The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-12-13

der In 1881 of Leon BALDWIN. nm Amer,.
Ian sitizen, by a band Of m~arauders in
durango, has been accepted and is heinz
paid in installments.
The Bluefields incident in Nicara ppo 10
reviewed at length, and the need Of ves.
seis TO look out for our interests is
shown. 10
Relations with Russio.
Inc recent death of the Car of Rus
sia called forth appropriate expressions of
sorrow and sympathy Oh the part of our
Government with his bereaved family
ana the russian people. AS a further
demonstration of respect and friendship.
our Minister at st. Petersburg was d.
rected to represent our Governmet at the
funeral ceremonies.
Inc sealing interests of Russia in the
behring Sea are second only to our own.
n modus vivendi has therefore been
concluded with the imperial government
restrictive of poaching on the Russian
rookeries and of sealing in waters which
are not comprehended in the protected
area defined in the Paris award.
Occasion has Deer found to urge upon
the Russian Government equality of
" OuT ETeuL lllc-lISuEuncc
companies whose operations have been
extended throughout Europe. Admit
ting. as we do, foreign corporations to
transact business in the United States,
we naturally expect no less tolerance for
our OWL in the ample fields Of competition
abroad.
Domestic Affairs.
The reports of the American Sccre-
taries are reviewed in practically the
same shape as they have already APP
peared in the news dispatches given in
these columns. Speaking of military and
naval equipment, the President says:
The skill and industry of our ordnance
officers and inventors have, it is believed,
overcome the mechanical obstacles which
have heretofore delayed the armament of
our coasts, and this great national under
taking upon which we have entered may
now proceed as rapidly as Congress may
determine. With a supply of finished
| guns of large calibre already on hand,
TO which additions should now rapidly
follow, the wisdom of providing carriages
and emplacements for their mount a
not be too strongly urged. The Secre-
tGry presents with much earnestness a
plea for the authorization of three addi-
tional battleships and ten or twelve tor
| pedo boats. If we are TO have a navy
for warlike operations, offensive and de-
f~ensive, we certainly ought to increase
both the number of battleships and tor
| pedo boats. The Secretary states that
not more than Is per cent of the cost OF
such ships need be included in the ap-
| preparations for the coming year. l rec
ommend that provision be made for the
construction of additional battleships and
torpedo boats.
Reserve Supplies Necessary.
The Secretary recommends the manu-
facture not only of a reserve supply OF
ordnance and ordnance material for ships
Of the navy, but also Il supply for the
auxiliary feet. Guns and their appur-
%tenanccs should be provided and kept on
hand for both these purposes. We have
not to-day a single gun that could be put
upon the Paris or New York, of the In
ternational Navigation Company, or any
other ship of our reserve navy. The man.
u~facture of guns at the Washington Navy
Yard is proceeding satisfactorily, and
none of our new ships will be required
to wait for their guns or ordnance equip
ment.
During the past fiscal year there has
been an unusual and pressing demand in
many quarters of the world for the pres
ence of vessels to guard American inter-
ests. In January last during the Brazil
instruction Il large fleet was concentrate
ed il the harbor of Rio de Janeiro. The
vigorous action of Rear Admiral Ben
ham in protecting the personal and com
mercial rights of our citizens during the
disturbed conditions afforded results
which will, it is believed, have 4 far
reaching and wholesome influence when
ever in like circumstances it may become
necessary for u naval commanders to
interfere on behalf of our people in for
eign ports. The war now in progress
between China and Japan has rendered
it necessary or eXpedient to dispatch
eight vessels to those waters.
Both the Secretary of the Navy and
the Secretary of the Treasury recommend
the transfer of the work of the Coast
Survey proper to the Navy Department.
| heartily concur in this recommended
ton.
The need Of national prisons is urged;
also the appointment of special agents
for the protection of public lands and the
timber thereon, and the appointment
of a non-partisan court to hear appeals
in land cases. The President thinks the
Indians should be allotted their lands in
severalty, and more stringent measures
adopted to make them s~elf-supporting.
He also presses the necessity of stricter
surveillance of Indian agents, and the
extension of Indian schools.
On the Pension Rolls.
At the close of the last fiscal year, on
tho @ day of June. 1894, there were
9G9. 544 persons on our pension rolls, be-
ing a net increase of 1882 over the num-
Der reported at the end of the previous
wear. Of these pensioners 32,O39 are sur
yiying soldiers of Indian and other wars
prior to the late civil war, and the wild
ows who are relatives of such soldiers.
The remainder, numbering 931,oOo, are
receiving pensions on account OF the war
6 H. rohou;on and of these 4G9.344 are