The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-08

irtcnance Of the government Tor the
.,.o fiscal years ended June so, 1861.
Sur public lands, originally amounting
so oO0 900 acres, have been so reduced
y only about 600, 100000 acres still re-
lin in government control, excluding
.1aslxa. The balance. being by far the
- valuable portion, has been given
nav 20 settlers, to new states and to
'uroads, or sold at comparatively NOM
i|oI sum The patenting of land in exc
',ion of railroad grants has progressed
tdlv during the year, and since the
eth day of March, 1898, about 100000
Ires have thus been conveyed to these
oaernorations. / agree with the secretary
80, t,e remainder of our public lands
lSorld be more carefully dealt with, and
,oir alienation guarded by better econ
INV and greater prudence.
abe commission appointed from the
l-,borship Of the National Academy of
n"ienoes. provided for by an act OF con-
80 10 formulate plans for a national
ss.rostrv system, will, it is hoped. soon be
Io,.nared to present the result of thorough
prj Intelligent examination of this inn
norfan; subject.
THE INDIANS.
r,e tota! Indian population of the
,,aited states is IT. 235, according to
ans5s made in 1895, exclusive of those
Thin the state of New York and those
~ mis- number there are approximately
a, an children of school age. During the
or % 1893 of these were enrolled in school,
Tho progress which has attended recent
.sarts 20 extend the Indian school facili-
ios and the anticipation of continued
neral appropriations to that end cannot
'T to afford the utmost satisfaction to
,5ose who believe that the education of
1ndian children is a prime factor
~ The accomplishment Of their civiliza-
. If may be said in general terms that
Nv o,erv particular, the improvement of
10 indians under government care has
been most marked and encouraging.
,rbe secretary, the commissioners of In
Alan affairs and the agents having charge
VI Indians 10 whom allotments have been
D,o5e strongly urge the passage of a law
,rabihiting the sale of liquor to allottees
bo have taken their lands in severally.
.arnestlv Join in this recommendation and
,.sntilre 10 express the hope that the Indian
NAV be speedily protected against this
,rcatest of all obstacles to his well being
N and advancement
an me- condition of affairs among the five
civilized tribes who occupy large tracts of
\ Iand in the Indian territory and who have
governments of their own has assumed
spch an aspect as to render it almost In
5lsnensable that there should be an entire
change in the relations of these Indians to
Fl The general government This seems to
no necessary in furtherance of their own
interest. as well as for the protection of
non-Indan residents in their territory. A
commission organized and empowered I'M
der several recent laws is now negotiating
with these Indians for the REIMBURSEMENT
Z of their courts and the division of their
common lands in severalty and are aiding
in the settlement of the question of tribal
n,embersbip The reception of their first
at p
Ing; but through patience and such conduct
an their part as demonstrated that their
intentions we're friendly and in the interest
Of the tribes, the prospect of success has
become more promising. The effort should
be to save these Indians from the conse-
quence of their own mistakes and improV-
4 idence and to secure to the real Indian ms
rights as against intruders and professed
friends who profit by his retrogression. A
change Is also needed to protect life and
property through the operation OF courts
conducted according to strict justice and
strong enough to enforce their mandates
As a sincere friend of the Indian, am ex-
ceedngly anxious that these reforms
should be accomplished with the consent
and aid of the tribes, and that
n no necessity be presented for radl-
H cal or drastic legislation. ! nope
h therefore that the commission now
H conducting negotiations will soon be aple
to report that progress has been mace
toward friendly adjustment OF eXlsuhs
difficulties.
1t appears that a very valuable deposit
ofGHsonite, or asphaltum, has been found
. on the reservation in Utah occupied by
Il the Uncompahgre Ute Indians. Every
4 consideration of care for the pubic IN
terest and every sensible business reason
dictate such management or disposal OF
this important source of public revenue
f~1. fla rran
Il and incidents attending the ordinary dis
position of public lands and secure to the
4 government a fair share, at least, of its
advantages in place of its transfer for a
nominal sum to interested individuals.
indorse the recommendation made by
the present Secretary of the Interior, as
well as his predecessor, that permanent
commission, consisting of three members,
one of whom shall be an army officer,
be created to perform the duties now de-
volying upon the commissioner and assist
ant commissioner of Indian affairs. The
management of the bureau involves such
numerous and diverse details, and the
advantages of an uninterrupted policy are
so apparent, that hope the change sug-
gested will meet the approval of the con-
gress.
FEDERAL PENSIONS.
The diminution of our enormous pension
roll and the decrease of PEN
sion expenditure, which have
been so often confidently foretold
sui fail in material realization. The
number of pensioners on the roll at the
close of the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896,
was SO,67S This is the largest number
reported. The amount paid exclusively
Tor pensions during the year was $13S, z14,-
"lSi' slight decrease from that OF the
preceding year. while the total expendi-
lures on account of pensions, including
'ne cost of maintaining the department
ana expenses attending pension distribu-
uon amounted to $l42, FOG, $50. SO, or within
very small fraction of one-third of the
Chure expense of supporting the govern
ment during the same year. The num-
YET or new pension certificates was 90,54O
Vi these 40,3H represent original allow
4Aees of claims and 1858 increases of
existing pensions.
me number Of persons receiving PEN
sons from the United States, but resid-
ls IN foreign countries at the close of
'ne last fiscal year. was 1871, and The
%@735.SS.
me sum appropriated for the payment
VI pensions for the current fiscal year
ft,c mn