Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-12-18

and their alienation guarded By better seon-
omy and greater prudence.
The indians.
The total Indian population Of the United
States 10 177.23 according to q census made
liz 1895. exclusive Of those within the State
e Ct Msw 1 seiSes and 81 seG tsi, eG nn%Ds.4 F{h the Ave Ave
aproximately $1,000 childsen OF school age.
D .o91a1 the yeaf 2s;ses Of these were en-.
s sttends ~ s sassnt Eng ptosres: which in has
school faSsil!ties. and the anticipation Of CON
comet sion e f ssa.s to v ias0f Si,, the Utmost 4. sa sssss.
the accompaniment Of fndfl1s civilization.
It may be said 10 general terms that In
Indians under Government care has been
The Secretary. the Comml;sioner Of In.
Indians to whom allotments have been made
ting tho sale Of liquor to aliottees who have
join In this recommendation.
eify' 1ans t. tribes hes who occupy large tracts
have governments Of their own, has assum.
ed such an aspect % to render 1t almost
Indispensable that there should be an en-
tire change In the relations Of these Indi-
ans to the general government. A COM
mission organized and empowered under sew
eral recent laws Is now negotiating with
these Indians for the relinquishment and
the division OF their common lands In sew
crafty. and are aiding In the settlement Of
tne troublesome question OF tribal member
ship. The effort should be to save these In
dams from the consequences Of their own
mistakes and improvidence, and to secure
to the real Indian his rights as against In
truders and Irofessed friends who profit
OF the Indian I am exceedingly anxious that
these reforms should be accomplished with
the consent and aid of the tribes, and that
no necessity may be presented for radical
or drastic legislation.
The Pension Roll.
The diminution of our enormous pension
roll and the decrease Of pension expendi-
ture: which have been so often confidently
The number Of pensioners on the rolls at
$500. was 97o.07s., This is tho largest num-.
clusiyely, for pensions during the year
wac $13s.214. 1914. a slight decrease from
that Of the preceding year. while the total
Guiding the cost Of maintaining the de-
partment and expenses attending the pen
sion distribution, amounted to $142, 200, $50. 80,
Of the entire expense Of supporting the
G0vernment during the same year.
.u e6e w nam aoe4 q ne Gs Isas = ~ e saa is.
eoSN wac OVsVfO. Ol tueSe 4U,O(4 represent
original allowances Of claims and 1888 In
creascs of existing pensions. The number
81 persons receiving pensions from the
tries. at the close Of the last fiscal year, was
3.7s1. and tho amount paid to them during
the year was $3.50. 1885. The sum appro,
current fiscal year ending June 80. 1897. is
y o,ooo.ooo and for the succeeding year 1t
ID that the same amount will be
necessary.
The Commissioners NJ pons,ors ro,o,+.
that during the last fiscal ycnr $3.50 indict-
ments were found against v~iolators Of the
pension W Upon these indictments 1G7
convictions resulted. In my opinion, based
upon such statements as these and much
other Information and observation, the abus-
es which have been allowed to creep into
harm In demoralizlng our people and under
mining good citizenship. I have endeavored
within my sphere Of official duty to protect
our pension roll and make 1t what 1t should
be. a roll Of honor. containing the names
Of those disabled In their country's service
and worthy Of their country's affectionate
pose as the soldiers friends, active and
alert in urging greater laxity and more reck-
less pension expenditure. while nursing self
Ism schemes. ! have deprecated the approach
OF q situation where necessary retrench-
ment and enforced economy may lend to
an attack upon pension abuses, 80 deter
mined as to overlook the discrimination due
to those who, worthy Of a nations care.
ought to live and die under the protection
Of q nations gratitude.
Pacific Raj, oaes.
The Secretary calls attention to the public
obligations of the Pacific railroads to the
Government. deem 1t to be nn Important
duty to especially present this subject to
the consideration Of Congress. On Jan. !.
1897. with the amount already matured.
more than S13,O0O,0OO of the principal Of the
subsidy bonds issued by the United States in
did Of the construction Of the Union Pa
Il Nif1O RQ1luav tnpI31tnu tfo Il n N n lima aud
more than $6,OOO.OO0 of like bonds, issued
in MD Of the Central Pacific Railroad. in
Guiding those issued to the Western Pacific
been paid or must on that day be paid by
the Government. Without any reference to
the application OF the sinking fund now in
the treasury this Will create such IL default
on the part Of these companies to the Gov
ernment as will give 1t the right to ut once
institute proceedings to forec!osc Its mort
which will be due Jan. 1. 1897. there Will
mature between that date and Jan. 1, 1890,
the remaining principal of such subsidy
bonds, which must also be met by the Gov
ernment. These amount to more than 500
OOO.OOO. on account of the Union Pacific
lines, and exceed 21.Oo0.Ooo on account Of
the Central Pacific lines.
The situation of these roads and the con-
diton of their Indebtedness to the Govern
nent have been fully Sc: forth in the reports
of various committees to the present and
prior Congresses. In view Of the fact that
the Congress has for Il number of years al
most constantly had under consideration va
rious plans for dealing with the conditions
existing between these roads and the Gov
ernment l have thus far felt justified in
withholding action under the statute above
mentioned. In the case Of the Union Pa
citic Company, however,. tho situation lus
become especially and Immediately urgent.
Proceedings have been Instituted to fore
close Il first mortgage upon those aided parts
Of the main lines upon wlic, the Govern
meMt holds a second and subordinate mort
gage lien. In consequence of those pro-
ceedings and increasing complications add
ed to the default occurring the 1st day OF
January, 1897, a condition vim be presented
cerned. that must emphasize the mandate
of the act of 1887 and give to executive duty
under Its provisions a more imperative as
pect. Therefore. unless Congress shall
| determined upon a different solution of the
problem. there will hardly appear to exist
any reason for delaying beyond the date of
the default above mentioned, such executive
lie interests and save the Government from
the loss threatened by further i%naction.
Department. Il A"ric:lTu-e
The Department of Agriculture Is so In
timately related to the welfare OF our peo-