Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-12-10

promising. The effort should be TO save
these Indians from the consequences OF
their own mistakes and improviGence and
TO secure to the real Indian his rights as
against intruders and protested friends
who profit by his retrogreSSi0n.
change IS also needed TO protect life
ana property through the operation o.
courts conducted according to strict jus
tee ana strong enough TO enforce their
mandates.
As a sincere friend of the Indian an
exceedingly anxious that these reforms
should be accomplished with the consent
and aid of the tribes, and thar nc necessity
may be presented for radical or drastic
legislation. I hope, therefore, that the
commission now conducting the negotia-
lions win soon be able 70 report that prog
ress has been made toward friendly ad-
jusrment ot existing difficulties.
1t appears that very valuable deposit
Of gilsoEite or aspbaltum has been found
on the reservation in Utah occupied by the
| Unc0mpahgre Ute Indians. Every con-
sldsratiCn of care for the public interest
and every sensihle business reason die
tate such management or disposal Of this
important source of public revenue as Will
except it from the general rules ana inci-
dents attending the ordinary disposition +
pubic lands, ana secure U me government
q f8ir share 1T least OF its advantages
in place Of is transfer for nominal sum
Endorse the recommendation made by
the present secretary eff the interior as
Weu as his predecessor THAI q permanent
commission consisting of three members,
one of whom shall he an army officer, be
created to perform the duties now deVolv-
commissioner of Indian affairs The man
agcment of the bureau involves such GO-
mer0as and diverse details and the al
NantageS OF an uninterrupted pptlcN are SO
apparent that l hope the change suggested
viii meet the approval Of the congrcss.
Pensions.
The diminution of our enormous pen
sion roll and the decrease OF pe nsiOn e..-
pcn9ituTe which have been SO often conf
IDENTIFY foeetold, still fail in material real.-
cation. the number OF pensioners on the
rolls al the close OF the fiscal year ended
June ~ 1886, was al06iS. TINS IS The lar6~st
nun Ger ever reported. The amount paid
exclusively for the pensions during the
year was Sl3S,2l4, 1874, slight decrease
from that of the preceding year, while the
total expenditures on account OF pensions,
including the cost Of maintaining the de-
paTtment and expenses attending pension
distribution amounted to Si42 3J0,50p.19, or
within a very small fraction Of one-thlrd
of the entire expense OF supporting the gov
eminent during the same year. me nun
her of new pension certificates issued was
S064O OF these, 40, 374 represent original al
lowances of claims and l5,sfS increase OF
sons receiving pensions from the Chlteu
States, but residing in foreign countries,
at the close of the last fiscal year was SOL
and the amount paid to them curing the
year was S5S2 735.3S.
The sum appropriated Tor the payineI'
of pensions for the current ilseal yeaf end
ing June so, 1897, is $li0,G00,Cup, and Tor the
succeeding year it is estimated that the
same amount Will be necessary.
The commissioner of pensions reports
that during the last fiscal year So9 indict-
ments were found against Yleiatofs OF the
pension laws. Upon these indictments lot
convictions resulted.
Abuses Are Demoralizing.
In nv opinion, based upon such state
ments as these and much other lnIoi5na-
ton and observation, the abuses W3lch
! We been allowed to creep 1910 cur pen-
sion system have done incalcuiabIe harm
in demOralizing our people and undernaln,
ing good citizenship. / have endtaVored
within my sphere of official duty 70 pro-
tect oar pension roll and make II what
il should be, a roll Of honor containing
the names Of those disabled III their col1n-
try's service ana worthy OF thelf GQui-
try's affectionate remembrance. When
have seen those who pose as he soldiers
friends active and alert in urging greater
laxity and more reckless pension eXpendi-
lures, while nursing selfish schemes have
deprecated the approach OF a situation
when necessary retrenchment and enforced
economy may lead to an attack Upon pen
sion abuses. so determined as to overlook
dhe discrimination due TO those VINO
worthy Of a nations care, ought e I'VE
and die under the protection CT nation $
gratitude.
The Pacific Railroads.
The secretary calls attention to the pub
lie interests involved in an adjustment Of
the obligations of the Pacific railroads to
the government. deem it to be an impor-
tant duty to especially present this subject
to the consideration Of the congress. On
January l, 1897, with the amount already
matured, more than $13000,00o Of the prin-
cipal OF the subsidy bonds issued by the
United States in aid of the construction of
the Union Pacific railway, including it's
Kansas line, and more than Sc 100000 of like
bonds issued in aid of the central Pacific
railroad. including those issued to the
Western Pacific railroad company, will
have fallen due and been paid or must on
out any reference to the application of the
sinking fund now in the treasury this will
create such n default or the part of these
companies to the government as will give
it the right to at once institute proceed
ings to foreclose its mortgage lien.
In addition to this Indebtedness, which
will be due January l, 1897, there will ma
ture between that date and January l. 1899
the remaining PRINCIPAL of such subsidy
bonds, which must also be met by the gov
eminent. These amount to more than 800
100000 on account of the Union Pacific
lines, and exceed s21. 900 000 on account of
the Central Pacific lines. The situation Of
these roads and the condition of their in
debtedneSS to the government have been
fully set forth IN the reports of various
committees 70 the present ard prior con-
s.~Neses' end as carly as 1887 they were
thoroughly examined b. a special commits
sion appointed pursuant to an act If con-
greSS. The considerations requiring an adj
justment of the governments relations TO
the companies have been clearly presented
and the conclusion reached with practical
uniformity, that if these relations are not
terminated they should be revised upon
basis securing their safe continuance
Under section of the act of congress
passed March 3 1887, the president IS
any mortgage or other incumbrance para
mount to the interest of the United States
in the property of the Pacific railroads
shall exist and be lawfully liable to be
enforced to direct the action of the de-
partments of treasury and Of justice in the
protection of the interest of the United
/ States by redemption or through judicial
! proceedings, including foreclosures of the
! government liens. In view of the fact
! that the congress has for a number of
| years almost constantly had under con-
! sideration various plans for dealing with
! the conditions existing between these roads
! and the government, / have thus far felt
/ justified in Withholding action under the
/ sta tute above mentioned.
Must Take Action.
In the case Of the Union Pacific company,
! however, the situation has become es-
! pecially and Immediately urgent Proceed
ings have been instituted to foreclose a
| first mortgage upon those aided parts Of
the main lines upon which the govern
ment holds a second and subordinate mort
gage lien. In consequence of those pro-
ceedings and increasing complications,
added to the default occurring on the lst
| day Of January, 1897 condition will be
presented at that date, SO far as this com