People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-12-09
crease Of the uavy, including new vessels and

crease OF the navy, including new vessels and
their appurtenances to the amount Of SS, OO-
900, and there has been expended during the
same period for labor at navy yards upon SINH
lar work Sc 100000, without the smallest scan
dal or charge Of fraud or Partially. The en-
thusiasm and interest Of our naval officers. both
OF the STAFF and line have been greatly kindled
They have responded magnifcently TO the con-
fidence Of congress and have demonstrated TO
the world an unexcelled capacity to construct
in ordnance and in everything involved in the
building, equipping and sailing Of great war
ships At the beginning of Secretary Tracy's
administration several difficult problems re-
manned to be grappled with and solved
before the efficiency in action Of our steam
ships could be secured 1t is believed that
as the result Of new processes in the construc-
lion Of armor plate our later ships will be
clothed with defensive plates OF higher resist
snce than are found on any war vessel afioat
We were without torpedOes Tests have been
made 10 ascertain the relative efficiency Of diff
ierelt constructions, torpedo has been adopt
ed and the work OF construction Is now being
carried on successfully We are without armOT
piercing shells. We are now making what is
believed to be proiectile superior to
any before in use smokeless pow.
der has been adopted and a slow burning
powder for guns Of large caliber High explO
siyes, capable Of use in shells fired from heavy
guns have been found and the manufacture Of
gun cotton has been developed and the question
Of supply is no longer in doubt
The development OF a naval militia which has
been organized in eight states and brought into
cordial nd ralafiOpc With he
navy, is another important achievement
There are now enlisted in these organiza-
lions 1900 men and they are likely to DO
greatly extended. l recommend such legisla-
ton and appropriations as will encourage and
develop this movement The recOmmenda.
lions Of the secretary, will / do not doubt, re-
ceive the friendly consideration OF congress,
for he has enjoyed, as he has deserved, the con-
tdence OF all those interested in the develop
Inent Of our navy, without any division upon
partisan lines. l earnestly express the hope
hat work which has made such noble pro-
gress may not be stayed. The wholesome in.
luence for the peace and increased sense Of
security which our citizens domiciled in other
lands feel when these magnificent ships
under the American flag appear, is already
most gratefully apparent. The steamships
from our navy which will appear in the harbOr
OF New York, will be convincing demonstra
ton to the world that the United States is a
great naval power
THE INTERIOR
The work OF the interior department, always
very burdensome, has been larger than ever be-
fore, during the administration OF Secretary
Noble The disability pension law. taking the.
eleventh census, the opening OF vast areas Of
Indian lands 10 settlement the organization OF
Oklahoma and the negotiations for the cesSiOn OF
Indian lands furnish SOME Of the particulars OF
the increased work: and the results achieved
testify to the ability fidelity and industry Of
the head Of the department and his efficient as
siStantS
Several important agreements for the cessiOn
Of Indian lands negotiated by the Indian mission
appointed under the act Of March ., 1889, are
awaiting the act Of congress Perhaps the
most important Of these is that for the cession
Of the Cherokee strip This has been
source Of great vexalOn to the exec
utive representative and great friction
iHureS between the settlers in their desire to
occupy it and the Indians who assert title The
agreement which has been made by the COM
mission is perhaps the most satisfactory that
could have been reached. 1t will be noticed
that it is conditioned upon its ratification by
congress before March 4. 1893. The secretary
Of the interior, who has given the subject care
full thought recommends the ratification of the
agreement and was inclined to follow this rec
ommendation. Certain it is that some action
by which this controversy shall be brought to
an end and the lands opened TO settlement is
urgent
THE LAND OFFICE.
The report Of the secretary shows very
gratifying state OF affairs as to the condition OF
the general land office The work OF issuing
agricultural patents which seemed to be hope
lesslY in arrears when the present secretary
undertook the duties Of his ofice has been so
expedited that the bureau is now upon current
business. The relief thus afforded to honest
and worthy settlers upon the public lands by
giving TO them an assured title TO their entries,
has been Of incalculable benefit in developing
the new states and the territories.
The court OF private land claims, established
by congress for the promotion of this policy Of
speedily settling contested land titles, is max
ing satisfactory progress in its work and when
the work is completed, a great impetus
viii be given TO the development OF
those regions where unsettled claims under
Mexican grants have so long existed their re-
presSive influence. When TO these results are
added the former cessiOn OF Indian lands which
have been opened TO settlement aggregating
during this administration nearly 96,OOOOOJ
acres, that agreements negotiated and now
pending in congress for ratification by which
about ten million additional acres will be
opened 10 settlement and will be seen how much
has been accomplished.
THE INDIAN BUREAU.
The work in the Indian bureau IN the execu.
ton Of the policy Of recent legislation has been
largely directed TO two chief purposes; first,
the allotment Of lands in severalty to the In.
disns and the cession Of surplus lands, and,
secondly TO the work Of educating the Indians
for their own protection in close contact with
the white men and for the intelligent exercise
Of his new citizenship. Allotments have been
made and patents issued TO 5000 Indians under
the present secretary and have commissions
and 500 additional allotments have been made
for which patents are now in process Of
preparation. The school attendance of Indian
children have been increased over 10 per cent,
enrolment for 1892 being nearly 10000 A uni
form system Of school text books and OF study
has been adopted and the work in these ma
tional schools brought as near as may be to the
basis OF free common schools Of the states.
These schools can be transferred and merged
into the common school systems wher
the Indian has fully assumed his new re.
lation TO the organized civil community in
which he resides, and the new states are able
10 assume the burden.
PENSIONS.
The report Of the commissioner of pensions,
10 which extent notice is given by the secretary
OF the interior in his report, viii attract great
attention Judged by the aggregate amount OF
work done the last year has been the greatest
in the history Of the ONCE. l believe that
the organization Of the ONCE is efficient and
that the work has been done with fidelity. The
passage OF what is known as the disability bill,
has, as was foreseen. very largely increased the
annual disbursements TO the disabled veterans
OF the civil war. The estimate for this fiscal
year was sl44, s560OO, and that amount was sp
propriated A deficiency amounting to slOO5s,.
81 must be provided for at this session.
The estimate for pensions for the fiscal