The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-08

The secretary. the commissioner OF
Indian affairs. and tho agents having
charge OF Indians to whom allotmcnts
hnvc ls.n made. strongly urge the pass.
ngc OF n law prohibiting the sale OF la,
nor to allottecS who have taken their
lands In Ecvcrnlty / earnestly join In
this recommendation. md venture to cx-
press the hope that the Indian may h.
speedily protected against this greatest
or all obstacles to MS well being anu
advancement.
The condition Of affairs among tho ilvc
civilized tribes, who occupy large tracts
or lnnd In the lndlau Territory and who
have governments OF their own. haa ns-
suincd such an aspect az to render II al.
most Indispensable that there should be
an entire change In the relations OF these
Indians 10 the general government.
This seems to he necessary In further
nlCr OF their own lntrrCsta, aS well IA
Tor the protection OF nml-lndIan residents
In their territory. 4 commission organ
lied and empowered under several re-
cent laws Is now negotiating with these
Indians for the REIMBURSEMENT OF their
courts and the division Uf thclr common
lands IN sGvrraity, ana ara aiding In tho
settlement Of the troublesome questions
OF tribal membership. The reception
Of their first prOfrers OF negotiation wnI
not encouraging: but through patience
and such conduct on their part as dem.
onstratcd that their intentions were
friendly and in the interest OF the tribes,
the prospect OF success has become more
promising. The efforts should be TO sUvr
these Indiana from the consequences III
their own mistakes and impruvidcncc.
and 10 securG TO the real Indian his
rights ms against IntrudcrI and protest.
ed friends who profit by his retrUsrcs-
sion.
| endorse the recommendation made
by the present Nccrctary or tho interior,
as well rs his predecessor. that n perma-
ncnt commission. consisting OF three
members. m OF whom shall be- un army
officer. BE- created to perform the duties
now devOlving upon the commissioner
and assistant commissioner OF Indian
affairs, The management OF the bureau
Involves such numerous and diverse de-
tails and the advantages OF an uninicr-
rupted policy are 80 apparent, that |
hope the change suggested will meet the
approval OF the Congress,
Pensions.
The dimInution OF our enormous pen
sion roll and the decrease OF pension cx-
penditurc. which have been SO often CON
idently foret0ld. stu fail in material
realization. The number Of pensioners
on the rolls at the close OF the fiscal year
ended June 30. 1896, waS 9IO.67S. This Is
the lIrgeJ; number ever reported. The
amount paid exclusively for pensions
during the year was $lSS. ia. 76l 81. Il
slight decrease from that OF the prGccd-
Ing year, Will" the total expenditure On
account OF pensions, including the cost
OF maintaining the department and eX-
penSeS attending pension distribution
amounted TO Sii2. zoe. $50 80, or within Il
very small fraction OF onc-thIrd or the
entire expense OF supporting the govern
mcRt during the same year. The num-
bar OF new pension certificates Issued
was 90.6i0. or these. 1874 represent
original allowances OF claims and ISIS
Increases OF existing pensions.
The number or persons receiving PEN
sl0ns from the United States. but res!d-
ing in foreign countries at the close OF
the last fiscal year. was 3.7Sl, and the
amount paid 20 them during the year
was $50. 1876 IS.
The sum appropriated for the paymcn:
OF pensions for the current fiscal year
ending June so, 1897. Is $40. 900, 900.
and for the succeeding year 1t Is csti-
mated that the same amoun will be
necessary.
The commissioner of pensions reports
that during the last fiscal year 33g in
dlctmcnts were found against vlolators
OF the pension laws. Upon these IN
dIctments l6I convictions resulted.
In my opinion, based upon such state
mcnts rs these. and much other infur-
nation and observation, the nbuses
which have been allowed to creep In 10
our pension system have done i~nCalcula-
bic harm In demoralizins Il people and
undermining Gonl citizenship. | have
endeavored within my sphere OF official
duty 20 protect our pension roll and
make il what Il should he, Il roll Of
honor, containing the anne OF those
disabled in their country'S service and
worthy OF their Country's anect!0nntc
remembrance.
When ! have gacn those who pose as
the soldiers friends. active and alert In
urging greater laXity and more reckless
pension expenditure. while nursing sell
fish schemes, | have deprecated the APP
preach % L situation when necessary
~rctrcnchment and enforced economy
may lead to mn attack upon pension
abuses. 50 determined as to overlook the
discrimination due to those VINO, worthy
Of Il nations care. ought TO live and die
under the protection OF a nations grail
tuds.
Tncinc Railroads.
The secretary calls attention 10 the
public interests involved In an adjust
men; " the obligations Of the Pacific
railroads 10 the government. ] deem 1t
to be al important duty 10 especially
present this subject TO the consideration
Of The Congress. On January /, 1897.
with the amount already mntur1l, NOR.
than $4,000 900 Of the principal OF the
subsidy bondR Issued by the United
States IN aid OF the construction OF the
Union Pacific railway including its Kan
sns line, and NOR" than 5000. 900 OF Tx"
bonds. issued In aid of the Central PACi-
tic railroad. Including those Issued to
the Western Pacific Railroad Company,
VIII have fallen due and been paid or
must on Tint day he paid by the govern
W"nt. Without amy reference 10 the
application Of the sinking fund now in
the treasury, this will create such Il d.
fault on the part OF these companies 20
the government as Will give II the right
Il ut once institute proceedings to fore
close its mortgage lien. In addition TO
this Indebtedness, which will h" due
January !. 1897, ther" VIII mature be-
tween that date and January |. 1899. the
remaining principal Of such subsidy
bonds which must also h" met by the
government. These mOu to NOR"
than $50. GGO, 900 on account "f the UnlOn
Pacific lines. and exceed SCI 900, 600 on
account Of the Central Pacific lines.
The situation " thSS" roads and the
condition Of their Indebtedness to thu
government have been fully get forth
in the reports of vIri0ns committees 10
TIL. present and prior Congresses: and
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