The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-30
THE RECOMMENDATIONS
Made by Secretary Smith for the
Interior Departments Work.
SEVERAL REFORMS ARE SUGGESTED
In tho Conduct of This Department
of the Observation-Disclosures OF
the Indians and the Allotment of
Lands in seyeralty-Indian Service
to bc Made Self Supporting aud
Non-Partisau-othcr Suggestions.


nual report OF Secretary Hoke Smith, Of
the interior department, deals large
with Indian affairs and presents
some practical suggestions for the
development and civilization OF the race.
Besides giving q succinct history OF
the progress Of the Indian bureau DUR
ing the past twelve months, the secre-
tary reviews the problem Of effective
work Tor the advancement Of the In
dian. He discusses the subject OF ed.
ucation, Of allotments OF land in sever
atty, and urges that the education OF
the Indians should be for the purpose
OF fitting them to perform the parsicu:
lar responsibilities most likely to fall
to their after lot.
Upon the subject Of aIiotments he
says: II do not question the advisa-
bility Of allotting land to Indians In
severalty, but do most seriously ques
ton the property OF this course before
the Indians have progressed sufficiently
to utilize the land when taken. The
allotments should be made to the In
dians in seyeralty for the good OF the
Indians, for the advancement of the In
dians, not for the purpose OF obtaining
land connected with the Indian reserva-
ton TO satisfy the Unsuitable desire OF
bordermen, who obtain it frequently,
not tor homes, but for speculation.
RESOURCES TO De DEVELOPED.
With reference to the resources OF
the agencies and the character OF the
employees, he urges that each reserva-
vation must be treated in view of its re-
sources as separate business problem,
and he says: "Many OF the agencies
to-day, taking in connection the trust
funds held by the United States gov
ernment forthe Indians upon them, are
already self.supporting. ! believe that
i. ia possible to make self'supporting
nearly every agency. But to accom-.
push this, agents absolutely faithful
aud thoroughly capable must be placed
in charge.
81 cannot claim that the present ad-
mipistration has uniformly succeeded
in selecting people Of the character de.
scribed, but it is the earnest purpose OF
the Indian bureau and the department
to study the employees throughout tho
entire service, to make proficiency the
sole standard OF retention in office, and
to make apparent capacity the sole
ground for new appointments.
~ believe it 10 possible to develop.
competent, permanent, non.partisan In
dian service"
INDIAN EDUCATION.
Among other things, in connection
with education OF tho Indians, the Sec
retary says: ain the management OF
the Indian schools, definite plan for
the Indians whom school 10 finished
must always bein view. il practical re-
suits are to be expected from bis edu-
cation. do not think II proper 10 al
low the intense feeling OF opposition to
sectariau education, which is show
ing itself all over the land, to induce
the department to disregard existing
conditions.
Referring to the sale Of liqnor to the
Indians, the secretary condemns In
StrOuR tetLu9 lub ebtuulIbbuou III
saloons upon the line OF Indian reserya-
tions.
Secretary Smith next takes up the
general land Office. He recommends a
change in the system OF surveying and
the establishment OF land court in the
interior department.
Referring to the protection OF forest
reserves, the secretary says: "0n ac-
count OF the small appropriations for
special agents, it has thus far been i'm.
possible to detail any of them for the
protection of the forest reserves which
have from hme to time been created.
Congress is urged to make sufficient
appropriations to employ at least one
superintendent on each reserve and
upon the larger reserves to provide a
sufficient force OF assistants to prevent
public property from being wantonIy
destroyed.
PENSION OFFICE CLAIMS.
The greater part OF the pension cases
now pending in the bureau are old
cases. Many OF them have been pend
ing for years, and have been examined
one or more times prior to the present
administration. Upon examination it