River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-12-06
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Secretary Hoke Smith Submits His An
nual Report.

Secretary Hoke Smith Submits His An
nual Report.
WASHINGTON. Dec. LIN his annual
report to the president on the opera
tions of the interior department Sec
rotary Hoke Smith reviews the prob
lem of effective work for the advance
ment of the Indians
He says the task II the Indian bureau is that
OF developing a people no longer savage, but
still far from civilized. into beings fit for
American citizenship and capable OF self-sup-
port. Two means are chiefly relied upon to
accomplish this IN the most practical manner
education and allotments OF land in severalty
He does not question the ACCESSIBILITY OF
allotting land to Indians in severalty, but does
question its propriety before the Indians have
progressed sufficiently 70 utilize the land when
taken The secretary says that land should
not be purchased from the Indians at the best
bargain the United States can make. but
should be sold by the United States. the de-
partment acting faithful trustee and OBJ
tanning for the Indians every dollar the land
will bring.
In speaking Of the education of the Indians
he says that a definite plan for the Indian.
when school is finished. must always be in
view. II he is TO enter our cities and towns rs
any other citizen, then his education should be
broad and liberal But ii he is to commence
his active life in the development OF the re-
sources Of the reservation then his education
should be directed especially with a view
to that life. Secretary Smith adds that
even II the education of the young In
dian IS preparation for work on the reser-
walton. ii should also work to the end that he
should be fitted a soon as possible TO manage
his own affairs free from the paternal care OF
the department
Mr.. Smith agrees fully in his report with
those who oppose the use Of public money for the
B SunUOrt of EpPfHriau schools mi he thinks
would be scarcely just TO abolish them eutirely
to abandon instantly policy long recog-
niLed. He suggests that they he decreased
at the rate of not less than 20 pr
cent. a Thus in few years
they would cease to exist luriug this time the
bureau would gradually be prepared to do with
out them, while they might gather strength to
continue without governmental aid.
the secretary urges that the courts in Ar
kansas and Texas be abandoned and that the
jurisdiction of the United States court be ex-
tended over the territory without regard to
| citizenship.
The secretary condemns in strong terms the
establishment Of saloons upon tie line of In
dian reservations and calls attention TO the de-
cision of Judge Bellinger of the district OF
Oregon. to the effect that the sale of liquor TO
an Indian who has received his land in sever
atty is not in violation OF law because by allot-
ment he has become citizen. If this decis-
ion is right Il presents another argument
against too speedy allotment OF lands IN
crafty to Indisrs.
The report shows that the public lands dis
posed of during the past fiscal year aggregate
1887 go az acres. II approx mates the vacant
lands remaining at t06.0403l37l acres, ex-
elusive of Alaska, which contains $4,000 900
acres aud military and ether reservations;
sS,tOO.OOt acres in round number are en-
braced in the lists Of selections by railroad and
wagon road companies awaiting examination
and settlement at the close OF the fiscal year.
The aggregate selection of swamp lanes since
the pass1 &c OF tie act Of 1s40 is 50 456, 1881
acres. During the past year l3S, l59. AZ acres
were patented under this he1d.
The total cash receipts from the disposal OF
public lands amounted to 81 GA 2s5 10 S9l 9SI.-
O3 we're received for Indian lands over 81, O1O
agricultural patents were issued, granting,
approximately, go $50 acres. Mineral, mill
site and coal patents were issued TO the num-
Der of 1.429 About S1O0 patents we're is-led
to Indians for allotments or selections in Sew
/ crafty, covering 10I.936 "A acres Patents of
all classes issued during the year covered
about 200 coo acres, decrease from the pre-
ceding year of over 1900 600 acres
Congress is asked TO make sufficient appro-
priations to employ at least one superintend-
ent on each reserve and upon the larger re-
serves to provide sufficient force OF assist
ants to prevent public property from
being wantonly destroyed, 1t is also pointed
/ out that lack OF special agents
has prevented investigation OF proposed forest
reserves which would otherwise have been
made. The Importance of laying foundation
for wise, comprehensive forestry system to
be applied to the timber upon the public lands
and the forest reservations is again urged upon
congress.
At the close Of the fiscal year ending June
30 1894 500 544 pensioners were borne upon the
rolls, an increase of 1882 pensioners during
the year. OF these, I66l0 pensioners are on
account of Indian and other wars prior TO the
4
dependent relatives Under the act of June
%. 1850, there are 3750s4 pensioners and AGO
widows and orphans II is interesting to note
that nine widows and three daughters Of vet
Grams of the revolution constitute the pension
roll for The: war Forty-five survivors of the
war of 1912 constitute the remnant Of that list.
The total amount expended for pensions
during the past fiscal year was Sl3' sOi 46l. %,
leaving a balance from the appropriation in the
treasury OF SOS. los TICS The estimate for the
fiscal year 1895 made by the commissioner is
$4,000 coo The commissioner states tnat. in
his opinion. the year 1899. thirty years after
the close of the last war, must in the nature
of things see the highest limit OF the pension
roll which therefore, must begin to decrease
The aggre gate of persons added to the rolls
during the year is 39.0S5. and the total number
dropped for all causes 1891.
There we're .. $40 patents granted. including
reissues and designs, and l69S trade marks
registered during the past year. The number
of patents which expired Is l3l61. The total
expenditures OF the patent Office amounted 10
81 .O5S.g62. The receipts exceeded the expendi-
lures s129 so
The commissioner of labor in charge Of the
eleventh census. for the ftscal year ending
June 20, 1891 states that the total disburse-
ments on account OF the eleventh census to
that date amounted to S1G.S65 &C., 81. At the
close Of the fiscal year the total number of
persons employed in the cenS4ls office was 679
there are 1T the present writing aboat 400
The whole number OF volumes necessary to
comprehend all the facts gathered at the
eleventh census is twenty-five: the estimated
and actual printed Peres Of these volumes be-
ing p .2yO
The report .reats at length OF many more
subjects q minor interest among tn IN being
the bureau of education. public documents.
railroads the territories, national parks and
forest reserves, and various public institu-
tiOns.
The secretary closes his report with recon-
mendation for an additional building for the
interior department. as S352 cog were paid out
for rental Of buildings II winch e.eral
branches of the department have theiI oIAees