The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-12-07

session stated the reasons why | had not
| approved the deed for the release to the
United States by the Choctaws and
| Chickasaws of the lands formerly
embraced in the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
reservation and remaining after allottments
to that tribe. A resolution of the Senate
expressing the opinion of that body, that
notwithstanding the facts stated in my
| special message, the deed should be ap-
proved and the money, $2,991, 450, paid
over, was presented to me, May 10, 1892.
| NV special message was intended to call the
the attention of Congress to the 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 100000 in excess of
the amount they are entitled to (even if
their claim to the land is given full recogni-
ton 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 this
subject. 1t has been informally proposed
| bv the claimants to release the sum OF
| $4,000 but l have no power to demand
| or accept such release and such agreement
| would be without consideration and void.
| desire further to call the attention OF Con-
| gress to the fact that the recent agreement
concluded with the Kioawas and Comanches
relates to lands which were part OF the
"leased district and to which the claim OF
the Choctaws and Chickasaws precisely
that recognized by Congress in that
legislation. I have referred to the
surplus lands to which this claim
would attach in the Kiowa and
The Commando reservation is 100000
acres and at the same rate the government
will be called upon to pay to the Choctaws
andChickasaws for these lands $3,l25,0O0.
This sum will be further augmented, espe-
cially if the title of the Indians to the tract,
now Grier county, Texas, is established.
The duty deyolved upon me in this connec-
ton was simply to pass upon the form OF
the deed, but as, in my opinion, the facts
mentioned in my special message were not
adequately brought to the attention of Con-
gress in connection with the legislation, l
have felt that would not be justified IN
acting without some new expression OF the
legislative will.
Pensions.
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 Of work done the last
year has been the greatest in the history OF
the office. I believe that the organization
of the office 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 veter-
ans of the civil war; The estimate for this
fiscal year was $144,966,000, and that
amount was appropriated. A deficiency
amounting to $10,5oS,92l must be pro-
vided for at this session. The
estimate for pensions for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1894. is $165,OO0,0o0,
The commissioner of pensions believes that
if the present legislation and methods are
maintained and further additions to the
pension laws are not made the maximum
expenditure for pensions will be reached
June 80, 1894, and will be at
the highest point $1S8,000,000 per annum.
I adhere to the views expressed
in previous message that the care of the
disabled soldiers of the war of the rebellion
is matter of national concern and duty.
Perhaps no emotion cools sooner than that
of gratitude, but Icannot believe this process
has vet reached point with our people that
would sustain the policy of renting the
care of these disabled veterans to the mad
equate agencies provided by local laws.
The parade on the Goth Of September last
upon the streets of this capital of $4,000 of
the surviving union veterans of the war OF
the rebellion was a most touching and
thrilling episode, and the rich and gracious
welcome extended to them by the District OF
Columbia and the applause that greeted
their progress from tens of thousands OF
people from all the States did much to re-
vive she glorious recollection of the grand
review, when these men and many thousand
others now in their graves. were welcomed
with grateful joy as the victors in struggle
1 in which the national unity, honor and
wealth were all at issue.
The Union Pacific.
In my last annual message I. called at
tention to the fact that some Legislative &C
ton was necessary in order to protect the
interests of the government in its relations
with the Union Pacific railway. We must
deal with the question as we lind 1t and take
that course which will, under existing con-
ditions, best secure the interests of the
United States. I recommended in my last
| annual uueSSdSe tildt q ooAiAiAAAooAou w ~
pointed to deal with this question, and
renew that recommendation and suggest
that the commission be given full power.
The Farmers Products.
The reports of the secretary of agriculture
contains not only most interesting state
ment of the progressive and valuable work
done under the administration Of Secretary
Rusk, but many suggestions for the enlarged
usefulness of this important department
In the successful effort to break down the
restrictions to the free introduction of our
meat products in the countries of Europe, the
secretary has been nntiring from the first,
stimulating and aiding all other government
officials, at home and abroad, whose official
duties enabled them to participate in the
work The total trade in hog products
with Europe in May 1892, amounted to
100000 pounds against 46,oo0.Ooo in the
same month of 1891. In June 1892, the
exports aggregated s57oo,ooo pounds,
against 46,50O,0o5 pounds in the same
month of the previous year. In July there
was an increase of Al per cent and in Au-
gust of IS per cent over the corresponding
| lie