Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-12-08

the manner In wnicN contests hf@ A&N-
gated and cases growing out OF efforts
70 obtain government lands are de-
terrnined. The entire testimony upon /
which these controversies depend In
all their stages II taken before the local |
registers and receivers and get these |
officers have no power TO subpoena wit |
neeses or 20 enforce their attendance
10 testify These cases, numbering three
or four thousand annually. are sent by
the local officers 10 the commissioner
Of the general land office for his action
The exigencies OF HIS other duties obiige
him 10 act upon the decisions of the
registers and receivers without an OPP
portunity OF thorough personal exam
ination. Nearly two thousand of these
cases are appealed annually from the
commissioner TO the secretary Of the
interior. Burdened with other impor-
tant administrative duties. his determi-
nation OF these appeals must be al
most perfunctory and based upon the
examination OF others. though this de-
termination OF the secretary operates az
final adjudication upon rights or very
great Importance. / concur In the opin-
ion that the commissioner of the gen
eral land Office should be relieved
from the duty of deciding litigated land
cases. that a non-pariisan court should
be created TO pass on such cases. and
that the decisions OF this court should
be final, at least 40 far as the decisions
| or the department are now final The
proposed court might be given authori-
| ~ to certify questions Of law In matters
| Of special Importance to the supreme
court of the United States or the court
of appeals for the district OF Column
bia for decision. The creation OF such
tribunal would expedite the dis
\ posal OF cases and insure decisions of
more satisfactory character. The reg.
| listers and receivers who originally heaI
and decide these disputes should be in
vested with authority 20 compel wit
nesses TO attend and testify before
them.
CONDITION OF INDIANS.
Though the condition OF the Indians
| shows a steady and healthy progress
| their situation Is not satisfactory at all
points. Some Of them. to whom allot-
ments of land have been made. are
| found TO be unable or disinciined to fol-
| low agricultural pursuits or TO other.
| wise bcueficially manage their land,
| This 10 especially true OF the Chey-
ennes and Arapahoes. who. as 1t APP
pears by the report OF their agent. have
In many instances never been located
upon their allotments and In some
cases do not even know where their al
lotments are. Their condition has
deteriorated. They are not selfsupport-
ing and they live In camps and spend
| their time In idleness. 1 have always
believed that aliotments OF reservation
lands to Indians In severalty should be
made sparingly, or at least, slowly and
with the utmost caution. In these days.
when the white agriculturists and
stock-raisers OF experience and intelli-
gence find their lot hard one we ought
not TO expect the Indians. unless far
advanced In civilization and habits OF
industry. TO support themselves ON the
small tracts of land usually allotted
to them. II the sulfsupporting scheme
by allotment fails. the wretched paup-
erism of the allottees makes results
worse than their original condition OF
regulated dependence. 1t IL evident
that the evil consequences of ill-advised
allotment are intensified In cases where
the false step can not be retracted or
account OF the purchase by the govern.
ment Of reservation lands remaining
after ailotmcnts are made and the
disposition of such remaining lands &c
settlers or purchasers from the govern.
ment. | am convinced that the proper
solution OF the Indian problem and the
success OF every step taken In thai
direction depends TO very large extent
upon the intelligence and honesty OF
reservation agents and the interest they
\ hayf4 Ira THAR nh Ataa - o.,
his place can do much towards prepar
Ing the Indians under his charge fol
citizenship and allotment of theil
lands and his advice as TO any matter
concerning their welfare will not mis-
lead. An unfit agent will make M
effort TO advance the Indians on hi
reservation toward civilization or prep
aration for allotment of lands in sew
crafty and his opinion as TO their con
dition In this and other regards is heed
less and valueless.
ELEVENTH CENSUS.
The completion of the eleventh census
is now In charge OF the commissioner oi
labor. The total disbursements on ac
count of the work for the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1894. amounted TO sio
365.6TS.si. AT the close OF the year tn,
| ANthp1t "a wi tHiptottu III the cen
sns office was 679, At present there ar,
about 400. The whole number of vol
tunes necessary 10 comprehend tn,
eleventh census will be 20. and they will
contain 22.270 printed pages, with tn,
assurance as confidently made. that be
fore the close of the present calenda
year. the material still incomplete viii
be practically In hand and the eensu
can certainly be closed by the Attn o
March. 1895, After that the revision
and proof reading necessary 10 brini
out the volumes viii still be required
The text OF the census volumes has beef
limited far as possible to the analysis
of statistics presented. The methos
which Is In accordance with Law. hai
caused more or less friction. and IA
some instances individual disappoint
ment. for when the commissioner OF In
hor took charge OF the work he fount
much matter in hand, which accordinl
90 this rule. he was compelled 20 dis
card.
The census In being prepared accord
Ing 10 the theory that II Is designed Il
collect facts and certify them to ths
public. not to elaborate arguments OF
TO present personal views.
AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTRY.