The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-04

others though this determination of the Sec
rotary operates as final adjudication upon
rights of great importance. / concur in the
opinion that the commissioner of the general
land office should be relieved from the duty
of deciding ltigated land cases, that nom
partisan court should be created to puss on
such cases and that the decisions of this court
should be final at least so far as the decisions
OF the department are now final.
The proposed court might be given author
Ity to certify questions of law, IN matters OF
especial Importance, to the Supreme court OF
the United States or the court of appeals Tor
the District of Columbia for decision. Inc
creation of such a tribunal would eXpedlte
the disposal of cases and insure DECISIONS OIL
more satisfactory character. Inc registers
and receivers who originally hear ana decide
these disputes should be invested with au-
thority TO compel witnesses TO attend anu
testify before them.
THE INDIANS.
Though the condition of the Indians
shows steady and healthy progress, their
situation is not satisfactory at all points.
Some of them to whom allotments of
land have been made are found to be un-
able or disinclined to follow agricultural
pursuits or to otherwise benefically manage
their land. This is especially true of the
Cheyennes and Rapahoes, who it appears, by
reports of their agent. have in many instances
never been located upon their allotments,
and in some cases do not even know where
their allotments are. Their condition has
deteriorated. They are not self supporting
aud they live in camps and spend their time
in idleness. [ have always believed that
allotments of reservation lands to Indians in
severaltty should be made sparingly, or at
least slowly, and with the utmost caution.
In these days, when white agricuituralists
and stock-rasers of experience and intelli-
gence find their lot a hard one, we ought
not to expect Indians, unless far advanced
in civilization and habits of industry to sup
port themselves on the small tracts of land
usually allotted tosthem. If the self-support.
ing scheme by allotment fails the wretched
pauperlsm of the allottees which results is
worse than their characterization of regulated
dependence. It. is evident that the evil con-
sequences of ill-advised allotment are inten-
sified in cases where the false step cannot be
retracted on account of the purchase by the
Government of reservation lands remaining
after allotments are made and the DISPOSE
ton of such remaining lands to settlers or
purchasers from the Government.
l am convinced that the proper solution of
the Indian problem aud the success of every
step taken in that direction depend to very
large extent upon the intelligence and hon
esty of the reservation agents and the inter-
est they have in their work. An agent fitted
for bis place can do much toward preparing
the Indians under his charge for citizenship
and allotment of their lands and his advice
in any matter will not mislead. An unfit
agent will not make any effort to advance the
Indians on his reservation towards civiliza-
tion or to preparation for .allotments OF
lands in severalty or his opinion as to their
condition, and in other regards is needless
and valueless.
The indications are that the detail of army
officers as Indian agents will result in i'm
proved management on the reservation.
Whenever allotments are made and any In
dian on the reservation has previously settled
upon a lot and cultivaed it or shown dspo-
sition to improve it in any way such lot should
certainly be allotted to him and this should be
made plainly obligatory by statute. In the
light of experience and considering the un-
certainty of the Indian situation and its ex-
igences in the future am not only disposed
to be very cautious in making allotments but
l incline to agree with the secretary
allotments are made the balance
of reservation land remaining after
allotment, instead of being bought by 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 be sold
by the government on behalf of the Indians
in an orderly way and at fixed prices to be
determined by its location and desirabilty,
and that the proceeds, less expenses should
be held in trust for the benefit of the Indian
proprietors. The intelligent Indian school
management of the past year has been fol-
lowed by gratifying results. Efforts have
been made to advance the work in sound
and practical manner. Five institutes of In
dian teachers have been held during the year,
and have proved very beneficial through the
views exchanged and methods discussed par
ticularly applicable to Indian education.
Efforts are being made in the direction of
gradual reduction of the number of Indian
contract schools SO that in comparatively
short time they may give way altogether to
government schools and it is hoped that the
change may be so gradual as to be perfected
without great expense to the government or
undue disregard OF investments made by
those who have established and are maintain
ing such contract schools The appropriation
for the current year ending June 80. 1895,
applicable to the ordinary expenses of the In-
dian service amounts to $6.733, DOB Is, be-
ing less by $685., 240.64 than the sum
appropriated on the same account for the
previous year.
pensions.
At the close of the last fiscal year, on
the S0th day of June, 1894, there were
$685. persons on our pension rolls, be-
ing net increase of 1852 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,
1905; widows and relatives of deceased
soldiers, 2l5, 162; army nurses in the war of
the Rebellion, Ala. OF these pensioners 3d.
039 are surviving soldiers of the Indian and
other wars. prior to the late civil war, and
the widows or relatives OF such soldiers. The
remainder, numbering 937 sos. are receiving
pensions on account of the War of Rebellion,
and of these 1884 are on the rolls under
the authority oflthe act of June 81 1880, some
times called the dependent pension law. The
total amount expended for pensions during
the year was $139,S04 ,461.05, leaving an I'M
expended balance from the sum appropriated
of $50, 205. 1926. The sum necessary to
meet pension expenditures for the year end
ing June 80, 1895, is estimated at $40, 700, 900.
The commissioner of pensions is of the
opinion that the year 1895, being the Both
after the close of the War of the Rebellion,
must according to all sensible human calcutta
tions see the highest limit of the pension roll
and that after that year it must begin to de-
cline. The claims pending in the bureau
have decreased more than 10000 during the
year. A large proportion of the new claims
filed are tor increase of pension by those row
on the rolls. The number of certificates is
sued was S0.213. The names dropped from