The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-07

however, OF the pending depreciation
claims against the fund and other con-
the secretary OF the inter-
Tor, on the 18th day OF April last, sub
mitted supplemental estimate for
$4,000. This appropriation was not
made ms it should have been, and the
oversight ought to DO remedied at the
earliest possible date.
An uSAPPRoVRD DEED.
In a special message to this Congress
at the last session l stated the reasons
why had not approved the deed for
tho release to the United States by tho
Choctaws and Chickasaws OF thelands
embraced in the Cheyenne an Ara
paho reservation, and remaining after
allotments to that tribe. A resolution
OF tho senate expressing tho opinion OF
that body, that, Notwithstanding the
facts stated in my special message the
deed should be approved and the
money, $2,09l, 450, paid over, was pro-
scented 10 noe May 10, 1902, My special
message was intended to cali the atten-
ton OF Congress 10 the subject, and in
Wow OF the fnct that is conceded that
the appropriation proceeded upon a
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 ii their claim to the land is given
iull recognition at the rate agreed upon,
/ have not felt willing to approve the
deed, and shall not do go, at least until
both houses OF Congress have acted
upon the subject. 1t has been inform
ally proposed by the claimants torelease
this sum OF $50, 600, but have no power
to demand or accept such release, and
such an agreement should be without
consideration and void,
desire further to call the attention
OF Congress to the fact that the recent
agreement concluded with tho Kiowas
and Comancbes relates to lands which
were q part OF tho LEASED district" and
to which the claim Of the ChoctRws and
Cnickasaws is precisely that recognized
by Congress, in the legislation have
referred to. The surplus lands to which
this claim would attach in the Kiowa
and Commanche reservations is 2, 100000
acres, aud at the same rate the govern
ment will be called upon to pay to the
Choctaws and Chickasaws for these
lands $3,l25,0O0. This sum will be
further augmented, especially ii the
title Of the Indians TO the tract, now
Grier county, Texas, is established.
The duty devolved on mo in this con-
nection was simply to pass upon tho form
Of the deed, but rs, in my opinion, the
facts mentioned in my special message
we're not Adequately brought to tho
attention OF Congress in connection
with the legislation, have felt that |
would not be justified in acting without
some new expression Of the legislative
will.
PENSIONS.
Tho report Of the commissioner Of
pensions, 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. |
believe that the organization Of the
office is efficient, and that the work has
been done with fidelity. Tho passage
OF what is known as the disability bill
has, as was foreseen, very largely iu-
creased the annual disbursements to
the disabled veterans OF the civil war.
The estimate for the fiscal year was
$l44, 95G000, and that amount was APP
propriated. A deficiency amounting to
SIC, 50S,G2l must be provided for at this
session. The estimate for pensions for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, is
SlG5, 100000. The commissioner OF PEN
sions believes that if the present legis-
lation and methods are maintained and
further additions to the pension laws
are not made the maximum expendi-
ture for pensions will be reached juno
80, 1894, and will be, at the highest
point, SlSS,000,000 per annum.
ANAT1oN's GRATITUDE.
adhere to the views expressed in
previous messages that the caro- of the
disabled soldiers of the war OF the re-
bellion is a matter Of national concern
AMI duty. Perhaps no emotion cools
sooner than that OF gratitude, but l
cannot believe that this process has yet
reached point with our people that
would sustain the policy OF remitting
the care Of these disabled veterans to
the inadequate agencies provided by
local laws.
The parade on the 10Th of September
last upon the streets of this capital OF
10000 OF the surviving union veterans OF
tho war OF the rebellion was 4 most
touching and thrilling episode, and the
rich and gracious welcome extended to
them by the District OF Columbia, and
tho applause that greeted their progress
from tena Of thousands Of people from
all the states did much to revive the
glorious recollections of the grand re-
view, when these men and many thou
sand others now in their graves were
welcomed with grateful Joy as victors in
q struggle in which tho national unity,
honor and wealth were all at issue,
UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY.
In my last annual message I called
attention to the fact that some legisla-
tive action was necessary in order to
protect tho interests Of the government
in its relations with tho Union Pacific
railway. The commissioner of railroads
has submitted very full report, giving
exact information as to the debt, tho
liens upon the company's property, and
its resources. We must deal with the
question as We find it and take the
course, which will, under existing con-
ditions, best secure the interests OF the
United States. recommended in my
last annual message that q commission
be appointed to deal with this question,
and / renew that recommendation and
suggest that the commission be given
full power
AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS.
The report of the secretary of agricul-