The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-04

Fqtad. sEIT-NWNVlIEIIE,
live in camps and SPEND their time IN ialeness.
/ have always believed that sllotments Of reser-
vaton lands 10 Indians in seveFalty should oe
made sparingly, or ST least slowly ana WITH tne
utmost caution. In these days. when white
sgriculturists and stock raisers OF experience
and intelligence hnd their LOT hard one, we
ought not 10 expect lnaians, unless lar al
vauced in eiviilg ttioa and habits OF INDUSTRY.
70 support themselves on the small tracts OF
land usually allotted them IL the supporting
scheme by allotment iaiis, the wretched pau
perisn OF the allotees which results IS worse
than their original condition OF res ulatsd de-
pendenee. IL Is evident that the evil eonss-
qusnees Of ill-sdy sed allotment are intensified
cases where the false step cannot oe re-
tracted, on account of the purchases by the
government of ths reservation lands remaining
after the allotmenSs are made and the disposi-
ton Of such remaining lands 10 settlers or pur-
chasers from ihe government
am convinced that the proper solution OF
the Indian problem and the success OF every
step taken in that direction depends 20 very
large extent upon the intelligence and honesty
OF reservation agents and the interest they have
in their wcrk 40 agent fitted for his place can
do much toward preparing the Indians under
his charge Tor citizenship and allotment of
their LANDS, and has advice rs to any matter con-
corning their welfare viii not mislsad. An un-
1t agent viii make no effort 10 advance the ln-
dams on his reservation toward civilization or
preparation Tor allotment OF lands in seyeFatty,
aud his opinion as TO their condition in this aud
other regards is needless aud valneiesg The
indications are that TIE detail OF array officers
as Indian agents will result in improved man
sgemsnt on the reservations. Whenever allOt-
menfs are made ami any Indian on the TeServa-
tion has previously settled upon lot and culti-
waited it or shown disposition TO improve 10 in
any way, the lot should certainly be allotted 20
him, aud this sboald be made plainly obliga-
terry by statute. In the light of experience, aud
considering the uncertainty OF the Indian situa-
ton and its exigencieE in the future, ara not
only disposed 10 be very cautious in
making allotments, out ! incline 10 agree
with the secretary of the interior in the
opinion that when aIlotmenss are made the
balance Of the reservation land remaining after
allotment instead Of being bought BY the gov
erument from the Indians and opened for settle
ment with such scandals and unfair practices
as seem unavoidable, should remain, for time
al least, as common land. or DO sold BY the gov
ernment on behalf of the Indians in an orderiy
way aud at fixed prices, to DO determined hy its
location and desiFab.ilty, and that the proceeds,
less expenses. should be held in trust for the
benefit Of the Indians
The intelligent Indian school management OF
the past year hiss been followed by gratifying
results. Efforts have been made 20 advance the
work IN a sound and practicable manner. Five
institutes of Indian teachers have been held
during the year. aud have proved very tsue-
fetal through the views exchanged ana methods
discussed particularly applicable TO Indiau
education. Efforts are b9ing usade in the direc-
ton Of a gradual reduction Of tho number OF
the Indian contract schools, 80 that IN a com
paratiVeiy short time they may give way alto
gether 30 government schools, and it - hoped
that tne change may DO SO gradual as 20 bs per-
tscted without toogreat expense to the govern
nent or due disregard OF Investments male
BY those who have established and are main
tanning such contract schools.
Tho appropriation for the current year, ending
June %, 1895. applicable to the ordinary ex-
penses OF the Indian service. amounts TO 81 49,
O0Sls, being less by s66S,24o.64 than the sum sp.
propristed on the same account for the previous
year.
HIGH TIDE IN PENSIONS REACHED.
At the close OF the last fiscal year, on the s0sh
OF June. 1894, there were 800, "a persons on our
pension rolls, being net increase of 1851 over
the number reported at the end OF the previous
year. These pensioners may be classified toll
lows: soldiers and sailors, survivors OF all
wars. 253.sos, widows and relatives of deceased
soldiers, rs, lt2; army nurses in the war of the
rebellion, Al of these pensioners 32sse are
surviving soldiers Of inoian and other wars
prior to the late civil war, aud the widows aad
relatives al such soldiers. The remainder. num-
beEng PSI ,803 are recei wing pensious on account
OF the war OF the rebellion, ana OF these i69, a4g
are on the rolis uaaer the authority OF tho act
OF June p. 1899, sometimes ca!let tho Ganend-
ent pension law. Jhe total amount expsnasd
for pensions during the year was tIS9.S Ut 46I n5
leaving al umexpended balance from The sum
appropriated OF 1920, 1I2.5a The sum uace..
ssry to NEE; pension expenditures Tor the year
ending june -, 1876. is estimated ~ a. 40 1o00O1
the commissioner OF pensions is OF
the opinion that the yegr 1895, be-
ing the thiTtisth after the close OF
t1e war OF the rebellion must, according TO all
seuslble human calculation, sea the highest
limit OF the pension roll, aud that after that
year IL must begin 20 decline The clatrus .,enti.
ing in she bureau have decreased more tbaa
$1,000 during the year. A large proportion OF
the new claims hled are for increase Of pension
q III.
tihcatcs issued was S0.2I2 The names dropped
from tae rolls Tor al causes during tbs year
numbered 1891
Among eur pensioners are nine Widows and
three daughters OF soldiers of the Rev0lu lon
sry war ana iorty-iiye survivors OF ths war OF
The uarefacad and extensive pension frauds
exposed under the direction of the courageous
ard generous veteran soldier now at the head
OF tas bureau leaves no room for the claim that
no purgation o. our pension rolls was needed or
thai continued vigilance aud prompt aetiow are
not nCcesssry - the same end. The accusation
that az effort 70 detect pension frauds is cvf-
asnce o. unusenaliness toward our worthy vet
Grams sud denial Of their ciAiEa 20 the se1,s-os
ity Of tie governments suggests an unfortunate
ind hersnoe 70 the com nlssion OF an ofTense
which has for it, motive the securing OF a uen.
slou, and indicates willingness 10 oe bind "a
the exisfencs 81 mean ami trsacherous crimes
when play upon demagozic fears and make
sport OF the patriotic impulse OF grateful
people.
The completion Of the eleventh csusus Il. y,cyv
In charge Vi the commissioner Of labor. me
total disbursements on account OF the wo-k for
the bseAt year ending June 90 Iss4 amounted
20 klos5S5,o7bsi Al the close OF thu wear the
nGinoer q persons elnPioyed n the cen Us Of.
rec Wa o3a AZ present there ara about 4Oa
Iae whole number o. volumes naeessarv ~
comprshend tns eleventh census viii 10 tven-
ty-1ves AMI sy Will contain 22g7g printed
pages Hith tBs assurance conf lentfT fnsss
that before the Gloss % De present caleussr
year the material stiil incomplete will te prac-
Ecsi4y IN hand, tns census can certainly la
closed BY the 4Ia OF March, 1855 Altar teAf he
revision end proof reading necessary y bring
out the volumes viii SIN BE- required HE
text OF TIE cen ns volumes bGa been limited a.
lar AZ p0ss be - tho analysis OF the stst3sties
presented, q method IN sceordanoe with law
but which has caused more or less friction ami
IN soTns instances individual DISAPPOINTMENT
Tor wien tne cotntel sslouer Of labor took charge
o. tne wofk be found mucn matter on hand
whien according TO this rule, 10 vas compelled
% dtseard- Tee census il being prepared ee-
eofdiHE 70 TIE theory thai u IS dsstansd 70 col.
ices iacts and certify them 70 ths pubic, not 10
views.