The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-12-08


the contracts made before this conclusion
was reached.
sion but two armored Vessels. tue 91uDle g4
, turreted monitors Miantonomoh and Mon
ferey. Since that date Of vessels thereto
fore authorized there have been placed IN
their first commission three hrstclass ana
two secondclass battleships, two aFmored
cruisers one harb0r defense ram, i've
double turreted monitors, lneIuuihs lug
Maine and Puritan. just completed.
Eight new unarmored cruisers ana Two
new sQunboats have also, been commis,
stoned The Iowa, another battIeshlpt Will
be completed about March /, and at least
four more gunboats will be ready LOT sea
in the early spring. 1t IS gratifying "
state that our ships and their outfits are
believed to be equal to the best that can *
manufactured elsewhere, and that such
notable reductions have been mace ia ny. lneil
cost as to Justify the statement that qulte
number of vessels are now beng con-
structed at rates as low as those that pre-
vail in European shipyards. our manu-
featuring facilities are at this time ample
for ali possible naval contingencies.
There have been authorized by congress
since March. 1893, five battleships, six light /
submarine torpedo boat. Contracts Tor 1
the building of all of them have been let
The money appropriated on account ot |
this department and for ITS dlsbursenenI
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1896,
amounted TO more than Sl51, ,Ooo,uO or a
greater sum than was appropriated Tor the
entire maintenance of the government Tor
the two fiscal years ended June ~, 1901
Public Lands
Our public lands originally amounting
TO $40, 0,OO0,O 900 acres have been so reduced
that only about o00,000,O0O acres stlll re-
main In government control excluding
Alaska. The balance, being by Tar the
most valuable portion, has been gwen
away to settlers, to new states ana ran,
roads or sold at comparatively nominal
sum.
agree with the secretary that the re
mainder of our public lands should be
more carefully dealt with and theiT aliena-
tion guarded by better economy and greater
prudence
The Postal Union.
The universal postal union, which now
embraces all of the civilized world and
whose delegates will represent ,O0O, 900 600
people, will hold its fifth congress in the
city of Washington in May, 1881
The United States may be SAID 70 nave
taken the initiative which lead to the first
meeting of this congress III Berne, IN 1888
Previous congresses have met in Berne
Lisbon and Vienna, and their respective
countries in which they assembled have
made generous provision for their accom-
modation and for the reception and enter
tainment of the delegates: | earnestly
hope that such appropriation VIII Dt
made for the expenses necessary attendan'
upon the coming meeting.
Our Indians.
The total Indian population Of the United
States is III ,235, according TO censu
made in 1895, exclusive Of those within tn
state OF New York and those comprisinl
the five civilized tribes. of this numbe
there are approximately 3S, GOO children o
school age During the year % ,S9S O
these were enrolled in schools. The pre-
gless which has attended recent efforts I
extend Indian school facilities, and tn
anticipation of continued liberal appr'
priRtions to that end, cannot fail 70 affor
the utmost satisfaction 10 those who b'
lieve that education of Indian children Is
prime factor in the accomplishment
Indian civilization.
1t NAV be said in general terms that
every particular the improvement OF tt
Indians under government care has bee
most marked and encouraging.
The condition of affairs among the h'
civilized tribes, who occupy large tracts
land in the Indian Territory and who ha'
governments of their own, has assum.
such an aspect as to render 1t almost indi
pensable that there should be an enti
change in the relations of these Indians
the general government. This seems to
necessary in furtherance OF their own j
terests as well as for the protection or no
Indian residents in their territory. a cor
mission organized and empowered un'
several recent laws is now negotiating WI
those Indians for the REIMBURSEMENT
their courts and the division Of their col
mon lands in severalty. and are aiding
the settlement Of the troublesome questl
of tribal membership.
A change is also needed to protect l
and property through the operation
courts conducted according 10 strict j
tice and strong enough to enforce tn
mandates.
| endorse the recommendation made
the present secretary of interior, as well
his predecessor, that permanent comm
sion of three members, one of whom sh
be an army officer. be created 10 perfOl
the duties now devolving upon the co
missioner and assistant commissioner
Indian affairs.
Pensions.
The diminution Of our enormous pens
roll, and the decrease of pension expen
ture, which have been so often confiden
foretold, still fail in material realizati
The number of pensioners on the rolls
the close of the fiscal year ended June
1896, was 970,67S. This is the largest nu
Der ever reported. The amount p
exclusively for pensions during the y
was $l3S PA 761 "a, a slight decrease fir
that of the preceding year, while
total expenditures account Of p
sions, including the cost Of ma
tanning the. department and
penses attending pension DISTRIBUTE
amounted TO S142, ,2O6, $50 80, or within
very small fraction of one-third the ent
expense of supporting the governm'
during the same year. The number
new pension certificates issued was eQ.|
OF these, 4O,S14 represent original ALT
ance of claims, and 15,S7s, increases of
isting pensions. The number Of pers
receiving pensions from the I nlteu Sta
but residing in foreign countries at
close of the last fiscal year was 97sl,
the amount paid to them during the Y
was 1882, ,7S5.8s The sum appropriated
the payment Of pensions for the eurr
fiscal year ending June 80, 1897, Is 81
100000, and for the succeeding year il
estimated that the same amount will
necessary.
Pacific Railroads.
The secretary calls attention to the p
lie interests involved in an adjustmen
the obligations of the Pacific railroads