The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-02
HOKE SMITHS FIRST REPORT.
REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.


Amount Equai 20 the Expense orths En-.
tire Force o. Special Essn,iners-I History
OF the OpeninR OF the Cherokee Outlet.
wAsH1Norox. Dec. THE fret an nual report
Of Secretary Hoke Smith reviews the opera
lions OF the General Land ONCE the Pension
Bureau. the Census Office. the Bureau Of In
dian Affairs. Patents, Geological Survey. Edu-
cation. and Pacific Railroads. and number OF
important recommendations are ade.
In discussing the subject OF pensions the
Secretary calls attention to the frauds discov-
cred by the special examiners at Norfolk. Va.
and in New Mexico and Iowa. He says that
the pensions In the first two instances had
been allowed upon testimony manufactured
and forged by tho claim agents. In Iowa the
Examining Boards had been systematically
tampered with by the claim agent The stop
page Of these illegal pensions in the three
places has saved to the Government an amount
eaual to the expense Of the entire force ~ spe-
eial examiners. When It ia remembered that
this work OF the examiners had been in prog.
fess for six months only. and that paymen Of
pensions would have continued Tor an average
OF nearly twenty yonrs. the enormous saving
to the Government can be realized. The re-
port adds: Besides. these pensions were
being obtained through fraud. aud how can
public money he better spent than to prevent
dishonesty2'
The report reviews the decision OF Assistant
Becretary Bussey in the Weike case and also
the decision rendered on May - in the Zen
nett case. Then. referring TO the order reyOk-
ing rule lGI. the report says:
In pursuance VI this order Board Of Re.
vision was formed OF the ablest and most ex-
perienced mon in the Pension Bureau. with
Instructions TO examine the cases allowed
under the act Of June -. 1890. and to Gull out
such as had no legal | asis to rest upon. In
cases whore 1t was believed that the pens ions
could not be sustained and another medical
exami In alton was thought necessary the pay
ment OF tho pensions was ordered to Le
suspended pending investigation. This was
done by the Commissioner OF Pensions. In
pursuance OF the uniform practice OF the
Bureau as It had existed almost from the
orsanization thereof The pensioner was not
dropped from tho rolls but the payment Of his
pension was suspended. and the usual sixty
days notice was gwen to the pensioner in
which he could nsk for n medical examination.
or supply further evidence o! his right TO pen
sion. The examination OF his proof having
disclosed that he was not entitled to a pension.
he was told that the payment OF his pension
was suspended until he could put on record
case which would authorize payment accord
Ing to the terms OF the act of Congress. 1t was
found that many thus suspended were able to
bupplJ tht pIOvl NHeH Hbtlte was gwen mat
proof was required: and to these payment was
At once resumed. The former practice in re-
gard to suspensions was also modified in |
cases where the proof on lie disclosed the fact !
that the pcnsIUner was entitled To- some rating, |
although net to the rating which had been al
The report denies that the purpose has over |
existed OF an extreme aud nreasouabie man |
ner OF su=pending pensioners. and IL also de. |
MES that any abandonment has taken place OF |
the policy ~ removing from the tension rolls |
those who are not legally thereon.
Regarding the census. the FpDOFt TINT |
until the resignation Of Mr.. Porter. on July ~.
the Serretary, supposed that the census would
Do closed 10y Dc. n. hut y conference with tho
chiefs OF the various divisions satisfied him
that radical change was necessary to i'm
tion. Tho secretary says that he did not dis
cover any nurnoSc ON the Part OF those con-
tton Mt all lie refers to the selection OF Mr..
Carroll u. Wright. after careful Investigation
and SAYS that he now feels confident that every
effort Is being cOnscientiUusly maIs t. bring
tho census to = close and to render 1t rs useful
as possible. The report indicates that the cen
sus viii Oe practically clo-tdby July !. 1894. !
and that s5uu,uOO will be needed to complete
II and to bind and otherwise prepare its vol
umes for distribution.
On the question Of public timber and forest.
The report says that present legislation is in
adequate for the legitimate procurement Of
publ timber TO supply the actual necessities
same time dey"!np The national Reserves y" o, the
public lands, and to protect and preserve tho
forest for tho conservation Of the water supply
|
reeomm ended to authorize tho sale Of such
timber as csn 10 pr"periy removed u furnish
D fund Eunicent 10 innugurate q thorough
system OF INSPECTION, AMI the selection Of "A
forestry commission. IN connection with the
Land ONCE, look ing toward the education and
use Ia this work OF men thoroughly suited for il.
the report G!v"s IN" history o. the orening
ot the Cherokee Ou;l"t. and describes fully the
oooth System adopted at tho opening. II ex-
plains that the act Of Congress- required the
ands to be disposed OF under the homestead
and town site laws only, and. although many
methods OF procedure we're suggested ~ de-
'lrabe In order to prevent trouble. the method
ldortet appeared to hs the only practicable
one which would NOT conflict with some pro-
Iision 81 the homestead and town site laws. |
rhe rush Of applcents Tor certificates was I'M
Der expected. As soon as It was found that |
he ioIce atwork could not supply al The an.
help was employed. AMI all that offeiei OBJ
sined eertttlcates before the hour OF opening.
ANTS were unavoidable. On account OF the met |
hat the, crowd was 80 large. far in excess OF
oRrtment could have lrssaned tho Intense
lest or prevented the sliding dust Tho
,,earrity ml Watsr was due 70 an extended
'uphy. and II was impossible to place all tho
booths at legations suitable for entry, and
honsani. il was sn immense, un" S"
or tho department 10 provide at every r,are
or the wants OF such n throns. who had tho |
'ption u going and coming to any parc they
uccessiul conclusion. and preyented To- a large
Stent the wrongful ocrLDrncy Of land 10y pcO-
10 who Were not entitled TO settle thereon.
The Governor OF oklahoma Is quoted 10 the !
Meet that the booth system has done n vast
mount Of good In keeping out illegal claim !
nts, ami VIII long continue 10 10 so. The dit
Guilty experienced in registration NJ the
ooths was lar oyerbalancei by the cheek it
las upon fraud"
The report says that a number OF small hut
aluabls tracts Of land will he ready Tor settle
lent within the next two years and that II il
npossIble Tor tho department TO prevent
rouble without additional legislation IL |
the adoption ~ plan. GY Auc-
on or otherwise. To detormine In advance the ,
OF each particular section. as q sun
titute for the present system. IL suggests
eTaln restrictions as To those to whom the
ryilege OF bidding shI uld @ extended. il tile Z
md Is disposed Of Iy auction. kRferTing to
10 fact that the railroads in Oklahoma have
lscriminhted in favor OF ths Indian Rl!ot- q
ent towns and against the Guyernment I
WINS. the report urges the passage OF II bill. I
hieh has already Jeen Introduced In Con-
ress, the purpose Of which IL to compel rail
ads ia Territories to treat with iRiFness the ! 4
sOple upon their lines and TO prevent the /
disability ut discrimination favorable 10 spec {
alive Interests. q
The ort say, that a fair examination of !,
70 work Of the indian bureau fur h
shes proof In SUPPORT Of TIE wisdom /,