The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1893-12-09
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR
Discussion of Subjects of Especial Interest
to This Section.

Discussion of Subjects of Especial Interest
to This Section.
The secretary Of the interior has the super
vision of SO many important subjects that
his report is OF especial value and interest.
On the 30th day Of June, 1898, there we're
on the pension rolls 996, 012 names.
The number added to the rolls during the
year was 1913 634 and the number dropped
was 33,6S0. The first payments on pen
siOns during the year announced to $33,576,
549.9S. This includes arrears or the accu-
mutation between the time from which the
allowance OF pensions dates and the time OF
actually granting the certificate.
OF the net increase there were seventeen
widows and daughters OF revolutionary sol
diers, eighty-siX survivors OF the war OF 1912.
1925 widows of soldiers of that war, p ,51S
survivor and widows OF the Mexican war,
3,SS2 survivors and widows OF the Indian
wars, 2S4 army nurses, and Al ,564 survivors
and widows and children OF deceased soldiers
and sailors CT the war OF the rebellion.
The latter number represents those pen
stoned on account of death or disabilities re-
sulting from army and navy service. The
number OF persons remaining on the rolls
June 30, 1898, who were pensioned under the
act OF June 27, 1890, which allows pension
on account OF death and disability not
chargeable to army service was 459 l55.
FRAUDS IN PENSION ROLLS.
am unable to understand why frauds in
| the pension rolls should not be exposed and
corrected with thoroughness and vigor
| Everyone fraudulently put on these rolls is a
wickt imposition upon the kindly sentiment
in which pensions have their origin Every
| fraudulent pensioner has become a bad citi-
! zen. Every false oath in support OF pen
\ sion makes perjury more common. Thous-
ands Of neighborhoods have well-known
| fraudulent pensioners and recent develop
ments by the bureau established appalling
conspiracies to accomplish pension frauds.
By no means the least wrong done is to
| brave and deserving pensioners who GER
/ tainly ought not to be condemned to such
association Those who attempt in the line
! OF duty to rectfy these wrongs should not be
/ accused Of enmity or indifference to the
claims Of honest veterans. The sum eX
pended on account of pensions for the wear
ending June 30, 1898, was S156, TAO ,467 IA
The commissioner estimates that S165, 900
600 will be required to pay the pensions
during the year ending June 30, 1894.
CONDITION OF THE INDIANS.
The condition OF the Indians and their ulti
/ mate fate are subjects which strongly appea
to the sense OF justice and sympathy OF the
people.
OF them are located on 161 reservations
SO, lis, 531 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 allotment has been made TO 10000 in
dividuals during the past fiscal year, EN-
bracing about 1 ,000, 900 acres. The number
OF Indian government schools open during
the year was 1876, an increase OF twelve owe
the preceding year. OF this total 40 wer
on reservations, of which 73 were boarding
schools and % were day schools. Twent!
boarding schools and five day schools sup
ported by the government were not LOCATED
on reservations.
The total number of Indian children en-
rolled during the year as attendants of al
schools was 81 ,13S, an increase OF ,23l owe
the enrolment OF this previous year.
SECULAR AND MORAL TRAINING.
! am sure that secular education and mora
and religious teaching must be importan
factors in any effort to save the Indian an,
J lead him to civilization. l believe, too, tina