New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-29
AFFAIRS OF THE INTERIOR.
SECRETARY SMITH SUBMITS HIS ANNUAL
REPORT
WORK OF THE INDIAN SERVICE. THE LAM
OFFICE AND THE PENSION OFFICE RE-
vIEwED-THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
BOND-AIDED RAILROADS.

VIEwED-THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
BoND-AIDED RAILROADS.
Washington Nov. 2S.-The report of Hoke Smith
ca,ratarv Of the Interior deliberately reviews the
varied work Of the Interior Department 1t De-
gins with the Indian service and calls attention 10
The strict enforcement of Civil Service REFORM poth
as TO those places covered by the classihed SER
vice and those which the rules OF this service
do moi apply. 1t dwelis the necessity OF eiimi-
ns;ing, notifies from. the management Of Indian
affairs and of conducting each reservation on
strictly business principles. the object beng 10
make every Indian who remains on the reser'a-
ton self-supporting and ready, as soon as posi-
be 10 assume the duties Of citizenship and be
freed from the pa;erna care of the Government
He recommends that instead of single Commis-
sioner Of Indian Affairs the Indian service be
placel in charge of three commissioners TWO OF
them 10 be civilians. to be appointed from diHer-
en-, political parties, and one 10 be a detailed Army
oHcer.
The report shows that the attendance at the
Indian schools increased 100 in the last year. near
~ one-half of the increase being in the Govern
rent day schools. The reduction Of 20 per cent
winch the law required II be made IN connection
with the contract schools has been strictly car
red ont. and the Secretary adds that there seems
70 be no reason why such reduction should not con-
true from year to year until the system OF Gov
eminent aid TO sectarian schools shall terminate
hs TssSr Of 10 Be about ,ns go acres at the
close OF the fiscal year, and shows that the total
te oreT sScoooe The unadjusted land grants
railroads amount to near.y Soop acres, Inc Sec sec
arid lands 10 the States after il is fully determined
that the selections made by them under the carey
act are arid lands He calls attention to. the fact
that reservoir sites selected by the Geological
Survey remain without proper action providing Tor
their use. while the water they were expected to
store is being diverted to less practicable ana eco
Under the subject OF forests the Secretary calls
attention to the fact that 100000 acres are now IN
cuded within forest reserves, the object being 10
preserve the forests for future use and through their
preservation to control the supply or water SO mat
Il may be stored and utilized for irrigation There
only thirty specia, agents TO protect the timber
on the entire public domain. to examine swamp
lands investigate fraudulent land entrlesa force
too small to permit anything TO be done toward
guarding the forest reservations. Unless some plan
Is devised by Congress for the protection Of the
forests either by the army by the foresters liv-
Ing the reservations. II s manifest that the OBJ
ject sought 10 be accomplished will fail.
of the year TO be lol2,ss5 Referring to the number
greater part of these Cd cases. lacking some
quality Of proof which the law requires
the discussion OF the relations between the Govern
and the bOnd-aided roads. and the possibility
Of collecting the amount due to the Government
from these roads The report urges that two things
to be considered: o. The collection of the debt
due to the Government, and 90 the creation Of a
great through line from the Missouri the PACIFIC.
which the original purpose of the Government
leading 70 the issue of subsidy bonds He says that
thu Government is already out Sill, 900 these
roans, and that the first mortgage bonds only
amount TO S54,6l3oJ0 that the property Is worth
vastly more than the first mortgage bonds. and that
the Governments interests can be protected. II
necessary, by taking up these bonds. All these
bonds are now maturing. and draw per cent, and
replaced with per cent bond If the Nvernment
guaranteed them. The net earnings of each of
OF neary per cent on the sum of the first mort
gage bonds and OF the Government subsidy bonds