secretary Of the Interior
has been made public. 1t Is voluminous
document treating of the many important
matters under the care of this department.
The Secretary refers to the relief afford
ed by the pension act Of June 27, 1890, to
| thousands Of disabled veterans and their
dependent relatives. who through lapse Of
time are not able to prove the origin of dis
ability in the line of duty as required by
prior enactments. While the amount ey-
pended In payment of pensions Is large
there is no purpose, In the opinion of the
| Secretary, to which 1t could be more benef-
icently applied than payments 10 those to
whom the nation owes its preservation and
present greatness. and there is no other ex-
penditure involving so great an amount
that would not be Sc yerely criticized and
opposed with the utmost resist ance.
1t Is shown that first payments have
greatly decreased In amounts. that the al
lowances of original pensions will soon all
be made, that there will then be great de-
cline 10 the sum necessary to pay pensions
and the lists will rapidly decline from
death and other causes.
There were 222, ,621 first payments made
during the fiscal year, requiring S38, ,552,-
274 81, being less In amount by $69. .592 than
the 1305l4 first payments of the previous
year required. The average value of first
payments in fiscal year of 1890 was S485 II,
while the average value 10 1891 of first pay
meDts In all claims was $239.33, and first
payments of claims under the act of June
| 27, 1890. was only $71.28. The present is
sue Of certificates Is about $4,000 per month
and Ia hof hn hnro
will be able to carefully adjndicate $4,000
claims during the present year. The work
at this rate will allow all lawful pension
claims within the next 80 months, and of
course all first payments will then have
been disposed of. This alone will cause
drop of $50, 100000 in the appropriation,
and the list will thence on constantly di-
minish by natural causes.
The Secretary expresses the belief that
the peleventh census will stand as much
fair and honest criticism as any work Of
the same magnitude heretofore done either
at home or abroad. The work has been
done accurately and more rapidly than at
any previous census, and the great bulk of
1t Is completed. The per capita cost has
been abont the same as that of the tenth
census and the estimated total cost will,
after allowing for the usual progressive
enhancement per capita cost of successive
censuses, not exceed other enumerations.
rhe announcement of the population,
November 26. 1890, as 62,622, ,250 has not
been changed and upon that announce
ment the apportionment law was passed
nearly two years sooner than at prior
census periods. 1t is estimated by the
superintendent Of the census, that to COM
plete the work, including the inquiries
authorized by Congress after the original
appropriation was made, will require
further appropriation of about 81. 100000
The work accomplished by the different
commissions, authorized by Congress to
treat with the Indians. is reviewed by the
Secretary at length. and an account is
given OF the troubles with tue Sioux
which eliminated In the fight with that
tribe on the Pine Ridge reservation in
December, 1890. The turbulence Of these
Indians is ascribed to various causes sum-
married. as follows:
(1) The fact that they were war-like In
dians and have a record of victory in bat
tie under "Sitting Bull" ~ The excite-
ment growing out Of the Messiah craze. (9
al opposition by leaders of the non-pr0-
gressiye element to the act of 1889 for the
reduction of the great Sioux reservation.
~ Failure to receive, through want or ap-
propriation by Congress, fulfitlment OF
promises made by the Sioux commission.
(5) Dissatisfaction because OF the statement
that their agreement under the act named
prevented the transfer of band of lndi-
ans from the Rosebud to the Pine Ridge
Agency. (6l Failure of crops of 1889 by
neglect and for 1890 by reason of serious
drought Cd Diminished appropriation
for the subsistence, a failure of rations,
improvidently used and issued after short
crops. (8) Delay in appropriation until
August 10, 1889, providing for the Indians
and preventing them from engaging in
their usual employment of farming during
the summer and fall months.