The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-12-10
FRANCIS ONLY REPORT
Work Of the Year In the Inter-
ior Department.
PENSION ROLL ONE OF HONOR.
The Secretary Says the Policy Has Not
Been to Save Money-An Effort Made
TO Defeat Impostors But Reward the
Deserving-Other Points.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The report Of
Secretary of the Interior Francis opens
with a discussion of the public domain.
1t shows that the total number of acres
disposed of up to June 30 last we're
946, 900, 900, leaving public domain still
vacant estimated at over 600, 900,
not including the district of Alaska,
with an area of over 1863, 900, 900 acres.
Figures that are given demonstrate
that the country is being settled with
great rapldity and that the public do
main is being diminished by great
strides. If the rate of disposition of
the last 10 years, which is 25,000,000
acres year is continued for 13 years to
come, there will be little of the public
domain outside of Alaska in possession
Of the government at the expiration of
that time.
Discussing forest reservations the re-
port says no permits to cut timber on
public lands should be granted for any
purpose other than to supply the needs
of actual settlers in the neighborhood
of the forests where timber is to be cut
and should be accompanied by all posi-
BILE safeguards. Secretary Francis urges
upon congress the necessity for legisla-
tion for the reclamation and disposal Of
lands within the arid regions
The totol amount paid by the govern
ment in pensions and the cost of dis
bursting the same for the last 81 years
is 81, ,034, ,Sl7,769 This lacks only lit
tie over $346, 6,7l2, 800 of being equal to
the high water mark of the interest
bearing public debt. The present num-
ber of pensioners, which is 970,678, is
greater by 4,G66 than in 1893, when the
maximum annual cost was reached, and
is greater than ever before. This is due
to the death of old soldiers and the cou-
tinued payment of allowances to their
heirs, while the amount paid is de.
creased through the death of invalid
pensioners leaving no dependents.
The pension policy of the department
has been to make the pension list q roll
of honor rather than to save money to
the government the effort has been to
defeat designs of impostors, while rec
ognizing the claims of the needy and
deserving.
General public sentiment, however,
is that the obligations Of the govern
for its maintenance and those depend
ent upon them. The total number Of
our pensioners in foreign countries was
3,78l, who were paid $582,733. The
commissioner of pensions has been di.
rected to accept from pensioners resid.
ing in Germany only such declaration
and other papers Of claimants as may
be made before q United States minis
ter or consul or other consul officer of
the United States. The state depart
ment has been requested to instruct our
representatives. abroad to make the no.
torial fee 25 cents, compensation in
vogue here.
Increase from SS to $l2 per month is
recommended for all wholly disabled
and destitute Mexican war survivors.
. Under the head of Indian affairs the
secretary repeats the recommendation
of his predecessor for a commission of
three, one of whom shall be an army
officer, to take the place of the commits.
sioner and assistant commissioner of
Indian affairs. With regard to the dis.
pute over the Uncompahgre Indian res.
ervation in Utah, in which valuable
deposits of asphaltum have been dis.
covered. Secretary Francis expressed
the opinion that some legislation should
be enacted whereby the people of the
United States can at an early date have
the benefit of these valuable and useful
deposits.
The secretary makes no comment on
the work of the Dawes Indian commits
sion, but includes in the report a par.
tial report of the commission. which
is now engaged under the act of June
10, 1896, in determining all applications
for citizenship in the five civilized
tribes. BY the terms of the act that
work must be completed by Dec. 10.
1896. The commission says the work is
progressing with celebrity that ex.
ceeded their expectations. They have
already examined 1859 of the 1000
claims.
roads the secretary says he has complied
with the joint resolution of June 10,
1896. requiring him to continue the is.
lands sold by bOndaided railroads. but
he says he declined to issue patents to
all surveyed lands on the application of
the Central Pacific.
He says: "The representatives of the
Central Pacific further contended that
their road is not in default to the gov.
ernment, and that if it were the lands
are not covered by the government
mortgage and cannot be held to secure
the same.
al do not agree with either of these
statements. The tables presented
clearly show that the Central Pacific
railroad is in default to the government
but whether so or not. it unqueStion.
ably will he ON Jan. ! next, or about 30
days hence, when 81. .432. 900 additional
OF its indebtedness, together with 80
years interest thereon, will fall due
and must be redeemed by the govern
ment.
'In answer to the contention that the
government lien is not secured by the
lands granted the Central and Union
Pacific com anies. section of the act
OF 1869, provides that on the refusal or
failnre of company to redeem its
bonds or an, part thereof the secretary
OF the treasury may takR possession of
all lands which at the time of said de-
fault shall remain in the ownership of
the company.
"For the above reasons ! have de-
clined to patent lands to the Union
Pacific railroad or the Central Pacific
railroad. except in cases where il can be
shown that he lands for which patents
are asked have been sold to bona fide
purchasers. Inasmuch as the subsidy
bonds issued by the government to aid
in the .const uction of these roads are
falling due 'om time to time, and must
be redeemed by the government as they
mature, while the roads are unable to
reimburse the treasury for the amount
40 paid, and the further reason that a