St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-07
INTERIOR AFFAIRS.
Work I'm Mr.. Mobiles Department
Heavier than Ever Before.

The work of the interior department.
always very burdensome has been larger
than ever before during the administration
of Secretary Noble. The disability pension
law. taking of the Eleventh census, the open
ing of vast areas of Indian lands to settle
ment the organization of Oklahoma and the
negotiations for the cession of Indian lands
furnish some of the particulars Of the in
creased work; and the results achieved testify
to the ability. fidelity and industry OF the
head of the department and his efficient
assistants.
several important agreements for the &C.
sion of Indian lands negotiated by the COM
mission appointed under the act Of March :,
1885, are awaiting the action of congress.
Perhaps the most important of these is that
for the cession of The Cherokee strip. The
form OF government provided by congress
OH May II. 1884, for Alaska, was, in its frame
and purpose, temporary. The increase of
population and the development OF some
important mining and commercial Interests
make it imperative that the law should be
revised, and better provision made for the ar
rest and punishment of criminals.
The report of the secretary shows very
gratifying state of affairs as to the condition
of the general land office. The work of is
suing agricultural patents, which seemed TO
be hopeesslv in arrears when the present
secretary undertook the duties of his Office,
has been so expedited that the bureau is now
upon current business. The relief thus AT
forded to honest and worthy settlers upon
the public lands, by giving to them an as
sured title to their entries, has been OF in
calculabe benefit in developing the new
sta es and the territories The court of pri-
vate land claims, established by congress for
the promotion of this policy OF speedily
settling contested laud titles. is making salts
factory progress in its work, and when the
work is completed a great petus Will be
given to the development of those regions
where unsettled claims uuder Mexican grants
have so long exercised Their represSlve 1nf1u-
ence. When all results are added. the cnor-
nous SESSIONS OF Indian lands which have
been opened TO settlement a2gre eating dur
ing this administration nearly Fl, G11,0JJ acres,
and tue agreements negotiated and now
pending in congress for ratification by which
about 10,0J0,00J additional acres viii be
opened ID settlement, it will be seen how
much has te1n accomplished.
The work in the Indian bureau. in the eX
ecuion of the policy OF recent legislation,
has been largely directed TO chief purposes
first the allotment of lands in seyeraly to
the Indians and the cession to the United
States of the surplus lands; and secondly, 10
the work of educating the Indians for THEFT
OWE protection i'll closer contact with the
white man and ter the Intelligent exercise
of his new citizenship have several times
been called upon TO remove Indian agents
appointed by me. aud have done So promptly
upon every sustained complaint of unfitness
o? misconduct | believe. however, that the
Indian service at the agencies has been i'm
proved. and is now administered. on the
whole, with IL good degree of efficiency. If
any legislation is possible by which the Sc
lection of Indian agents can be wholly re-
moved from ali partisan suggestion or COIL
sideratl0ns | am sure it will be great re-
lief TO the executive and great benefit to
the service.
The report of the commissioner of pen-
sions to which extended notice is given by
the secretary of the interior in his report,
will attract great attention. Judged by the
aggregate amount CT work done, the last
year has been the greatest in the history of
The Office. | believe that the organiZato of
the officers efficient and that the work mas
been done with fidelity. | adhere to the
views expressed in previous messages that
the care of the disabled soldiers of the War
OF the Rebellion is matter OF national con-
Germ and duty. Perhaps no emotion cools
sooner than that of gratitude, but cannot
believe that this process has yet reached a
point with our people that would sustain the
policy of RENTING the care of these dis.
abled veterans to the inadequate agencies
provided by local laws
In my last annual message, | called atten-
ton to the fact that some legislative action
was necessary in order to protect the inter
ests of the government in its relations with
the Union Pacific railway. The commits
sloner OF railroads has submitted a very full
report, giving exact information as TO the
debt the liens upon the companys property,
and its resources. We must deal with the
question we find it, aud take that course
which will, under existing conditions, Lest
secure the interests OF the United States. /
recommended i'll nv last annual message
that commission be appointed to dea! with
this question. and renew that recommends
ton aud suggest that the commission be
given full power.