The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-05
Annual Report of Interior
Department.
Many Important Recommend
atiOns are Made.
Effort Has Been Made to Make Pen
sion Roll a Roll Of Honor.

Washington. Dee. 1.-THE annual report
Of Secretary OF the Interior Francis Is
made public IL deals with all the af-
fairs Of the branches of the interior de-
partment during the past year. and
makes number OF important recon-
mendatlons. IL proposes absolution OF
the vexed problem OF the bonded rail.
roads, and deals exhaustively with the
pension administration, reviews the
Dawes commission negotiations. and
touches upon various matters Of especial
Significance In the west
The report opens with discussion OF
the public domain. 1t shows that the
, total number Of acres disposed of up to
June 80 last was $40, ZOO. 600. leaving pub
lie domain still vacant estimated at over
000 acres, not including the Dis
trict OF Alaska. with an area Of over
SIS ,G00.0Q acres Since the homestead
.ct was passed on May 20, 1862. there have
been 162, 1892, 1872 acres entered by home
stead settlers. OF this almost l03, 100000
acres VIII all be patented when the legal
conditions have been met.
The patents to railroads and wagon
roads since the first grant was made
been 1886, ,691. 1852 acres disposed of by pre-
enption. cash sales. scrip locations, etc.
There are yet cue 10 railroads and
wagon roads under their grants ia. 1856.
GO acres. of which not more than so pei
cent are available for patenting under
the conditions OF the grants. The total
grants Of lands to the various states and
territories up To March II last aggre-
gated Isl, ,S6s,630 acres, IN addition &c
agriculture colleges scrip for $3.50. .000
acres. The total OF afl lands segregated
In the public domain aggregates 946.-
2l9,lG0 acres.
The secretary says in the rate of dis
position OF The last 13 years. which is
2E.000.0j0 acres q year, Is continued fol
/" years TO come, there VIII be little OF
the public domain outside of Alaska in
possession OF the government at the ex.
liration OF that t.gla. During the year
l5.527.S4i acres were patented TO rail.
roads under congress onal grants anG
the secretary thinks that until existing
grants arc adjusted no additional ones
should be made.
The total amount paid by the govern.
ment In pensions and the cost OF dis
bursing the same for the last 81 years Is
S50s4 ST. This lacks only a little
over S3t6. III, 500 of being equal 10 the
high water mark of the interest bearing
public debt. The present number of
ponsioners. which is 970.67s. Is greater
by icG6 than IA 1893. when the maximum
annual cost was reached, and is greater
than ever Lefore. This is due to the
death Of old soldiers and the continuing
payment OF allowances to their heirs.
While the amount paid is decreased
through the death OF invalid pensioners
leaving no dependents The pension
pulicy OF the department has been to
make the pension list roll rob of honor
rather than TO save money TO the govern
ment; the effort has been to defeat the
designs Of inpcsters. while recognizing 6
the claims OF the needy and deserving.
General public sentiment, however is
that the obligation OF the government
is confined 10 those who fought for its
maintenance and those dependent upor
them.
Increase OF from Ss 10 s12 a month Is
recommended for wholly disablcd desti-
tute Mexican soldiers.
Undo the head or Indian affairs the
secre 49, repeats the recommendation
IF his predecessor for a commission OF
three. one Of whom shall be an army
officer, TO take the places of the COM
missioner and assistant commissioner of
Indian affairs
The secretary makes 10 comrent on
the work OF the Dawes Indian commits.
sion, but includes in the report partiai
report OF the commission which is now
enga ged, u7der the act OF June 10, 1896
Ia determining all applications for citi-
zenship in tie 1--WE civilized tribes.
The secretary says he has requested
an opinion from the secretary OF the
treasury as TO whether the Central Pa
piflv, is in default (the roads representa-
tives claiming 1t is not), and of the at
torney as to whether If in default he is
authorized TO patent lands granted to
bond aided railroads even when they
have been sold to bona flde purchasers.
Referring to the railroad commissions
ers recommendations for commission
to settle the indebtedness OF bond-aided
railroads, the secretary says: In my
judgment II is much better for the GOV
Crnment TO accept a lump suin in cash
for its claim against these roads If. by
doing SO, that claim can be settled, and
the connection between the govcrnment
sud the only roads il has ever aieed by
direct subsidy he enectually severed.
SUcn bOluto1 or THIS NcECd question
would meet with the hearty approval OF
the people generally and relieve the
legislators ard all branches OF the gov
ernment OF troublesome problem and
q trying responsibility"
With rerctd 10 the NicGraguan Mari
time Canal company, chartered by the
government in 1889, the secretary says
preliminary report CT the committee
submitted GO him shows that no work
was done daring the present yeGr.
VIII : rsv.a with Howard
Columbus. Ca. Dec. Fired J. Estcs,
editor OF the Gvcning CaIl OF this city
has beer appointed by President Comp.
ers as southern organizer for the Ameri.
can Federation OF Labor, and will enter
upon his dUtlcs at once. travelling with
HON. EoL art Howard OF rnll River Mas