New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-04

noars by reports OF thefr agent, HHFt III HuTIJ
insta noes never been located upon their aiiot-
ments and in somc cases do not even Know
where their allotments are. Their condltioh nus
deteriorated. They are not selr,supporune, anu
they live IN camps anu sPeho '"Vi '' "
idlcness. 49, u.. -,
reservation lands to Indians In severalty
should be made sparingly, or at least slowly
and with the utmost caution In these Gays.
when white agrculturists and stock-ralsers
of experience and intelligence find their iot
hard one we ought not TO expect Indians un-
less far advanced in civilization and HABITS OF
industry. TO support themselves on inc s"a"
tracts Of land usually allotted to them
III the sef-supporting scheme by aio'meht
fails. the wretched pauperlsm OF the aiiotte"S
which results Is worse than their Original eo,u
ton of regulated dependence. IL rs s'aI I,at
that the evil consequences OF ill-adViseu aiio'-
ment are intensified In cases where tne iaise
step cannot be retraced on account OF the pu,
chase by the Government OF reservaeom "a ,' .ho
remaining after allotments are mace anu .me
disposition of such remaining lands 10 se'''ei9
or purchasers from the Government. -.
| am convinced that the proper solution OF
the Indian problem and the success Oh every
step taken in that direction depend 10 very
large extent upon the intelligence ana honesty
OF the reservation agents and the in'erest ny
have In their work. An agent htted lot MS
place can do much toward preparing the ma
ians under his charge for citizenship ana al
lotment of their lands, and his advice as 10 any
matter concerning their welfare VIII not mis-
lead An unfit agent will make no EFFORT 10 al
vance the Indians his reservation towaru
civilization or preparation for allotment ol
lands in severalty, and his opinion as TO thelr
condition in this and other regards is need
less and valueess The indications are that tne
detail of army officers as Indian agents VIII
result r improved management on the reserVa-
tons
Whenever allotments are made ana any ina
ian on the reservation has previously settled
upon lot and cultivated 1t. or shown o,s
position to improve ii in any way, sucr iot
should certainly be allotted to him. ana TINS
should be made plainly obligatory ny statue
In the light Of experience. and considering INC
uncertainty Of the Indian situation ana us eN-
igencies in the future. am not only disposed 10
be very cautious in making allotments but
incline to agree with the Secretary OF tne IN
terror in the opinion that when allotments are
made the balance of reservation land remain
ing after allotment, instead OF being bought py
the Government from the Indians and opened
for settlement with such scandals and unfair
practices as seem unavoidable. should remain
for time at least as common land or DE SOLO
by the Government on behalf OF the Ihuiahs
in an orderly way and at fixed prices TO be
determined by its location and desirability
and that the proceeds. less expenses. should
be held in trust for the benefit OF the Indian
proprietors.
FEWER CONTRACT SCHOOLS.
The intelligent Indian school management OF
the past year has been followed by gratifying
results Efforts have been made 10 advance
the work in sound and practical manner
Five institutes Of Indian teachers have been
beneficial through the views exchanged and
methods discussed particularly applicable 10
Indian education. Efforts are being made In
the direction of gradual reduction OF the num-
Der of Indian contract schools. so that III
comparatively short time they may give wa!
altogether to Government schools. and II Is
hoped that the change may be so graduai as
to be perfected without too great expense 10
the Government or undue disregard OF invest
ments made by those who have established
and are maintaining such contract schools
The appropriation for the current year end
ing June go 1895 applicable to the ordinary ex-
nenses Of the Indian service. amounts to S. 1885,
Oo3 49, being less by ss6324O Ga than the sum APP
propriated on the same account for the previ-
year.
AT the close Of the last fiscal year. on the
soth day OF June 1894 there were oss5i4 per-
sons on our pension rolls. being net increase
~ 3532 over the number reported at the end
of the previous year.
/ These pensioners may be classified as follows:
Soldiers and sailors survivors OF all wars. l53.-
96S: widows and relatives OF deceased soldiers.
2l5l62 army nurses in the War OF the REBEL
/ ion. Ala. OF these pensioners S2,oSs are sur
/ viving soldiers Of Indian and other wars prior
I TO the late Civil War and the widows or rela-
1 tives Of such soldiers The remainder, num-
bering 937.505. are receiving pensions on account
! of the War Of the Rebellion. and OF these 4bs5ii
are on the rolls under the authority OF the act
/ of June o. 1890. sometimes called the depend
ent pension law , H.,
The total amount expended for pensions dur
ing the year was sl39 500 46l 05. leaving an un-
expended balance from the sum Appropriate
/ Of sos 2O5 7l2 65 The sum necessary 10 meet
pension expenditures for the year ending June
90 1896 Is estimated at $l40.00c.OOo.
The Commissioner Of Pensions is Of the opin-
ion that the year 1925. being the thirtieth after
the close Of the War Of the Rebellion. must. ac-
cording to ali sensible human calculation, see
the highes: limit Of the pension roll ana that
/ after that year II must begin to decline.
claims pending In the Bureau nave de-
creased mere than 10000 during the year. A
large proportion OF ;he new claims filed are FOR
| increase Of pension by those now on the rolls
I The number Of certificates issued was SD2l3
The names dropped from the rolls for all causes
during the year numbered 3'.s5i Among our
pensioners are nine widows and three daughters
Of soldiers Of the Revolution. and forty 1--we sur
, vivors OF the War II 1872
The barefaced and extensive pension frauds
exnosed under the direction OF the courageous
and generous veteran soldier now at the head Of
the Bureau leave no room for tho claim that no
purgation Of our pension rolls was needed or
that continued vigilance and prompt action are
not necessary to the same end
The accusation that an effort 10 detect pension
frauds Is evidence OF unfriendliness toward our
worthy veterans and denial OF their claims to
the generosity OF the Government. suggests an
unfortunate indifference 10 tho commission Of
anv offence which has for its motive the secur-
inc of a pension and indicates a willingness
10 he blind TO the existence Of mean and treach-
erous crimes which play upon demagogic fears
and make sport OF the pa'riouc impulse OF q
grateful people.
THE ELEVENTH CENSUS.
The completion Of the Eleventh Census Is
now in charge of the Commissioner Of Labor.
The total disbursements on account OF the work
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 amount
cd to $40 365 SIG 81. At the close Of III" year the
number Of persons employed In the Census
Office was 679. AT present there are about 400.
The whole number Of volumes necessary to
comprehend the Eleventh Census viii be TWEEN
ty-nve. and they will contain 22,27c printed
pages The assurance Is confidently made that
before the close of the present calendar year
the material still incomplete will be practically
in hand and the census can certainly be closed
by the 4th OF March. 1895. After that the re-
vision and proofreading necessary to bring out
lo rcd