The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-12-17

accomplishment OF Indian civilization.
The condition OF aiairs among the i've civilized
tribes. who occupy large tracts OF land In the
Indian territory and who have governments OF
their own. has assumed such an aspect as 70
render 1t almost Indispensable that there
should be an entire change In the relations OF
these Indians to the general government This
seems to be necessary in furtherance OF their
own interests as well as foe the protection OF
non-Indian residents in their territory.
commission organized and empowered under
several recent laws is now negotiating with
these Indians for the REIMBURSEMENT of their
courts and the division OF their common lands
in sevcralty.
Tho Pension Roll.
The diminuiion OF our enormous pension
roll and the decrease OF pension expenditures
which have been so often foretold still fail In
material realization The number Of pension
ers on the rolls at the close OF the fiscal year
ended June 49, 1895, was g70,65S This Is the
largest number ever reported. The amonnt
paid exclusively for pensions durlag the year
was siSs ,76i9t q slight decrease from that
OF the preceding year, while the total expend-
itures on account OF pensions, including the
cost OF maintainence OF the department
and expenses attending pension distribution
amounted to slia,206 80. or within very
small fraction OF one-third of the entire cx-
pense OF supporting the government during the
same year. The number OF new pension certih-
Gates issued was, 00.Gi0 OF these 40. 374 repre-
sent original allowances OF claims and l5S1s
Increases of existing pensions. The number OF
persons receiving pensions from the United
States. but residing in foreign countries at the
close OF the last fiscal year was 3,1sl, and the
amount paid to them during the year was
$50 73S, Ss. The sum appropriated for the pay
ment OF pensions for the current fiscal year,
ending June 80. 1897. is sii00 n0lL and for the
succeeding year IL is estimated that the same
amount will be necessary.
The Pacific Railroads.
The secretary calls attention to the public
interests involved in an adjustment OF the OBJ
legations ot the Pacific railroads to the govern
ment deem 10 to he an important duty to es-
peclally present this subject to the consider
alton OF the congress On January II, 1897
with the amount already matured more than
slSOoo,0OO OF the principal OF the subsidiary
bond issued by the United states in aid OF the
construction of the Union Pacific railway, in
cluding it's Kansas line, and more than s6OO0,-
90 OF like bonds, issued in aid of the Central
Pacific railroad, including those issued 90 the
Western Pacific Railway Co., will have fallen
due and been paid or must on that
day be paid by the government With
ont any reference TO the application Of
the sinking funds now in the treasury
this will create such q default on the part Of
the companies to the government as will give
It the right to at once institute proceedings to
foreclose its mortgage lien. In addition to
this Indebtedness which will be due January
|, 1897, there will mature between that date
and January 1. 1899, The remaining principal OF
such subsidy bonds which must also be met by
the government These amount to more than
81 900, ,0OJ account of the Union Pacific
lines and exceeds s2l 1900 on account OF the
Central Pacific lines.
The Agricultural Dep partment.
The department OF agriculture is so inti-
mntely related to the welfare of our people and
the prosperity OF our nation that 1t should con-
'stantly receive the care and encouragement of
| the government The secretary reports that
! the value OF our exports Of farm products dur
ing the last fiscal year amounted tc
8 T0.0J0000. an increase OF sl7000,0Jo over
| those OF the year Immediately preceding
| This statement is not the less welcome be
| cause OF the fact that Notwithstanding such in
| crease the proportion of exported agricultural
products to our total exports of all description
! fell off during the year. The benefits OF an in
| crease in agricultural products being assured
| the decrease in its proportion to our total ex-
| ports is more gratifying when we consider that
1t is coming to the fact that such total exports
! for the year increased more than ;75,O00,O0o
The large and increasing expectation OF our
agricultural products suggests the great use-
| tulness OF the organization lately established
| In the department for the purpose of gettinr
to those engaged in the farming pursuits re-
/ liable information concerning the condition
needs and advantages OF different fore igr
]
farmer depends upon the advantageous sal,
of his products and ina smuch as foreign mar
kets must largely be the destination OF sucl
| products, it is quite apparent that a knowledge
| of the conditions and wants that afec
these markets ought to result IL
sowing more intelligently and reap
ing with better promise of profit
| Such information points out the way to a pru
dent foresight in the selection and cultva
tion of crops and TO release from the bond
| age of unreasoning monotomy OF protection,
glutted and depressed market and constants,
recurring Improbable toll. In my opinion tt,
gratuitous distribution OF seeds by the depart
ment at present conducted ought to b,
discontinued.
Civil Service Reform.
The progress made in civil service reform
| furnishes cause for the utmost congratula
tion. 1t has survived the doubts of its friend
! as well as the rancor of its enemies and ha
! gained n permanent place among the agencies
destined to cleanse our politics and improve
| economiZe and elevate the public service
| There are now in the competitive elassihe,
! service upwards of Sl.00I places. More thai
half of these have been included from time q
time since March 4, 1893. a most radical an,
| sweeping extension made by executive
order dated the 9Th day Of May, 1896
and il fourth-class postm lsterships are not in
| cluded in the statement it may be said tina
practically all positions contemplated by tn
| civil service Law are now classified Abundan
reasons exist for including these postmaster
ships, based upon economy. improved service
| and the peace and quiet OF neighborhoods. II
however obstacles prevent such action u
present, earnestly hope that congress will
without increasing post office ppropriations
so adjust them as to permit in proper cases o
a consolidation OF these post offices to the en-
that through this process The result desire,
may to a limited extent be accomplished.
The Tariff.
l desire to recur TO the statements else
where made concerning the government re
ceipts and expenditures for the purpose o
venturing upon some suggestions touching ou
present tariff law aud its operations Thi
statute took effect on the 18th day OF August
1894 Whatever may be its shortcomings as
complete measure Of tarin reform, it must b.
conceded that it has opened up th
way to freer and greater ex
change OF commodities between us and othe
countries and thus furnished wider MARIE
for our products and manufactures Tn
only entire fiscal year during which this Law
has been in force ended on the 30th day o
June, 1894 In that year our imports increased
over those OF the previous year more thar
I s5.5O0,0JO while the value OF the domestic prod
ucts exported and which found mar
kets abroad was nearly 700 900
more than during the preceding year
Those who insist that the cost to our peopl,
of articles coming TO them from abroad 70
their needful use should only be increase,
through tariff changes to an extent necessar
to meet the expenses OF the government. a
well as those who claim that tariff change
may be laid upon such articles beyond tn
necessities of government revenue, and wit
the additional purpose OF SO increasing tbei
price In our markets as to give American