Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-07
Frauds Should BE Exposed.

toi IOHS lulc prevailed IN the pension
bureau but after entering upon these recent
Investigations the commissioner modified this
rule so as not to allow, until after complete ex.
animation, interference with the payment of a
pension apparently not altogether void, but
which merely had been fixed at rate higher
than authorized by law 1 am unable
10 understand why frauds in the pension
rolls should not be exposed and corrected with
thoroughness and vigor Every name fraudu-
Iently put upon these rolls Is wicked imposi-
lion upon the kindly sentiment in which pen
slons have their origin Every fraudulent pen
Sloner has become bad citizen; every false
oath IN support OF pension has made perjury
sloGers rob the people not only of their
money but Of the patriotic sentiment
which the survivors of war fought for
The preservation OF the union, ought 10 in
Spire. Thousands of neigh borhoods have their
weu-known fraudulent pensioners, and recent
developments by the bureau establish appal.
ing consplrae1es TO accomplish pension frauds.
BY no means the least wrong done is 10 brave
and deserving pensioners, who certainly ought
not to be condemned TO such association. Those
who attempt IN the line OF duty TO rectify these
wrongs should not be accused of enmity or in.
Inference 10 the claims OF honest veterans.
Enormous Expenditures.
Inc sum expended on account of pensions for
the year ending June 81, 1893 was si56 74U 467 II
Ine commissioner estimates that Sl65 90 UOJ
Viii be required 10 pay pensions during the
year ending June So 1894
Indian Affairs.
The condition of the Indians and their ulti.
sacred duty of the government and which
strongly appeal to the sense of Justice and the
sympathy or our people.
Our Indians number about 24SOO0 Most Of
them are located on 16I reservations. contain
ing st. 1881 acres of land. About Ito. 900 OF
these Indians have, TO large degree, adopted
eiVnlZeu customs. Lands in SeYGralty have
been allotted 10 many of them. such allott-
meuts have been made to 10, 000 individuals dur
ing the last fiscal year, embracing about
o00000 acres. The number of Indian gov
eminent schools open during the wear was
l95, an increase OF twelve over the preceding
year OF this total 40 We're on reservations, OF
which SeVenty-three were boarding schools and
ninety-seven were day schools Twenty board
ing schools and five day schools supported bv
the government were not located on reServa-
lions. The total number of Indian children en-
rolled during r1e year as attendants of all
schools was 81 l36, an increase OF PSI over the
enrolment for the previous year.
What Is Best for the Indian.
l am sure that secular education and moral
and religious teaching must be important fac
tors in an effort 10 save the Indian ana lead him
to civilization. believe, too, that the rein-
land IN severalty may, in favorable conditions
aid this cOnSummation 1t seems TO me, how
ever, that allotment of land in Severalty ought
to be made with great care and circumS pection,
If hastily done before the Indian knows its nea1-
ing, while yet he has little or no idea of tilIing
a farm ana no conception of thrift, Tiers is
great danger that reservation life in tribal
relations may be exchanged for the paupCrism
Of civilization, instead of its independence and
elevation The solution of the Indian problem
depends very largely upon good admins ira ton.
} no personal fitness of agents and their adapt
ability to the peculiar duty OF caring for their
wards are of the utmost Importance
Danger of Abuses.
The law providing that, except in especial
cases, army officers shall be detailed as Indian
agents, it is hoped will prove u successful
experiment. There is danger of great abuses
creeping into the prosecution of claims for
Indian depredatlons, and L recommend that
every possible safeguard be provided against
the enforcement of unjust and fictitious claims
of this description The appropriations on
account of the Indian bureau for the year
ending June 3d. 1894, amount 20 81, 954, 962 80, a
decrease as com pared with the year preceding
it of 1897. 1871 95
Private Control of Public Lands.
The vast area of land which, but short time
ago, constituted the public domain is rapidly
falling into private ha nds 1t is certain that in
the transfer the benefcent intention of the gov
eminent to supply from its domain homes to.
the Industrious and worthy homeseelSers Is
often frustrated. Though the Spectator, who
stands with extortionate purpose between the
land Office and those who, with their families,
are invited by the government to settle on the
0ug ht not to be tolerated yet it is difficult to.
thwart his schemes.
Opening of the Strip.
The recent opening to settlement of the,
dands IN me % cherokee outlet, embracing an
area of $4,000 acres, Notwithstanding the ut
most care in framing the regulati ona governing
the selection of locations and notwiSis landing
the presence of United States troops, fur
nished an exhibition though perhaps in a mod
flied degree, of the mad scramble. the violence
and the fraudulent occupation which have &C
companled previous openings of public land. L
concur with the secretary i'll the belief that
these outrageous incidents cannot be
entirely prevented without change in the
laws on the subject and L hope his recon-
in that direction will be favorably
considered
Preserve the Forests.
l especially commend to the attention of the
congress the statements contained in the secre-
sary's report concerning forestry. The time
has come when efficient measures should be
taken for the preservation of our forests from
ton The report of the secretary OF
agriculture will be found exceedingly in
teresting especially to that large part of
our citizens intimately concerned in agri-
cultural occupations. On the 18th OF March, 1898
there were upon its payrolls 24D employees.
This number has been reduced to | $50 persons.
In view of depleted public treasury and the
imperative demand of the people for economy
in the administration of their government, the
secretary has tered upon the task OF rational
ly reducing expenditures by the elimination
from the payrollS of all persons not needed for
an efficient conduct of the affairs of the depart
ment
Cutting Down Expenses.
During the first quarter of the present year
the expenses of the department aggregate ted
s345, 1876, against S402 OH AZ for the CORE
spending period Of the fiscal year ending June
oct
tention to continue this rate of reduction by
submitting estimates for the next fiscal year
less by $780,, 280 than those for the present year.
Among the heads of divisions in this depart
ment the changes have been exceedingly few
Three vacancies occurring from death and res
ignations have been filed by the promotion of
assistants in the same divisions. These promo
tons of experienced and faithful assistants have
not only been in the interest of official
work, but have suggested to those in the de-
partment who look for retention and pro mo-
ton that merit and devotion to duty are their
best reliance.
The amount appropriated for the bureau of
animal industry for the current fiscal year is
$50 0OO; the estimate for the ensuing. year Is
500, 00G
Exports of Agricultural Products.
The exports of agricultural products from
the United States for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1892, attained the enormous figure of
in round numbers, being 1871 per
cent of our total exports In the last fiscal
year this aggregate was greatly reduced, but
nevertheless reached G6l5, 100000, being Is per
cent of all American commodities exported.
A review of our agricultural exports with
special reference to their destination will show
that in almost every Line the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland abSOrbS by far the
largest proportion. OF cattle the total exports
aggregated in value for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1898. S26,000000, of which Great Britain
took considerably over S25 100000. OF beef
products of all kinds total exports were
SIS 000, 000 of which Great Britain took S24 000,
900
OF pork producds the total exports were ss4-
900 coo, of which Great Britain took S5S 900, 000
In breadstuffs, cotton and min0r products like
sent 10 the same destination are
shown.
Service of Great Value.
The work OF the statistical division Of the de-
partment Of agriculture deals with all that
lates to the economies of farming. The main
purpose OF its monthly reports is to keep the
farmers Informed as fully as possible of ali
matters having any influence upon the worlds
markets, in which the products find
sale Its publications relate especially
to the commercial side Of farming. 1t is there.
fore of profound Importance and vital concern
to the farmers of the United States, who rep
nearly one-haTf Of orr ronu1afion and