The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-12-07
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

ODtnnEs
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The annual re-
 port of Secretary Hoke Smith is quite
 lengthy. The operations of the gen.
 eral land office, the pension bureau, | the census office, the bureau of Indian affairs, patents, geological survey, edu-
 cation and Pacific railroads are all re-
 viewed and a number of important recommendations made.
 In discussing the subject of pensions l the. secretary calls attention to the
 frauds discovered by the special ex- aminers at Norfolk, Va, and in New
 Mexico and Iowa. He states that the ! pensions in the first two instances had
 been allowed upon testimony, manu-
 factured and forged by claim agents In Iowa the examining boards had 1 been systematically tempered with 1 by the claim agents The re- port shows that the stoppage of these illegal pensions in the three places has saved to the government an amount equal to the expense of the entire force of special examiners. | When it is remembered that this work of the examiners has been in progress but six months, and that payment of pensions would have continued for an average of nearly twenty years the enormous saving to the government can be realized. It adds: Besides, these pensions were being obtained through fraud, and how can public money be better spent than to prevent dis honesty?"
 Referring to the act of June p, 1S90 the report reviews the decision of As sistant Secretary Bussey iD the Weike 1 case, and also the decision rendered May p in the Bennett case. Referring to the order revoxing rule 164, the re- port says: "ln pursuance of this order a board of revision was formed of the ablest and most experienced men in the pension bureau, with instructions to examine the cases allowed under the act of June 27, 1890, and call out such as had no legal basis to rest upon. In cases where it was believed that the pensions could not be sustained and another medical examination
 was thought necessary the pay ment of the pensions was ordered to be suspended pending in-
 vestigation. This was done by the com
 missioner of pensions in pursuance of | the uniform practice of the bureau
 as it had existed almost from the or l ganization thereof The pensioner was not dropped from the rolls, but the payment of his pension was suspended,
 and the usual sixty days notice was | given to the pensioner in which he could ask for a medical examination or
 supply further evidence of his right to pension. The examination of his
 proof, having disclosed that he was not entitled to pension, he was told that
 the payment of his pension was sus-
 pended until he could put on record
 case which would authorize payment according to the terms of the act of l congress.
 "lt was found that many thus sus. pended were able to supply the proof when notice was given that proof was
 required, and to these payment was at
 once resumed The former practice in regard to suspensions was also modified
 in cases where the proof on file dis
 closed the fact that the pensioner was ! entitled to some rating, although not
 to the rating which had been allowed"
 The report gives the history of the | opening of the Cherokee outlet and suggests that an improved way of doing | such things might be found.
 Referring to the commission to treat
 with the five civilized tribes the report 1 says: "The act of congress approved
 March 5, 1893, provides for the appoint ment of three commissioners to enter
 into negotiations with the Cherokee nation, the Choctaw nation, the Chick asaw nation, the Muskogee or Creek nation and the Seminole nation for the
 purpose of extinguishing the national or tribal title to any land within the
 Indian territory now held by any and all of such nations and tribes, either by cession of the same, or some part there
 of, to the United States, or by the all lotment This important commission has been appointed, and consists of Hon. Henry l.. Dawes, of Massachu- setts, Hon. Archibald s. McKennon, of Arkansas, and Hon. Meredith H. Kidd, | of Indiana.
 'The thickly settled condition of the country immediately contiguous to the
 Indian territory has rendered it impos-
 sible to keep the intruders out. In the l Chickasaw nation alone there are over 10000 whites and only 5000 Indiaus.
 The territory is traversed by railroads.
 The progress of civilization has crossed | its borders, and the time must soon
 come when, for the protection of the l people within its limits, the laws of the
 United States must be made applicable | thereto It is earnestly to be hoped
 that the commission may be able to
 reach satisfactory terms of agreement
 with the respective nations for the pur- pose of speedily accomplishing a result l so much to be desired"
 The condition of the territories-New
 Mexico Arizona, Utah, Oklahoma and
 Alaska-is carefully reviewed. It com
 mends Arizona and New Mexico for
 statehood. Referring to Utah, it says:
 "F'rom careful study of the conditions
 in this territory l can see no reason
 why the privilege of statehood should
 be longer withheld, and cordially sup-