The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-07

Tor the fiscal year ended June 30. 1895,
amounted to more than $l57 100000 or a
!, greater sum than was appropriated for
the entire maintenance of the govern.
ment for the twosfscal years ended June
30. 1861.
Our public lands. originally amounting
to 1.Si0. 900 acres, have been so re-
duced that only about GOO. .000.O 600 acres stiii
remain In government control, excluding
Alaska. The balance. being by far the
most valuable portion. has been given
away to settlers. TO new states ana 10
railroads, or sold at comparatively
nominal sum.
The patenting Of land ir execution or
railroad grants has pros 'sed rapidiy
during the year. and since ,~s 4th day oi
March 1898 about 25.O0o.O0O acres nave
thus been conveyed to these corporations
l agree with the secretary that the re-
mainder of our public lands should he
more carefully dealt with and their allen
alton guarded by better economy and
greater prudence. The commission APP
pointed from the membership or the ma
tional academy OF sciences. provided Tor
by an act os congress. to formulate plans
for national forestry system. VIII, IL
Is hoped, soon be prepared to present the
result Of thorough and intelligent OK
animation OF this important subject.
The total Indian population OF the
| United States Is 117.235, according 10
census made In 1898. exclusive OF those
| within the STATE of New York and those
| comprising the five civilized tribes. vi
| this number there are approximately os'-
| 100 children OF school age. During the year
| 23.393 of these were enrolled In schools.
| The progress which has attended recent
| efforts TO extend Indian school facilities,
| and the anticipation of contNeued liberal
appropriations to that end, can not fail
| to afford the utmost abstraction to those
who believe that the education OF IN
| dian children is a prime factor In the
| accomplishment of Indian civilization.
| 1t may be said I'm general terms that
| i'm every particular the Improvement OF
| the Indians under government care has
| been most marked and encouraging. The
secretary, the commissioner OF Indian
| affairs and the agents having charge OF
| Indians to whom allotments have been
| made strongly urge the passage of a law
| prohibiting the sale of liquor to allottees
| who have taken their lands i'm severalty.
| I earnestly join i'm this recommendation,
| and venture to express the hope that the
| Indian may be speedily protected against
| the greatest OF all obstacles to his we'll
| being and advancement.
endorse 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-
| volving upon the commissioner and as
| sistant 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
| suggested will meet the approval OF the
| congress.
PENSIONS.
| The diminution OF our enormous PEN
| sion roll and the decrease Of pension ex-
| penditure, which have been so often con-
| fidently foretold still fail i'm material re-
| alizaton. The number Of pensioners on
the rolls at the close OF the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1885, was 97O,67s This is
| the largest number ever reported. The
| amount paid exclusively for pensions dur
| ing the year was sl3S, ,2l4. 1G1@ slight de-
| crease from that of the preceding year.
| while the total expenditures on account
Of pensions. including the cost OF main
| tanning the department and expenses at
| tending pension distribution, amounted 10
| $142, ,2O6. $50 SO. or within a very small frac-
| ton Of one-third of the entire expense
| of supporting the government during the
same year. The number of new pension
certificates issued was 9o,G40 or these
4O,374 represent original allowances OF
claims and 15,S7S increases of existing pen
sions.
The number of persons receiving pen
sions from the United States but resid-
ing in foreign countries at the close of
the last fiscal year was 3,1S1, and the
amount paid to them during the year was
S5S2, 1888. The sum appropriated for the
payment of pensions for the current fiscal
year ending June 80, 1897, is $140, 600, 000 and
for the succeeding year it is estimated
that the same amount will he necessary.
The commissioner of pensions reports
that during the last fiscal year 500 indct-
ments were found against violaters Of
the pension laws. Upon these indictments
167 convictions resulted.
In my opinion, based upon such state
ments as these and much other informa-
tion and observation, the abuses which
have been allowed to creep into our pen
sion system, have done incalcuable harm
in demoralizing our people and undermin-
ing good citizenship. i have endeavored
within my sphere OF official duty to pro-
tect our pension roll end make ii what
1t should be. roll of honor. containing
the names of those disabled i'm their
country's service, and worthy of their
countrys affectionate remembrance
When have seen those who pose as ths
soldiers friends active and alert in urging
greater laxity and more reckless pension
expenditure while nursing selfish schemes
/ have deprecated the approach of 81 sit
uation when necessary retrenchment and
enforced economy may lead to an attack
upon pension abuses so determined as
to overlook the discrimination due TO
those who. worthy of n nations care
ought to live and die under the protec-
tion of nations gratitude.
RAILROADS OBLIGATIONS.
The secretary calls attention to the pub
lie interests involved i'm an adjust
ment Of the obligations of the Pacific
railroads to the government. / deem IL TO
be an important duty to especially pre-
sent this subject to the consideration of
the congress.
On Jan. 1, 1897. with the amount aIready
matured. more than 81, 100000 of the prin-
cipal of the subsidy bonds issued by the
United States In aid of the construction
Of the Union Pacific railway including
its Kansas line and more than Sc 900 600
of like bonds issued I'm 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 that day be paid by the govern
ment. without any reference to the ap-
plcation Of the sinking fund now I'm the
treasury.
This will create such default on the
part Of these companies to the govern
ment as will give II the right to at once