Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-12-15
Monty pEDhl. ut!I. -


domestic honcy-orucy Offices during
the last ti-cai year. h,ing the largest
increase III any year since the iuaugu-
ration oi tnc system. The total mum
ter OF t!cs, Offices al the close ri the
year Wa l>,i%i. Thrc W., I3,iOl,-
- lu"ucy ,r..i- i~-ucI ..'m these
o:iice,, t':rg ;n Increase over tar
present year Of l2in 19o, and the
value ri these orders Amounted t.
Sl37,316, 1896, an increase oi $780,
t32.Js. There were also i--ued during
the year postal mott, amounting t.
Sl2,9u3.u1G.1%. Daring the year 49,
: international lannty-ordtr offices wcT,
, lI'i,d {" th'>o already provided, max
ing Il total oi ). ~ in operation on
! June 80, 1893. The number oi inter
national money orders issued during
the year was l055, 299, an increase
over the present year of 72,J2J, and
their value was $lG,34l ,S37 Sc, an in
crease of 81 ,222 ,506 81. The number
OF orders paid WAS BOO, 9l7, an increase
over the preceding year of 1903, and
their value was $J,2S3 .37J.70, an in
crease OF So ,09i 50. From the fore
going statement it appears that
the total issue OF money orders
and postal notes for the year amounted
to 1856 81 ,34S24.
The number OF letters and packages
mailed during the year for special
delivery was 3,37J.G02, an increase
over the proceeding year Of nearly 81
per cent. The special delivery
stamps used upon these letters and
packages amounted to 1897 1880, and
the messenger fees paid for their
delivery amounted to $256, 1921 leav-
ing profit to the government of $780,
1868.
WARDS OF THE NATION.
The condition of the Indians and
their ultimate fate are subjects which
are related to a sacred duty of the
government, and which strongly ap-
peal to the sense of justice and the
sympathy of our people. Our Indians
number about 24S,000, most of whom
are located on 161 reservations, con-
tanning sc, 1861 acres of land. About
10000 OF these Indians have to a
large degree adopted civilized customs.
Lands in severalty have been allotted
to many Of them. Such allotments
have been made to 10000 individuals
during the last fiscal year, embracing
about 100000 acres. The number
OF Indian government schools open
during the year was 1876, an increase
OF II over the preceding year; Of this
total, II were not on reservations,
while % were boarding schools and 81
were day schools. Twenty boarding
schools and five day schools supported
by the government were not located
on reservations. The total number OF
Indian children enrolled during the
year as attendants of all schools was
q ,138, an increase of 1921 over the
enrolment for the previous year. l
am sure that secular education and
moral and religious teaching must be
important factors in any effort to save
the Indian and lead him to civilization.
l believe, too, that the relinquish-
ment of tribal relations and the hold
ing OF land in sewers atty may in favor
able conditions aid this consumma-
ton.
THE ALLOTMENT OF LAND.
It seems to me, however, that al.
lotments of land in severalty ought to
be made with great care and circnm-
spection. If hastily done, before the
Indian knows its meaning, while yet
he has little or no idea of tilling a
farm, and no conception of thrift,
there is great danger that reservation
life in tribal relations may be ex-
changed for the pauperism of civiliza-
ton instead of its independence and
elevation. The solution of the Indian
problem depends very largely upon
good administration. The personal
fitness of agents and their adaptability
to the peculiar duty of caring for their
wards are OF the utmost Importance.
The law providing that iexcept in spe-
cial cases, army officers shall be de-
tailed as Indian agents, it is to be
hoped willprove a successful expert
ment.
CLAIMS FOR DEPREDATIOES.
There is danger OF great abuses
creeping into the prosecution of claims
for Indian depredations, and l recon-
mend that every possible safeguard be
provided against the enforcement OF
unjust and fictitious claims OF this de-
scription.
The appropriations on account OF
the Indian bureau for the year ending
June 30, 1894, amount to 81 1851 ,962.99,
decrease as compared with the year
preceding it of $3.50, 1875.
THE HoMEsEEKERs.
The vast area of land which but
short time ago constituted the public
domain, is rapidly falling into private
hands. 1t is certain that in the trans
fer the beneicent intention of the
government to supply from its do
main homes to the industrious and
worthy homeseekers is often frustrated
through the speculator, who stands
with extortionate purpose between the
land Office and those who with their
families are invited by the govern
ment to settle on the public lands.
He is a despicable character who
ought not to be tolerated, yet it is dill
ficult to thwart his schemes. The re-
cent opening to settlement OF the
lands in the Cherokee outlet, embrac-
ing an area of $780, 900 acres, not
withstanding the utmost care in franz
ing the regulations governing the Sc
lection of locations, and notwithstand.
ing the presence of United States
troops, furnished an exhibition, though
perhaps, in q modified degree, OF the
mad scramble and the violence and
the fraudulent occupation which have
accompanied previous openings OF
public lands. 1 concur with the Sec
rotary in the belief that these out
rageous incidents cannot be entirely
prevented without a change in the
laws on the subject, and l hope this
recommendation in that direction will
be favorably considered.
TO PRESERVE OUR FORESTS.
I especially commend to the atten.
ton OF Congress the statements con-
tanned in the secretary's report con-
corning forestry. The time has come
when efficient measures should be
taken for the preservation of our
forests from indiscriminate and re-
NEEDLESS destruction.
ABOUT THE FARM.
The report of the Secretary of Agri.
culture will be found exceedingly
interesting, especially to that large
part of our citizens intimately con-
cerned in agricultural occupations.