Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1894-12-07

I
rights OF citizens during the disturbed con-
ditions afforded results which will IL is believed
have far-re9c ching and wholesome influences
whenever in like circumstances ii may become
necessary for our naval commanders 10 inter
faIe on behalf of our people In foreign ports.
Tie war now in progress between China and
dispatch eight vessels 10 those waters Both the
secretary Of the navy and the secretary Of The
treasury recommend The transfer OF the work
ment. l heartily concur I'm this recommendation
Excluding Alaska and a very small area be-
coast has been completed. The hydrogTaphic
work. which must be done and over again
by reason Of The shifting and varying depths OF
water consequent upon the action Of streams and
tides. has heretofore been done under the direc-
tion or naval officers, In subordinatiOn 10 tbs
superintendent OF the coast survey. There seems
10 be 10 good reason why the Navy department
should not have cnti-e charge hereafter such
work. aud especially as the photographic office
or the Navy department is now. and has been
maps entirely similar &c those prepared by the
coast survey.
feel il my imperative duty 10 call attention
to the recommendation of the secretary ia regard
the personnel Of the line OF the navy The
tagna ton Of promotion In this the vital branch
OF the service. Is so great 10 seriously impair
portaace that INC vonne- ana U5iile,,,ed oS,rsrs
should before tbe Of retirement. be permitted
TO reach grade emitting them 10 active and
important duty
the employment 81 lahor At the Navy yards IS
rigidy upheld and has fully demonstrated its
main OF civil service reform. inaSmuch IS work
men are employed through a Board OF Labor
lected at each navy yari AID ere given work
Without rie,thce 90 !outlc' ana IL tae order
OF their application preference. however. being
given 10 army and nav veterans and those
having former navy yard experience. Amend
mems suggested lay experience have been made
20 he rules regulating The system. Through its
operation. the work AZ aug navy yards Las been
vastly improved in efficiency and The oTpOrtInlty
10 WORK has been honestly and fairly awarded
Ia willing ana competent applicants II Is hoped
that il this system continues to be strictly ad-
quenre such "a equalization Of party benefit as
viii remove all temptation To relax or abandon it.
Public I.nnd Undi~posed or.
Tie report of the secretary Of the interior ex-
hihits Tie situation of the numerous ANA inter-
estiLg branches of The public service connected
and tie valuable rcvomRepdut ions of the score
tary To The careful attention ~ congress. The
public land disposed Of during tie year amounted
It,; ,nd - la,,.i'i- ,, %.
domain sim remaining amounts little
than 6Do.UN.Cbo acres. excluding. however. about
S6n. 600. 900 acres In Alaska. as we'll ~ military
lands yet unadiudi, ated The total cash re-
ceipiS from safe of lands Amounted go s. Ga
OF Indian lands Thirty-tiye thousand patents
were issued for aCri~uliu ral lands and 100 pat
ents Wee issued t. Indians on aliotmcntS OF
thcif holdings in ScNeralty the lands allotted be-
ing inaienahie 10y the indian allotccs for a pc
We're certified, anu patented on iccognt OF railroad
and wagon road grants during the year S65-
BJb.1o acres 81 land. ANA ftle close Of tie
year 29u"'ep acres were embraced IN the lists
of selections made 10y railroad and wagon road
companies and awaited settlement. The selec-
lions OF swamp LAMBS and that taken - inden-
ulty therefor since the IGsSag" 81 tie act pro-
viding for the Same in lS49 amount nearly
or qdlte Sp-.hh.idn acres. ui whIcn 'a.0op.0 600
have been Patented 10 states. About l.5S 00J
acres we're patented during the last year
Nearly $40. OGo acres Of school and education
grants were approved dlrinS the year. ana at its
close 1.25U.3G3 81 acres remained unadiusted.
Ii appears that the appropriation for the cur
protection OF The public lands and the timber
thereon Is much less lhan those for previous
years and Inadequate for efficient performance
of the work. \ larger OF money than has
been app-o;riatel during number OF Years past
this account has been returned Ia rEc govern
in The pariicular service mentiorej and i hone
IL viii Ice crippled by Insufficient appropria-
ton. fully endorse the recommendation of the
secretary that adequate protection be provided
for our forest reserves and that comprehensive
forestry SYSTEM be inauSuratcd.
Such keepers and supcrntcndents as are
aecgTSar ~ 10 9sGt he forests ready reserved
there should he AN abandonment Of the policy
government. for very small consideration, is
rapidly losing tile 10 Immense tracts Of land
covered with timber which should hc properly
reserved as permanent sources of timber supply
The suggestion that change be made in the
is especially worthy Of ,,,nsi,'e-atinn am
satisfied that these surveys Shouid Ice made by
Il corps OF conpcien; surveyors under the i'm
mediate control and direction OF the commits
sioier Of the General Land office.
the secretary r,lares Ia The manner in which
contests and Irrigated eases. growing ont Of ef-
forts Ia obtain government land are determined.
Ia" entlr" testimony upon which these c1ntro-
vcrsies depend IN all their stages is taken he
fore the local registers and receivers and yet
lhese o1nc'rs nave ne power 10 subpoena Wit
nesscs or In enforce their attendance 10 testify.
These eases. numbering 5000 or 1000 annually,
are sent by the local officers 10 Tie commissioner
Of the General Land office his action. The
eXiccncics of his other duties 0hlige him act
upon the decisions OF the registers and
ceirers without an opportunity ri thorough
personal examine ion Nearly 3.0oo of these
appealed annually from The commits
sioner Ia the secre airy of The interior. lurdened
with other Important adIainiSi i've duties. his
determination - these appeals l..ist h.. almost
perfunctnry ana based ui,t.n an examination OF
Others. though this determination 81 the
iary operates as 4 final adjudication upon rights
of very great Importance. l concur in the
opinion that the commissioner II the General
Land office should hr relieved from The duty 81
deciding Irrigated land that a non -pa-ti-
,.a~.s ana Thar The decisions ~ his conrt
should he final. II least far : the decisions
of the department final. The proposed
court might be Sivcr authority L. certify ques-
lions ~ law. in matters of especial importance,
10 the Supreme court of the rntei states
the Court OF ApIeas)for the p:sJr,-- ~ Column
hunal would expedite the disposal II and
insure decisions of more satisfactory charac-
ter. The registers and receivers who originally
hear and decide The disputes should Ice vested
with authority 10 compel witnesses 10 attend
and testify tcfore them.
Though the condition Of the Indians shows a
not satisfactory at all points. Some of them,
to whom alloiments of lard have been made,
found 10 be unable dsincned 10 follow
agricultural pursuits. otherw Use benefcially
the Cheyennes and Arapahocs. who il APP
pears by reports of their agents. have in many
instances never been located upon their allot-
ments. ard in do know
where their allotmcnts Their condition has
deteriorafcd. They MOI selfsuppOrting and
they live i'll canps and spend their time I'm
ideness. have always believed that aIlot
menis Of reservation lands to Indians in sever
atty should he made SparinSly. at least
slowly and with the utmost caution. In these
days when white agriculturalisiS and stock
raisers OF experience and intelligence find their
lot hard one. ought not expect In
dians unless far advanced in civilization and
habits OF industry TO support themselves on the
small tracts of land usually allotted to them. IL
the self-supporiing scheme 10y allotment fails,
the wretched pauperiSm of the alloiees which
results Is worse than their original condition
OF regulated dependence. IL Is evident
evil consequences of ill-advised allotment are
intensified In where the first step cannot
be retraced on account of the purchase by the
government of reservation lands remaining after
allotme1ts arc made aud the disposition OF such
remaining lands 10 settlers purchasers from
the government
j am convinced that the proper solution OF the
Indian problem and the step
taken in that direction depend To very large
extent upon the intelligence and honesty OF the
reservation agents and the interest they have in
do much toward preparing the Indians under his
charge for citizenship and allotment of their
lands. and his advice as to any matter CONCERN
M " NOT mis-