The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-29
HOKE'S REPORT.
Work Of the Interior Depart
ment Set Forth.
Mr.. Smith Suggests Many Rad
ical Changes.
INDIANS DISCUSSED.
Should be Three Indian Com
missioners, He Says.
Allotments Should Long Pre-
coed Land Openings.

WASHINGTON, Nov. e9.-Secretary
Hoke Smith, of the Interior depart
ment has made his annual report to
the president. It reviews the varied
work of the department, beginning
with the Indian service, and calls at
tention to the strict enforcement
which has been given to the civil
service reform, both as to the places
covered by the classified service, and
those to which the rules of this service
do not apply. The secretary .dwells
upon the necessity of eliminating
politics from the management OF In
dian affairs, and of conducting each
reservation upon strictly business
principles, the object being to make
every Indian who remains upon the
reservation self-supporting and ready,
as soon as possible, to assume the
duties of citizenship and be freed
from the paternal care of the govern
ment. The Secretary is of the opinion
that if the resources of each reserva-
tion are treated intelligently and the
Indians required to la Dor IN those pur-
suits which are adapted to particular
reservations, IN few years practically
all the Indians can be made self-sup-
porting.
The Secretary recommends the re-
organization of he bureau as follows:
First-That instead of a single COM
missioner of Indian affairs. the Indian
service be placed in charge of three
commissioners-two of them to be
civilians-to be appointed from diff
ferent political parties, and one to be
detailed army officer.
Second-That the tenure of Office OF
an Indian agent be conditioned upon
the faithful discharge of his duties,
and appointments and removals be
made by the President upon the recon-
mendation of the three commissioners
of Inian affairs.
Third-That the classified service be
extended over all the subordinate posi-
tions, both at the agencies and at the
schools.
Referring to the subject of allot-
ments, the Secretary SAYS there are
number of changes which should be
made in the present allotment system,
which require congressional action.
According to the present law an In
dian becomes a citizen of the United
States upon receiving his allotment.
In any case he IS ready to receive land
before he is prepared for the conse-
quences of citizenship.
Auotments should be made long be-
fore reservations are opened. Each
1nQldH SIOul0 NC SCGLAC0 dROA Ills
homestead and be self-supporting be-
! fore citizenship is conferred upon him.
| When citizenship is conferred, the
| Government ought to let him alone
and allow him to take his place, sur
! rounding him with no more restraint
and giving him no more help than is
! accorded to other citizens. Under the
present system, Indians to whom al
| lotments have been made and upon
|
still receive enormous gratuities and
need every dollar they receive.
Dawes Commission Report
The secretary presents copy of the
report of the Dawes commission,
which recommends:
| Flrst-A territorial government
over the five civilized tribes, adapted
to their peculiarly anomalous condi-
tions, so framed as to secure all rights
of residents in the same, and without
impairing the vested rights of the citi-
zen Indian or other person not an
intruder.
Second-The extension of the juris-
| diction of the United States courts in
the territory, both in law and equity,
to hear and determine all controver-
sizes and suits of any nature concerning
any right in or use and occupation of
| the tribal IapdS OF the several ma
tions, to which any citizen, Indian or
other person, or the tribal govern
ment of any nation, is or may be
made party plaintiff or defendant.
Arid Lands.
After reviewing IL detail the work
of the land Office during the past
twelve months, the secretary takes uE
the question of the disposition of the
arid lands and the preservation of the
forests. He urges that these two ques
lions are closely allied, for the guam
tty of arid lands far exceeds the
present water supply, even if it were
all utilized for irrigation. The in
crease of the water supply must de
pend upon the growth and preserva
ton of the forests. Attention is called
to the failure of the Carey bill to ac
complish the results expected; tht
secretary attributes this to the fac
the bill intended that money for the
irrigation should be raised upon tn,
arid lands given to the States Thi
has been impossible on account of th'
fact that sufficient control over thu
| lands was not given to the States t.
make them available as security fol
the money expended in their reclama
ton. The secretary suggests tn,
advisabi of patenting these land
to the States after it is fully deter
mined that the selections made b,
them under the Carey act are ariC
lands.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland at Church.