Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-30
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
ecretnry Smiths E,port-Tho Indian
pensions-ratents-P Domain.

ecretnrN smiths E,pOrt-Tho Indian
Pen,ions-rstents-Pu Domain.
WASHINGTON. u. G., November %
Secretary Hoke Smith has transmitted to
the President his annual report on the
operations Of the interior Department
The Secretary reviews the problem Of
effective work for the advancement Of the
Indians. lie discusses the subject Of elp~
cation and Of allotments Of land IN seve-
rally. aud urges that the education OF the
Indians should be for the purpose Of fit
ting them 10 perform the particular re-
sponsiotlities most likely 20 fall to their
aftrr-lot. lie presents the possibilities Of
he reservations. as land TO he improved
ard developed. and 10 which the Indians
should be taught 10 apply those models
OF agriculture recognized in civilized life.
Their education should ~ them for this
work. anJ thy should he led on with
the assurance that the government deal
ing with this land viii treat the Indians
with perfect honesty ana make no fur
thcr effort "a trade them out Of II for the
benefit Of those who wish TO settle upon IT,
IN connection with the education Of tho
indians the Secretary says. In The man
arement Of the Indian schools definite
plan for the Indian when SCHOOL work
Is finished must always he in view. u
practical results are expected from his
education Education should he practi-
cally directed with view to the probable
future OF the Indian II he Is 10 remain
away from his former home. and TO enter
the struggle Of lie In our cities and
towns as any other citizen, then his edu-
cation should be broad and az liberal as
possible. But r. h. Is 20 return TO tho
reservation. 10 the place Of his birth. ami
10 commence his active life hy the devel-
opment Of the resources Of the reserVa-
ton. then his education should be directed
especially with a view ~ the life he VIII
lead upon the reservation. and 70 the pos
sitiities Of the reservation i'salf
"If the lands are agricultural. he should
be taught the methods and mode OF life
followed 10y the ordinary American citi-
zen engaged I'm agriculture. He should
not be accustomed 20 a If far above II.
20 tastes much more liberal than would
there he possible"
The Secretary calls attention to the
duty which rests upon the United states
to preserve law and order throughout the
Indian Territory. where at present
state 81 lawlessness prevails, ana Insists
that II the right TO do 50 cannot be
obtained by agreement with the tribes
IL must be enforced as a mutter Of duty,
who control the tribes. He does not
specifically recommend the organization
Of q new territory. but does urge that the
courts In Arkansas and Texas b. aban-
doncd and that the jurisdiction OF the
United States Court be extended over the
territory. without regard TO citizenship.
This would give an opportunity for the
members Of the various tribes who feel
that they are deprived of their just quota
Of lands TO petition the United states
courts for allotment in severalty Of the
portions To which they are respectively
entitled by resort TO such means those
Indians who wish their lands in severalty
could obtain them. and thus. gradually
at least. the holding Of lands in com
mon would pass away. and they would
be held by individuals
The Secretary condemns in strong
terms the establishment Of saloons upon
the line Of Indian reservations. and calls
attention TO III" decision Of Judge Bel
lneer. of the District 90 Oregon. 70 the
effect that the sale IF liquor 10 an Indian
who has received his land in sevcral,y Is
not in violation Of law, because by allot-
mcnt he has become citizen. II this
decision is right it presents another argu-
ment against speedy allotment Of lands
in seyeralty to Indians
The report shows that the public lands
disposed of during the past fiscal year
aggregate l0.277.22i acres. II approX-
mates the vacant lands remaining at
GOG.0i03l3 acres. exclusive OF ALASKA,
which contains S6c 0NCH) acres. and Mill
tary and other reservations.
Under the head OF pensions The report
shows that the entire number of pension
erS upon the rolls June so. 1897 was
969.5H The total amount expended for
pensions during the fiscal year was 1923.
S0f 49, leaving n balance from the ap-
preparation in the Treasury Of s2i205 ~.
The estimate for the fiscal year 1894 is
$40. 10000 The number Of pensioners adj
ded to the rolls during the year was 39.oSj.
while the total number dropped was
81 .95l.
The greater part Of the cases now pend
ing IN the bureau ar old cases. Many Of
them have been pending for years. and
had been examined one or more times
prior 70 the present administration
Upon examination IL had been found
In many instances that proof was not
sufficient to sustain a pension. The at
tention OF the applicants having been
called to the defect. in some cases enorts
had been made 10 supply the needed tes-
timony. The great discrepancy betwe n
the number OF cases now being allowed
years ago grows out Of the fact that
the pending casss constitute a remnant
OF an immense number OF claims OF
which those well established have al
ready been adiudicated
Number Of appeals, motions, etc, fled
from April Is, 1893. to November !, 1884,
ssh. Number OF appeals, motions. etc,
that have been acted upon By Board OF
Pension Appeals and Assistant Secretary
from April Is. 1896, 10 November /. l&i
lO,7li
This volume Of work. accomplished in
eighteen ana a half months, is UMPIRE
cedented In the history OF the department,
and the Secretary says Is more than twice
the number OF cases disposed OF in IKE
period by the prior administration.
There were 22.5i6 patents granted. IN
Guiding reissues and designs. and 1,6o6
trademarks registered during the past
year. The number Of patents which eN-
plred was l3,i67. The total expenditures
OF the Patent-Ofilce amounted 10 81 .t63.%s.
The receipts exceeded the expenditures
$l29. $50.
The total disbursements 10 date for the
eleventh census amount TO slO.36o.6fb. In
the last annual report II was stated that
something less than FIVE hundred thOu-
sand dollars would be ample TO ihisn tne s
census. 1t is now apparent that s-''''V'
viii complete the work.
A large portion of the force or the
Census Once has been discharged. be
tween now and the 1st Of January the
force will be reduced to about two hum
dred. and by the LIST OF March IL wili
he digbanded. with the exception OF
small number. who will be retained 70
supervise proof-reading and actual publ
cation. IL, .
The Secretary closes his report Win "a
for an additional building
for the Interior Department. as Soz'es'
was paid out for rental OF buildings VI
which several branches OF the Depart
mont have their Offices located.
o,d oaners for sale az &c q hundred ~