The Red Cloud chief., 1892-12-16

crease Of She navy, including new vessels and
their appurtenances, to the amount OF $35 Co.,.
00O, and there has been expended during the
same period for labor at navy yards upon SINH
lar work o. 900, 900, without the smallest scan.
dal or charge OF fraud or Partially. The en-.
thusiasm and interest OF our naval ON both
OF the stan and line, have been greatly kindled-
They have responded magnincentiy to the con-
hdence OF congress and have demonstrated 70
the world an unexcellcd 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 grippled with and solved
before the efficiency In action OF our steam
ships could b. secured 1t is believed that
as the result Of new processes In the construc.
tlon OF aro,or plato our later ships will be
clothed with defensive Plates OF higher iesist.
ance than are found on any war vessel ahoat
we were without orpedoes. Tests have been
made to ascertain the relative efficiency OF diff.
ierent constructions, u torpedo mas been adoDt.
ed and the work OF construction Is now being
carried on successfully We are without armor
piercing shells. We are now making what Is
believed to be a proicctile superior to
any before In use. A smokcless pow.
der has been adopted and a slow burning
powder for guns OF large caliber. High explo-
s'ves. capable OF use In shells fired from eivy
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 and cooperative relations with the
navy. Is another important achievement
There are now enlisted In these organize
tons 1,sW men and they are likely to be
greatly extended. I such logisla.
ton and appropriations rs will encourage and
develop this movement The
tions OF the secretary, will I do not doubt, re-
ceive tho friendly consideration OF congress,
for he has cnioved, rs he has deserved, the con.
hdence OF oil those Interested In the develop.
ment OF our navy, without any division upon
partisan lines. l earnestly express the hope
that n work which hns made such noble pro-
gress NAV not be STAYED. The wholesome In.
hnencc for the peace and increased sense Of
security which our citizens domiciled In other
lands feel when these magnificent ships
under the American flag appoar. is already
most gratefully apparent. Tho steamships
from our navy which will appear In the harbor
OF New York. will be = convincing demonstra
'ion To the world that the United States is q
great naval power.
THE INTERIOR
The work Of the interior department always
very burdcnsofne, 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 TO settlement the organization OF
Oklahoma and the negotiations Tor the cessIon OF
hhith lhiiN II NOIUt OI IL PARTICULARS OF
the Increased work and the results achieved
testify to the ability, fidelity and industr. OF
the head OF the department and his efficient rs.
sistnnts.
Several important agreements for the cession
OF Indian lands negotiated by the Indian mission
appointed under the act OF March =, 1889, are
awaiting tho act of congress-. Perhaps tho
most important OF these IL that for the cession
OF the Cherokee strip. This has been o
source OF great vexation 10 the exec
u'ive representative and great friction
inures between the sett!ers In their desire to
occupy II and the Indians who assert title. The
agreement which has been made by the com.
mission Is perhaps tho most satisfactory that
could have been reached. II will be noticed
that II Is conditioned upon Its ratification by
congress before March 4. 1898. The secretary
OF the interior. who has given the subject care.
ful thought, recommends the ratification OF the
agreement and was inclined to follow this rec
ommendation. Certain II Is that some action
by which this controversy shall be brought 20
an end and the lands opened to settlement is
urgent.
THE LAND OFFICE.
The report Of tho secretary shows q very
gratifying state OF Affairs ~ TO the condition OF
the general land once The work OF issuing
agricultural patents which seemed to be hope.
lesslf in arrears when the present secretary
undertook the duties OF his Office has been so
expedited that the brreau is low upon current
business The relief thus Afforded TO honest
and worthy settlers upon the publ, lands. by
giving 70 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, q great impetus
Will be given TO the development OF
those regions where unsettled claims under
Mexican grants have 30 long existed their re-
pressive influence When TO these results are
added the former ccssion OF Indian lands which
have beop opened to settlement aygregatin
during this administration nearly $4,000. 0JJ
acres, that agreements negotiated and now
pending In congress for ratification by which
about ten million additional acres will be
opened to 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 10 two chief purposes first,
the allotment OF lands IN severalty TO the In
dians and the cssston 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, Allotmsnts 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
va
children have been Increased over 10 per cent.
enrolment for 1922 being nearly a0.O0O A uni.
form system OF school ter books and OF study
has been adopted and tho work in these ma
tional schools brought ~ near a. may be to the
basis OF free common schools Of this states
These schools can DO transferred and merged
into the common school systems when
tho Indian has fully assumed his new 70.
latlon 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,
to which extent 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 once. l believe that
the organization Of the ONCE is eficient and
that the work has been done with fidelity The
passage OF what Is known 40 the disability bill,
has, ~ was foreseen, very largely increased the
annual disbursements to the disabled veterans
Of the civil wal. The estimate for this fiscal
year was Sltt, s56, 900, md that amount was up
propriated. A deficiency amounting to si0, 0s8,.
81 must be provided for 1t this session.
The estimate for pensions for the fiscal
wan spdipu luna IN lhQl IA 0fRk mi nm Nha