The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-05

persons assigned TO fifteen divis-
ions, certain number or these divisions
are under the immediate direction of the
commissioner, others under tho deputy
commissioners and chief clerk. Some Idea
OF the mag gnitude OF the work can be formed
from the TACT that during the year 5 ,S75,-
120 pieces OF mail were received and AHA.
GIG pieces sent out. The total number
OF certificates Issued during the year was
3ll,5S9. The total number of pensioners
dropped from the rolls was q, ,2O6. The av-
erage annual value Of each pension ON the
roll is $l33 Al. The estimate for the def
cheney this year Is SlO. sos, ,62l, and the esti-
mate for the fiscal year ending June 80.
1894, is Sl65, 900, OO0. This is based on care
ful consideration OF all the factors entering
into the question.
LAND OFFICE.
In the general land office on June 80. 1888.
there were pending 350,95 final entries,
and the accumulation steadily Increasing
These have all been disposed OF. During the
present administration sos, l2S agricultural
patents have been issued against l62, ,754 in
the preceding four years. representing an
excess in acreage of 81, ,659, $40 acres. Nearly
four times greater area or public lands has
been surveyed than during the previous
four years, and there has been a great in
crease In mineral and coal patents issued.
Tor educational and internal improvements
have greatly exceeded the work of any
previous year. The total quantity
OF public lands disposed Of DUR
ing the past year by cash sales and miscel-
laneous entries was 13, 664, ,0l9 acres, aud
there was total of cash receipts Of a, SEQ, :
lO9 69. Agricultural patents were issued
during the year to the extent OF 15 400, 500
acres, and patents ON account of railroad
NJ x
public lands for the year amounted to
l2,7l7 ,493 acres. Through negotiations
with the Great Northern Railroad Cons
pany. under ACT of the last session OF con-
gress, whereby the railroad Ia TO give title
TO the present settlers and receive In lieu
thereof lands elsewhere, the great injustice
which was liable to fall upon settlers In the
Red river valley of North Dakota has been
prevented.
MoRMoNs.
The governor OF Utah expresses bis belief
in the good faith aud honesty Of purpose OF
the Mormon leaders and the people, In their
abandonment OK polyRamy, and their obedi-
ence 20 the laws OF congress on this subject.
The Utah commission seems not to have SO
much confidence In the motive which COM
pels Observance Of the law, but to believe
that 1t Is simply asuspension Of the practice,
under the authority Of the church, and thai
~ ~ SOuAu 10 uono laWIullp tue authority OIL
the church would again be recognized, as
revoking the cessation OF the practice. But
it Is conceded that there is, with exoep-
Uonal cases, general recogni~
tion and Observance OF ths law aud
the declaration Of the officials of the
church, and the proclamation Issued under
authority OF the church seems to Indicate
the fact that the Mormon people have con-
cluded to abandon forever the practice of
polygamy. An appeal has been made 70
the President for general amnesty for all
Mormons who are under political disabili-
ties by reason OF violations of the law
against polygamy. The petition pledges
the people and the church In distinct terms
to loyal observance OF the law, and declares
the devotion aud loyalty OF the people TO tbs
country and to the government. One suR.
gestive evidence Of the decreasing power OF
the church is the division of tho people upon
national party lines in recent elections.