River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-08

ment subsidies until now tAey have practically
excluded us from participation. In my opinion
at least, the same lines.
The Navy.
The report OF the secretary OF the navy ex-
hlDits great progress in the construction OF our
new navy. When the present secretary entered
upon his duties only three modern steel vessels
were in commission. The vessels since put in
commission and 10 be put IN commission during
the winter VIII make total OF nine teen
during his administration OF the department.,
During the current year ten war vessels
and three navy tugs have been launched ana
during the four years twenty-hv vessels viii
have been launched Two other large ships and
a torpedo boat are under contract and the work
upon them well advanced. and the four mont
tors are awaiting only the arrival of their ar
NOR which has been Unexpectedly delayed or
they would have been before this In commits
sion.
Contracts have been let during :h!s admins
tration uId T the appropriations for the in
crease for I &c navy including new vessels and
their appt rtenances to the amount OF s3J,UOO-
0o0, and there has been expended during the
same period for labor at navy yards upon sim.
lar work 80 010, Oo0 without the smallest scandal
or charge OF fraud or partiality. The enthusi.
asm an interest OF our natal officers, both of
the stan and line, have been greatly kindled.
They have responded magniicenty TO the con-
tidence OF congress and have demonstrated TO
the world an unexcelled capacity in eonstruc.
ton, in ordnance, and in everything involved
in the building equipping, and sailing OF great
warships
Al the eginning OF Secretary Tracy's admin.
istration several difficult problems remained to
be grappled with and solved before the ef-
hciency in action OF our ships could be secured
II is believed that as the result OF new proc
esses in the construction OF armor plates our
later ships will be clothed with defensive
plates of higher resisting power than are
founi on any war vessel afloat We were
without torpedoes. Tests have been
made 10 ascertain the relative efficiency
Of different CONSTRUCTIONS. a torpedo has
being carried on successfully. We were with
out armor-piercing shells and without shop
constructed and equipped for the construction
OF them. We are now making what is believed
TO be a projectile superior 70 any before in use.
A smOkeless powder has been developed and a
A high explosive, capable OF use in shells fired
from service guns, has been found, and the
manufacture OF gun cotton has been developed,
so that 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 and cooperative relations with the
navy, is another important achievement There
now enlisted in these organizations 500
men and they are likely TO be greatly extended
l recommend such legislation and appropria-
lions as will encourage and develop this move
ment
The recommendations Of the secretary will /
do not doubt, receive the friendly consideration
OF congress, for he has enjoyed, as he has de-
served, the confidence of all those interested in
the development of our navy without any divi-
sion upon partisan lines I earnestly express
the hope that work which has made
s s s, noble pro- progress may may not e now
for the peace and the increased sense OF
security which our citizens domiclled in other
lands feel when these magnificent ships under
the American nag appear is already most CRATE
fully apparent The ships from our navy
which will appear in the great naval parade
next April in the harbor Of New York Will be a
convincing demonstration 10 the world that the
United States rs again naval power.
The Interior.
The work of the interior department. always
very burdensome, has even larger than ever
before, during the admins tration Of Secretary
Noble The disability pension law, the TAX
ing OF the Eleventh census, the opening Of vast
areas OF Indian lands TO settlement, the organi-
cation OF OSlahoma and the negotiations ion
the cession OF Indian lands furnish some Of the
suits achieved testify to the ability, fidelity
and industry of the head of the department aud
his efficient assistants.
Indian Lands.
Several important agreements for the cessIon
OF Indian lands negotiated by the comm sSiOn
appointed under the act OF March ,. 1889. are
awaiting the action OF congress Perhaps the
me st important Z these Is that for the cessior
OF the Cherokee strip This region has been
the source OF great vexatiOn to the executive
department and of great IF elton and unrest be
cupy il and the Indians who assert
title. The agre, ment which has beer
made by the commission is perhaps
the most satisfactory that could have been
reached II will be noticed that IL is condi
toned upon its ratification by congress before
March 4, 1893 The secretary Of the interior
who has given the subject very careful thought
recomm. nds the ratification OF the agreement
Certain IL is that some action by which this
controversy shall be brought 10 an END ano
these lands opened to settlement is urgent
Alaska.
The form Of government provided by congress
on May II, 1881, for Alaska was, in its frame
and purpose, temporary. The in rease OF popu
lation and the development of some important
mining and commercial interests make II i'm
perative that the law should be revised and bet
ter provision made for the arrest and punish
ment OF criminals
The Land ONCE.
The report OF the secretary shows a very
gratifying state OF facts as to the condition OF
the general land Office. The work OF issuing
agricultural patents, which seemed to be hope
lessly in arrear when the present secretary I'M
dertook the duties of his Office, has been so ex
pedited that the bureau is now upon current
business. The relief which was 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 ~
speedily settling contested land titles, is max
in, satisfactory progress in its work and when
the work Is completed N great impetus VIII be
given TO the development Of those regions
where unsettled claims under Mexican grants
have so long exercised their repressive infiu
ence. When TO these results are added the
enormous cessions of Indian lands which have
been opened to settlement, aggregating during
this administration nearly 2oOOO,OOJ acres and
the agreements negotiated and now pending
in congress for ratification, by which about 10.
100000 additional acres will be opened TO set
Element, IL will be seen how much has been &C
complished.
The Indian Bureau.
The work in the Inaian bureau. in the execu
tion of the policy OF recent legislation. has been
largely directed to the chief purposes: First
the allotment OF lands in seyeralty TO the IN
dams and the cession to the United States OF
the surplus lands; and, second. TO the work Of
educating the Indians for their own protection
in closer contact with the white man and fOI
the intelligent exercise OF his new citizenship
Allotments have been made and patents issued
10 $500 Indians under the present secretary and
commissioner, and 1000 additional allotments
have been made for which patents are now in
process OF preparation. The school attendance
OF Indian children has been increased during
enrolment for 1892 being nearly 10000 A
uniform system Of school text books and OF
study has been adopted. and the work in these
national schools brought as near as NAV be 70
the basis OF the free common schools OF the
states These schools can be transferred and
merged into the common school systems of the
states when the Indian has fully assumed his
new relation to the organized civil community
in which he resides and the new states are
able to assume the burden.
/ have several times been called upon TO re-
move Indian agents appointed b. mt, ana have
done so promptly upon every sustained com.
plant of unfit or misconduct. l believe.
However that the Indian service at the agencies
has been improved and IS now administered on
thew hole with good degree OF deficiency. If any
legislation is possible by which the selection OF
Indian agents can be wholly removed from al
partisan suggestions or consideration am sure
il would be "a great relief TO the executive and
a great benefit to the service.
The appropriation for the subs stence OF the
G eyenne aud Arapahoe Indians made at the
last sess on OF congre IS was inadequate. This
smaller was estimated for by the comm sslon-
CT upon the theory that the Larger fdnd belong
ing TO the tribe in the public treasury could he
and ought to be used for their support In view,
however. of the pending depreciation claims
against this fund ana other considerations the
secretary Of the interior on the 1@th OF April
last submitted a supplement estimate for $50
900 7 his appropriation was not male, as II
should have been, an l The oversight ought TO DC
remedieu at thet ATTEST possible date
In a special message to this congress at the
last sesS on / stated the reason why had not
approved the deed for the release 10 the United
States by the Choctlws and Chick tsaws OF the
lands formerly embraced in the Cheyenne and
ArapahOe reservations and remaining after
allotmCnts to that tribe A resolution of the
senate expressing the opinion of that body
notwii IA landing the facts stated in nv +, ecial
message that the deed shOult be approx v and
the money. s2,.el $50, paid ever was pres med tc
me May 10. 1892. NV special message was
INTENDED 10 call the attention of congress
TO this subject and in view OF the fact that IL Is
conceded that the appropriation proceeded
upon a false basis as 10 the amount OF lands u
be paid for and is by $4,000 in excess Of the
amount they are entitled TO teyen II their CLAIM
10 the land is given full recognition at the rate
agreed upon, have not felt willing 10 approve
the deed, and shall not do so at least until both
houses of cougrt IS have acted upon the subject
1t has be en- informally proposed by the claim
ants to release this sum OF S5O,OO1, but have NJ
power TO demand or accept such a release, and
such an agreement wo1ld be without consider
alton and void
/ desire further to call the attention OF con
grt * 10 the fact that the recent agreement con