The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Continued from First Page.

registers and receivers without an oppor-
tunity OF thorough personal examination.
Nearly 1000 of these cases are appealed an
nuallytrOm the commissioner to the sec
Rotary ofrthe interior. Burlened with
other important administrative duties his
determination Of these appeals must be
almost perfunctory and based upon the
examination OF Others, though this deter
mination Of the secretary operates as a
final adjudication upon rights OF very
great importance.
concur In the opinion that the commits
sioner OF the general land Office should be
relieved from the duty of deciding liti-
gated land cases. that's non-partisan court
should be treated to pass ON such cases
and that the decisions Of this court shall
be final, ut least 50 far as the decisions of
the department are now final.
Condition of Kndians.
While the condition of the Indians
shows q steady and healthy progress,
their situation is not satisfactory at all
points.
have always believed that allottments
of reservation lands 20 Indians i'm seyeralty
should be made sparingry. or at least
slowly and with. utmost caution.
LIN these days when white agricultur-
lists and stockmen of experience and intel
ligence find their lot a hard one we ought
not to expect Indians, unless far advanced
in civilization and habits of industry to
support themselves on the small tracts OF
land usually allotted to them.
am convinced that the proper solution
of the Indian problem and the success OF
every step taken in that direction depend
to q very large extent upon the intelligence
and honesty of the reservation agents and
the interest they have in their work.
The indications are that the detail of
army officers al Indian agents will result
In improved management ON the reserya-
tions.
In the light of experience, and consider
ing the uncertainty of the Indian situation
and its exigencies in the future, / am not
only disposed to be very cautious In max
ing allotments, but I incline to agree with
the secretary Of the interior I'm the opinion
that when allOtments are made the bal
ance OF reservation land remaining after
allotment, instead Of being bought by the
government from the Indians and opened
FOR settlement with such scandals and I'M
fair practices as seem unavoidable, should
remain for q time at least as common land
or be sold by the government on behalf OF
the Indians I'm an orderly way and at fixed
prices TO be determined by its location
and d~esirability, aud that the proceeds
less expenses should be held in trust for
the benefit OF the Indian ppoprietors.
The Intelligent Indian school manage
ment of the past year has been followed
by the most gratifying results.
AZ to Pensions.
AZ tha closs o. the Last fiscal year, on
the 3Oth day of June, 1864. there were
e60, SAL persons on our pension rolls, being
q net increase Of 3,532 over the number re-
ported at the end Of the previous year.
These pensioners may be classed AS fol-
lows: Soldiers and sailors, survivors OF
all wars, 753, o6S; widows and relatives OF
deceased soldiers, 215, 1852; army nurses In
the war of the rebellion, ~. OF these
pensioners SO, 0S9 are survivors of Indian
and all other wars prior to the late civil
war. and the widows and relatives Of such
soldiers
The remainder, numbering 087, sos, are
resolving pensions ON account OF the war
OF h rebellion. and the 400. "a are now
under the rolls under the authority OF act
OF June q, 1880. sometimes called the de-
pendent pension law. The total amount
expended for pensions during the year was
S1aO, 0o4s 401.06, leaving an ~unexpended bal
ance rom the sum appropriated of &25.-
3& 40 AE& 1&& M~Nt