Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-12-07


from service guns, has been found and the
manufacture II gun cotton has been developed
so tnat the question o. supply Is no longer in
doubt.
The development of naval militia, which
has been organized IN eight states and rought
into cordial and cooperative relation with
the navy, Is another important achievement
There are now enlisted in those organiza-
lions 1,S00 men and they are likely to be
greatly extended. ! recommend such legisla-
ton and apr ROY, iatons will encourage
and develop this movement The recommeuda-
tons of the SCI rotary Will do not doubt, re-
ceIve the friendly GO: sideration of congress
for he uaS enjoyed, as he has deserved, the
confidence of all those interested in the devel-
0pment OF our navy, without any division
upon partisan lines. / earnestly express the
hope that work which has made such noble
progress may not now be stayed The whole
some infiuenc. for the peace and the increased
sense OF security which our citizens domiciled
in other lanls feel when these magnificent
maf raIetni mi aensTan nag ap h ready
our navy " ich will appear in the great naval
parade next April in the hGrbor of New York
VIII be a convincing demonstration 10 the
world that the Uniteu States is again naval
power.
The Interior Department.
The work OF the interior department. ALWAYS
very buruensome, has been larger than ever
before curing the administration of Secretary
Noble The disability pension law, taking OF
the eleventh census, the opening of vast areas of
Indian lands to 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
assistants .r.-
Several important agreements for the cession
of Indian lands negotiated by the commission
appointed under the act of March = 1889 are
awaiting the action of congress Perhaps the
most important of these is that for the cession
of the cherokee strip. his region has been
the source OF great yexation to the executive
department, and of great friction and unrest
between the settlers who desire to occupy il
ana the Indians who assert title. The agree
ment which has been made by the commission
is, perhaps, the most satisfactory that could
have been reached. Ii will be noticed that it Is
conditioned upon its ratification by congress
before March 4, 1893. The secretary of the in
terror, VINO has given the subject very careful
thought, recommends the ratification OF the
agreement, and am inclined to follow his rec
ommendatlon. Certain If Is that some action by
which this controversyshall be brought to an end
and these lands opened TO settlement is urgent
The form of government provided by congress
on May IL, 1884, for Alaska was, in its frame
ana purpose, temporary. The increase of pop
ulatlon and the development of some inpor-
tant mining and commercial interests make it
imperative that the Jaw should be revised and
better provision made for the arrest and pun
ishment of criminals.
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 arrears when the present secretary
expedited that the bureau Is now upon cur
rent business. The relief afforded to hon
EST EST and worthy settlers upon the public lands.
tries, has been of incalculable benefit in devel-
oPlng the new states and territories.
lThe court of land claims is considered in the
message also the allotment of lands to In
dams; The president tells of having been
called upon several times to remove Indian
gents for misconduct.
Contested Land Titles.
The court OF private land claims, established
by congress for the promotion of this policy
Of speedily settling contested land titles Is
making satisfactory progress in its work and
when the work Is completed a great impetus
XlH be given to the development of
Mexican grants have long exercised their
repressIve influence. When to these results
IRE ADDED the enormous cessions OF Indian
lands which have been opened to settlement,
aSgresatlng during this Administered ON nearly
2iuo,oOo acres. and the agreemen negotiated
and now pending in congress for Ratification
~ winch about ten million additional acres
VIII be opened to settlement, 1t viii De seen
how much has been accomplished.
The work in the Indian bureau, in the exc
cutlon of the policy of recent legislation, has
been largely directed to the chief PURPOSES;
first, the allotment of lands in severalty TO the
Indians and the cesslon TO the United st ties of
the surplus lands: and, second 10 the WORK of
educating the Indian for their own protection
in closer contact with the white man and
for the intelligent exercise of his IL W citizen
ship. Allotnltnts have bgCn made and patents
issued 10 $500 Indians under the present secre-
lotments have been made for which patents are
now IN process OF preparation. The
school attendance OF Indian children has
been lncreaS, during that time u per cent. the
enrolment iur lc!t; Icing nearly twenty thou
sand, a uniform system of school text looks
aud OF =tudy aes Ue = adopted and the work in
5hCse national ?. hoOIs brought as near as liz
oe to tn basis 81 the ire com;no. school, Of
tAe states. These schools can De transferred
and merged into the common school y ste1ns OK
the states when the Indian has Tally assumed
his new relation 20 the organized civil Commun-
ity in which he resl1its, and the new states are
able to assume the burden.
j have several TINS been called UDln 10 re-
move indian a. hts appointed by me, ana have
done So promptly upon every sustained COM
plant uf unflUuCSs or misconduct. l believe.
however, TIA the lndian service at the aEen-
cies has been improved ana Is now admins
tered on the whole with good degree o eff
cheney. Ii any legislation Is possible by which
the selection OF Indian ag nts can be wholly re-
moved from all PARTISAN suggestions or con
slCeratlulS, am sure II would be = great relief
TO the executive and a great benefit TO the ser
vice. The appropriation Tor the subsistence of
the Cheyenne and a apahoe Indians
made at the last. session OF congress.
wa- inadequate IhiS matter was estimated
for by the commissioner upon the theory that
the large fund belonging to the tribe IN the
pubic treasury coJid be and ought to he used
their support. IN view. however, of the pend
ing depreciation claims against this fund and
other considerations, the secretary OF the IN
terror on the l2tn Jf April Last submitted a sup
Elemental estimate 70. $4,000 This appropria-
ton not made, as it should have been, aud
the oversight ought TO be remediod at the
earliest pc: sihie date.
Cheyenne and Arapahoe.
In special message to this COMPRESS at the
last session 1 stated the reasons why had not
approved the deed for the release to the United
States Dy the Choctaws ana ChIckasaws of the
lands formerly embraced in the Cheyenne and
Arapahoe reservations and remaining after
allotments to that tribe A resolution of the
senate expressing as the opinion of that body not
withstanuIng the facts stated in my special
message, the deed should be approved and the
money S2,99l $50, paid over, was presented to
me May IS ls&s My special message was in
tended to call the attention of congress
to this subject and in view of
the fact that it is conceded that the
appropriation proceeded upon false basis as
to the amount of lands to be paid for, and is by
$4,000 in excess OF the amount they are entitled
to (even if their claim to the land is given full
recognition at the rate agreed upon,) have
not felt willing to approve the deed, and shall
not do SO at least until both houses of congress
have acted upon the subject. 1t has been in
formally proposed by the claimants to release
this sum of SJ0.OtU, but have power to de-
mand or accept such release, and such an
agreement would be without consideration and
void.
desire further to call the attention of con-
gress to the fact that recent agreement con-
Guided with the Kiowas and Comanches relates
to lands which were a part of the LEASED dis
trict - and TO which the claim of the ChOctawS