The Forrest City times., 1891-12-11


 whence passage into the United States at ob- scure points along the Dominion boundary is easy. The Dominion Government collects . anada. and thus derives . considerable reve- nue from those who only u 0 itt ports to reach position of advantage to evsde our exclusion laws.
 There seems to be satisfactory evidence that the business of passing thinameu through Is .ansda % to the Uni Unitsi states is Srsnni,ed and cons ruei the laws to require the return of any Chnaman found to be unlswfully in this coun- notwith standing the fact that he came by way ot Canada. This construction robe the law of all effectiveness. and recomme rd such legisla- ton as will remedy defects in the law.
 
 The Postal Service.
 In the report of the Postmaster General some very gratifying results are exhibited and many betterments of the service suggested Ocean mail postoi1ces have been established uron tho steamers of the North German Lloyd and Ham, burg Lines, saving by the distribution on ship board from two to fourteen hours. time
 have been established upon railroads. the car distdbution to substations in the great cities the perc -ntase of errors in distribution has, during the past year, been reduced over one An appropriation was given by the last on- gTess for the purpose of making some experl. nents in free delivery in the smaller cities and towns. The results Of those apartments have
 
 eral recommends, and l concur in the recom- menda' fon that the free delivery system be at once extended to towns of so Q populs ion. It is not just that the farmer who receives his mail at neighboring towu should not tnly be compelled to send to the postoffce for it, but also to pay con siderable rent for box in which to place 1t or to wait his turn at . general de- livery window. while the city resident has his mail brought to hts door. l also recommend the extension of the money order system
 The Navy.
 Tho report of the Secretary of the Navy shows . gratifying increase of new naval vessels in commission. When it is recollected that the work Of building modern navy was only ini- tiatcd in SsS, that our naval constructors and ehfp-builders were practically vi hout experi- ence in the construction of large iron or steel ships. the progress that has been made is highly consideration the recommendations of tne Sec- retary, who has, am sure. eiver to them most tation in promptly completing . navy of the best modern type. large enough to enable this country to display nag In all seas for the commerce..
 Indian Affairs. The report of the Secretary of the Interior shows that a very gratifying progress has been made in all of the bureaus which make up that complex and difficult department. The work in | the Bureau of Indian Affairs was perhaps never so large as now by reason of the numerous negotiations which have been proceeding with
  The providing of adeq nate school facilities for Indian children and the locating of adult h. dians upon farms involve the solution of the It has been my thought that the Government school and school building upon the reserva- tion should be absorbed by the school systems l Of the States and Terrttories; but it has been found necessary 10 protect the Indian az inst | the compulsory alienation of his land by ex- | tmpting him from taxati ,n for . period of tive ty-fve years, 1t would seem to be right that tae General Govern ment, oer- tainly where there are tribal funds school fund of tSs Stat. nSs. would be souiva lent to the local school tax upon ,he property of the Indian. There is great advantage. mixed schools This process win be gradual, and in the meantime the present educational provisions and arrangement 8, the result of the best experience Of those who have been charged with this work. should be continued. The outbreak among the Sioux which occurred in December last fs, ss t, its causes and incl ment and the Department of the Interior. that these Indians had some just complaints 10 prob- ably true, but .he si ux are naturally ~arltke and turbulent, and their warriors were excited by their m dicine men aud chiefs. who preached the coming Of an Indian messiah, who was to give them power to destroy tn.iI among the white settlers near the servation and of the fatal consequences that wou d have resulted from an Indian incursiou. l placed st Division of the Missouri all oh forces as were thought by him to be required. He is entitled to Sa a a life. taws and ChickassFs contained in Indian ap- prop iation bill of Ma oh 5. 1891, has not been expended. for the reason that have not yet approved lelease to ths Government of the | Indian claim to the lands mentioned This mat | ter will be made the subject of Q special mes sage placing before ongress al. the facts which have come to my knowledge Tte relation of the i've civilized tribes, now | occupying the Indian Territory, to th- United | state-. is not believe, that best calculated to promote the nigh st advancement or these In- | dians. That there should be within our borders l Ave Independent states. hay ng no relations ex- sept those growing out of trs aties, with the | Government of the United States. no repre- 1 stn tn5attoa in the National Legislal ure. c | people not ci izens, is startling anomaly. It | seems to me to be inevitable that th' rs shali before long be some organic changes in the reia- | tion of these p opie 70 the United states In September last was enabled to open to | Sc t.ement in tie T.rritory of Oklahoma 900. 900 acres of land. ali O. which taken up by set- | tiers in . ingls day It was Q source of great l regret that was not able to open at ths sa'ne i time the surplus lands of the heyenne and | Arapahoe keseryation amounting 70 about s.- | tUJ.u0j acres. ny easou Of the insufiiciencv of | the appropriation for Inaiing the ailotments. | Deserving and impatient settlers are waiting to | occupy hese lands, and urgently recommend | that p scial deficiency approi rAtion be made | so that me allotinents may be completed and l
 
 settlers to get upon their homestead In the early spring.
 been separated from Indian reservsuons and i added to the public domain for the ute of thoss | who desired to secure free homes under our be- | nehcent laws. Itts difficult to es innate the in- | crease of wealth which will result from the | version of these waste lands into farms. and | 1t is more difficult TO estimate the bet errnent | which will result to the families that have | found renewed hope and courage in the owner | ship of a home and the assurance Of comfort l able subsistence under free and healthful con- | as may. that this work has proceeded upon | lines of justice towsrds the Indian.
 The Land Once.
 Early ,n this administration . special effort | was begun to bring up the work of the General have been rapidly reduced. At the end of the | last fiscal year only sf,lf final agricultural en- tries remained undisposed Of Your attention | Is called to the difticuity presented by the See Of the law of March 3, 1891, estabis hing c5urt | of private land claims. The aLnall holdings fn- | tended to be pro- eeted by the law are estimated 10 be more than l5.OC0 in number. The claim ants are most deserving class. and their titles are supported by the strongest equities.
 The Pension Bureau.
 The administration of tho Pension Bureau has besa characterizei during the year by great | diligence The total number of pensioners up- on the rolls on th 3 tn day of June, l-9i. was | 67o,l60. There were allowed during the fiscal | year ending at that time 2s0.575 cases. Of this number l.2.SS7 were allowed under the act of June 27, is)o. he issuing of certificates i has been proceeding at the rate of about | LOO per month. about 75 per cent. of those be- ing cash under the new law. The tommfssioner expresses the opinion that be win be able to carefully sdIudicate and allow 350,O,0 claims during tbe present fiscal ye The Gpproprla-