Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-12-12
MACON MISSISSIPPI, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 70, 1895.

was appropriated for the entire maintenance
q the government for the two fiscal years
ended June 20. 1851.
81 The Public Domain.
Our public lands. originally amounting to
f,630,Q00 acres, have been so reduced that only
ABOUT 60J,0O0O0O acres stiti remain In govern
Ment control, excluding Alaska. The bal
Hnce, being by far the most valuable portion,
mas been given away to settlers, to new states
and TO railroads, or sold at a comparatively
nominal sum.
/ National Forestry System.
{ The commission appointed from the mem.
IperShipOf the National academy OF sciences
provided for by an act OF congress to formulate
plans for national forestry system. will. 1t 10
I hoped, soon be prepared IN present the result
o. thorough aud intelligent examination Of this
important subject.
Our Indian Wards.
The total Indian population OF the United
AtateS - lT,x35. according to census made In
5{S5 exclusive Of those within the state Of
New York and those comprising the five civil
ised tribes. Of this uumter there are approx
imately 81 0V children Of school age. During
the year ", sos Of these were enrolled and may
be In schools. The progress which has attend
90 recent efforts to extend Indian school facil-
tiles, and the anticipation OF continued liberal
appropriations 10 that end, can not fail to
kf0rd lhe utmost satisfaction to those who be-
Il X|ev0 1A&t the education Of Indian children 10
prime factor In the accomplishment Of In
| ess.-.sss The Five Civilized Tribes.
q Tue condition Of nfiairs among the. Eve civil.
rlE8@ trihes. who occupy large tracts Of land in
nVftB Vf t1off ewa,i - - such an as
pect as to render 1t almost indispensable th6t
there should be On entire change in the rela-
tions Of those Indians to the general govern
ment This seems to be necessary in further
ance OF their own interests, as well as for the
protection Of non-Indian residents In their ter
ritory A commission organized and em-
powered under several recent laws Is now
negotiating with these Indians for the
REIMBURSEMENT Of their courts and the d.
vision OF their common lands In severalty,
and are aiding In the settlement the trouble-
some question OF tribal membership The
reception Of their first proffers Of negotiation
was not encouraging, but through patience and
such conduct on their part as demonstrated
that their intentions were friendly, and in the
interest Of the tribes, the prospect of success
has become more promising.
Utah Glisonite Deposits.
1t appears that n very valuable deposit Of
gilsonite or asphaltum has been found on the
reservation In Utah occupied by the Uncom-
paghre Ute Indians. Every consideration OF
care for the public interest, and every sensible
business reason, dictate such management or
disposal Of this important source Of public
revenue as will except 1t from the general
rules and Incidents. attending the ordinary dis
position OF public lands and secure TO the gov
crnment fair share at least, OF its advantages
In place OF Its transfer for nominal sum to in
terested individualism
A Permanent Indian Commission.
indorse the recommendation made by the
present secretary Of the interior, as well as
his predecessor. that apermanent commission,
consisting of three members, one OF whom
shall be an army officer, be created to perform
the duties now dev0lving upon the commits
sioner and assistant commissioner OF Indian
affairs.
The Pension Roll.
The diminution OF our enormous pension roll
ana the decrease OF pension expenditure which |
have been so often confidently toretod still fail
in material realization. The number OF PEN
stoners on the roll at the close of the fiscal |
year ended June 80, 1896 was 970,67s This is
the largest number ever reported. The amount |
paid exclusively for pensions during the year |
was $las,2l4iGl0i, n Slight decrease from that |
OF the preceding year, while the total expendi- |
lures on account OF pensions, including the |
expenses attending pension distribution |
amounted to SlI2, ,2O6ti650, or within very |
small fraction of one-thrd Of the entire ex- |
pense of supporting the government during |
the same year. The number Of new pension |
certificates issued was Q08i0. OF these 40,374 |
represent original allowance Of claims, and l5,-
e7s increases OF existing pensions The num-
Der OF persons receiving pensions from the |
at the close of the last fiscal year, was S,7sI, |
and the amount paid to them during the year |
was S5S2.135 3S. The sum appropriated for the |
pavment OF pensions for tho current fiscal |
yeas ending dune 20, 1897, Is sli0,C00Q0O, and |
FOR he succeeding year II Is entimated that the |
same raioUnt will bG nert ssars.
81 fysi.'nissloneI OF pensions reports that !
.i.'.,} the lass nsu,j 5epr3' indictments werc I
l@uHl agninst tlolatOfS ~ y pension laws. I
suited
Pacific Railroad Obligations.
The secretary calls attention to the puhllo |
interests involved in an adjustment OF the OBJ /
legations OF the Pacific railroads to the govern
ment. deem 1t to be all important duty to |
especially present this subject to the consider
tion of the congress.
Under section OF the act OF congress passed |
March 3, 1857, the president is charged with
the duty In the event that any mortgage or
other incumbrance paramount to the interest |
OF the United States In the property. OF the |
Pacific railroads shall exist and be lawfully |
liable to be foreclosed, to direct the action Of J
the departments OF the treasury ana OF justice |
in the protection Of the interest OF the United |
States by redemption or through judicial pro-
ceedings, including foreclosures Of the gov
ernment liens, In view OF the fact that the |
congress has for number of years almost
constantly had under consideration various
plans for dealing with the conditions existing
between these roads and the government, / |
have thus far felt justified in Withholding ac-
tion under the statute above mentioned.
An Urgent Situation.
In the case OF the Union Pacific company,
however. the case has become especially and
Immediately urgent Proceedings have been
instituted 10 foreclose n first mortgage upon
these aided parts Of the main lines upon
which the government holds u second and
subordinate mortgage lien. In consequence Of
these proceedings and increasing cOmplica-
tions, added to the default occurring on the
first day OF January, 1907, o condition will be
presented ut that date, SO far as this company
is concerned, that must emphasize the man
date OF the act OF 1857 and give to executive
duty under Its provisions d more important
aspect u
Therefore, unless congress shall otherwise
direct or shall have previously determined
upon different solution Of the problem there
will hardly appear to exist any reason for de-
laying, beyond the date OF the default above
mentioned, such executive action as will prom
ise to subservc the public interests and save
the government from tho loss threatened by
further inaction.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Worthy OF Constant Care and Encourage
ment.
The department of agriculture is so inti-
mately related to the welfare OF our people and
the prosperity OF our nation that 1t
I