Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-05

domain. Ms congress took no further
action on the subject after receiving the
reply OF my predecessor to It's resolution OF
January 16, 1896, have not felt justified In
changing the situation as | found It. |
recommend that congress authorize the APP
pontment OF another commission to nego-
tlate with the UncOmpahgres, explain to
them how the lands allotted can be paid for
without depicting their trust fund, and tina;
authority be given to such commission to
sell Csubject to the approval OF the secretary
OF the INTERIOR the remaining portion OF
the lands OF the reservation to tho highest
bidder, lease them or to negotiate with
responsible parties for the working of the
deposits, in order that the government
may be fairly compensated and to the end
that the public may enjoy the benefits OF
a highly useful gift Of nature, II thesc
lands were the property Of the Indians
there could be no question as TO the above
described method being the proper one
to adopt in the disposition thereof. In
my opinion, however, the Indians have no
interest In these Utah lands. II there Is
not sufficient agricultural lands within the
limits Of the Utah reservation to provide
Tor their allotment under the agreement of
1850 the government would be under obliga-
ton to furnish agricultural lands elsewhere
for allotment to the Unccmpahgros.
Ihe secretary makes no comment on the
WORK OF the Dawes Indian commission. but
includes in the report a partial report of
under the act of June 10. 1896, in de-
termning all applications for citizenship in
the hve civilized tribes. by the terms OF tle
act that work must be completed by De-
cember TO- 1896.
BOND-AIDED RAILROADS.
Under the head OF bonl-aided railroads
the secretary says he has complied with tho
JOINT resolution of June 10. 1896, recurring
him to continue the issue OF patents TO bona
mo purchasers Of lpp1g oil b,,
railroads, but he says he declined to issue
lateht5 to all surveyed lands on the applica-
tlon OF the Central Pacific He SAYS. "The
representatives. OF the Central Pacific fur
ther contended their road is not in default
10 the government and that If It were the
lahdS were not covered by the government
mortgage and cannot he held to secure The
same. | do not agree with either of these
statements The tables presented clearly
snow that the Central Pacific railroad is in
default to the government but whether so
or not II unquestionably will he on Ianu-
airy ] next, or about thirty DAYS hence when
81, $4,000 additional of its Indebtedness. to-
gether with thirty years interest thereon,
WIZ fall due and must be redeemed by the
government.
In answer to the contention that tho
government lien is not secured by the lands
granted the Central and Union Pacific com
Tanles, section of the act of 1862 pro-
Vldes that on the refusal or failure of n
thereof, the secretary of the treasury NAV
take possession of all lands which at tho
time OF said default shall remain i'm the
ownership OF the company For the above
reasons | have declined to patent lands to
the Union Pacific railroad or the Central
Pacific railroad except in cases where II
can be shown that the lands for which pat
ents are asked have been sold to bona -lde
purchasers. Inasmuch as the subsidy bonds
Issued by the government to aid in the CON
tpItR ttnYa Yag,f
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 so paid and the further reason
that bill Is now pending in congress pro-
Viding for a funding OF this Indebtedness I
deem 1t the part of prudence for this gov
ernment to retain whatever of the property
OF the roads 1t may have in its possession
or in Its control until there shall be an ad-
1ustment OF the amounts due the govern
ment"
PROPOSES A COMPROMISE.
The secretary says he has requested an
opinion from the secretary of the treasury
as to whether the Central Pacific is in de-
tault and the attorney general ao to whether
III In default. he Is authorized to patent lands
granted to bOnd-aided roads, even when they
have been sold to bona hde purchasers 1t
will be noticed the secretary. by implication
questions the authority OF the concurrent
resolution directing him to continue the issue
OF patents. Referring to the railroad commits
2!oners' recommendation for a commission
to settle the indebtedness of the bond
aided roads, the secretary Sayp: Congress is
not likely to delegate to any commission the
power to settle this indebtedness without
making such settlement subject to it's ap-
prOval; but whether congress would do SO or |
not the delay consequent upon the appoint |
ment of n commission and its work would be |
10 great that most or all of the bonds |
Issued In aid of these roads would mature |
and the government be called upon to redeem |
them. In the meantime, her bills would be |
introduced seeking to effect other settle |
ments, and in the end the government would |
receive less for it's claim than 1t would II |
compromise by the cash payment of a lump |
sum should be effected in the immediate flu |
ture, and the government become relieved !
thereby from all connection with theue roals !
This Indebtedness has been subject of at |
tempted legislation for many years mast ;
and II seemg impossible to frame any renewal |
or extension of the loan which will be accent |
able TO both the legislators and the indebted |
companies. A funding of the debt which |
contemplates the government accepting long
time bonds for its advances will not remove
this troublesome subject from the conSiera-
tion of congress- and would probably result !
I'm renewed measures for the relief of the
roads being proposed as those bonds ap-
proach maturity.
"In my judgment, it Is much better for the
BuNti HiltHt W dCitpl u lump sum IN casa
for ito claim again9t these roads, if by
doing 80 that claim can be settled and the
connection between the government and the
only roads ii has ever aided by direct sub
sidy be efiectuaiy severed Such solu-
tiOn of thio veXed question would meet the
hearty approval CT the people generally ami
Relieve the legislators and all branches of the
government Of p trnubIesnme problem and
t1yiEs ISzponfttir'g.~
Nt''n regard 10 We ,icarsgpsn Maritime
Eanat cOTnptny, chartered by the government
an 1889, the secretary says preliminary re-
port of the company Submitted to him shows
that no work was done during the present
year.
In conclusion. the secretary calls attention
10 the cramped quarters of the Interior de-
pRrtment, the. large sum paid for rent an
nually, reaching $40 Geo last year and earn
estly recommends the erection OF another
structure on a block adjacent to the present
building, adequate TO accumulate all
branches OF tho department.
Cash In the Treasury.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-TOday's statement
OF the condition OF the treasury, shows: