The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-07

FRAUDS III Iu6 peuSlOh IOilo
be exposed and corrected win tnor-
oughness and vigor. Every name
fraudulently put upon these roils Is a
wicked imposition upon the Klnuly
sentiment in which pensions nave
their origin.
Every fraudulent pensioner has be-
come q bad citizen; very false Win tne
support of a pension that has been OBJ
tanned by perjury Many common and
false and undeserving pensioners ROB
the people not ouly of their money,
but of the patriotic sentiment which
the survivors of war, fought for the
preservation of the Union, ought to
INSPIRE. Thousands OF neiShborhoods
have their we'll known fraudulent pen
sioner.. and recent developments esta-
blished appalling conspiracies to ac-
complish pension frauds. Byno means
the least wrong done, is to the brave
and deserving pensioners who utterly
ought not to be condemned to such
associations. Those who attempt, IN
the line of duty, to rectify these
wrongs, should not be accused OF en-
mitv or Indifference to the claims OF
honest veterans. The sum expended
on account of pensions for tho year
euding June 80, 1898, was SIG, TAO,
4G7.14. The commissioner estimates
that Sl76 000,O 900 will be required to
nav pensions during the year ending
lime 80. 1894. The condition of the
Indians and their ultimate stated
rights which ere related to sacred
duty of the government and which
strongly appeal to the sense OF justice
and the sympathy of our people must
be considered. Our Indians number
about 248, 900. Most of them are locat'
ed on 161 reservations containing 80,
116, 531 acres of land; about 10000 OF
these Indians have to a large degree
adopted civilized customs; lands in Sc
veralty have been allotted them; such
allottments have been made to 10000
individuals during the last fiscal year,
embracing 100000 acres. The mum,
Der of Indian government schools open
during the year was 1876, an increase of
10 over the preceding year. OF this
total 10 were on reservations of which
| rs were boarding schools and 81 were
day schools. Twenty boarding schools
and five day schools supported by the
government we're not located on reser-
vations. The total number OF lndi-
an children enrolled during the year
as attendants of all schools was 21,-
1873, an increase of 1881 over the en-
rollment of the preceding year.
am sure that secular education and
religious teaching must be important
factors in any effort to save the Indian
and lead him to civilization. believe
also, that that REIMBURSEMENT OF tribal
relations and the holding of land in
severalty may improve their condition
and aid in this consumation.
1t seems to me that allotments OF
land in severalty ought to be made
with great care and circumspection.
| If this is done before the Indian
knows its meaning, while yet he has
little or no idea of tiiling a farm and
no conception of thrift, there is great
danger that a reservation life in tribal
relations may be exchanged for the
pauperism of civilization instead OF its
independence and elevation. The So
luton of the Indian problem depends
very largely on good administration,
the personal fitness of agents and
their adaptation to their peculiar duty
of caring for their wards is of the ut
most Importance. The law providing
|
ficers shall be detailed as Indian
agents it is hoped will prove success
| full experiment. There is danger OF
great abuses creeping into the prose-
/ cution of claims for Indian depreda-
lions, and l recommend that every
possible safeguard be provided against
the enforcement of unjust and hctl-
tious claims of this description. The
appropriations on account OF the In
dian bureau for the year ending June
80, 1894, amount to 1884, 962.96, a de-
crease as compared with the year pre-
ceeding it of 1887, 1875.
Falling into private hands it is GER
tain that in the transfer the benefi
cent intention of the government tC
supply from its domain homes to the
industrious and worthy homese ekers Ii
often frustrated through the specula-
ter who stands with eXtortional pur-
pose between the land office and those
who with their families are invited
by the government to SETTLE
on the public lands is
despicable character who ought not b'
tolerated; yet it is difficult to thwar
his schemes. The recent opening tt
settlement of lands in the Cherokee
outlet embracing an area of $500, OOO
acres, Notwithstanding the utmos
care in framing regulations governing
the selection of locations, and not
withstanding the presence of United
States troops, furnished an exhibition
! though perhaps in modified degree
OF the mad scramble, the violence ant
the fraudulent occupation which hav
accompanied previous openings o
public lands. l concur with the secre
tary in the belief that those out
rageous incidents cannot be entirel.
prevented without a change in tn
! law on the subject, and l hope his veC
: concentrations in that direction will b
favorably considered,
q especially commend to the atten
ton of the congress the statement
: contained in the secretary's report cor
= corning forestry. The time has com
s when efficient measures should b
!. taken for the preservation of our fol-
ests from indiscriminate and remed
a less destruction.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT..
y The report of the secretary of agr
y culture will be found exceedingly ir
3 terestiug, especially to that large pal
!. of our citizens intimately concerned