Evening journal., 1896-12-05

~f"'' wants ~ tNhlAA'hH N'iH+f"H
Increase In the Amount of the Pension
Roll Recommendation Regarding the
Administration of Internal Affairs.
WAsHINGTnN, Doc 5-The annual r.
port OF Secretary OF the Interior Francis
has been made public. Ii deals with all
The affairs Of the branches OF the interior
department. during the past year and
makes a number of important fecommcn-
,lations. ltproposes solution Of the vexed
problem OF the bonded railroads and deals
exhaustivcly with the pension administra-
ton.
The report opens with discussion Of
the public domain. 1t shows that the to-
tai number of acres disposed of up to June
30 last was s46, 600, 600 leaving public do
main still vacant estimated at over 5OO.-
600, 600 acres, not including the district
Of Alaska, with an area Of over 1853, 000. O0G
acres. Since the homestead act was passed.
on May 20. 1852, there have been 1862 Sa2,-
1s2 acres entered by homestead settlers.
Ofthis almost lO3, 600, 900 acres will all he
patented when the legal conditions have
been met
The ratents to railroads and wagon
roads since the first grant was made reach
SO, 729 75l acres. There also have been
385, 691 752 acres disposed of by prc-cmp
tiOn cash sales, scrip locations etc.
There are yet due to railroads and wagon
roads under their grants ia, I36 $50 acres
of which not more than go per cent are
available for patentipg under the condi-
tions Of the grants. The total grants OF
lands to the various states and territories
up to March l2 last aggregated lsl. stS,
$50 acros in addition to agricultural col
lcwps scrip for T. $50 600 acres
The total of all lands segregated in the
public domain aggregates 9i6,2l9, 100
acres.
The secretary says if the rate Of DISPOSE
tion Of the last / 3 years which is 10000
900 acres year, is continued for years
to come, there will be little OF the public
domain outside of Alaska in possession Of
the government at the expiration of that
time.
During the year, Is, 527 ,S4i acres were
patented To railroads under congressional
grants, and the secretary thinks that until
existing grants are adjusted no additional
ones should be amde.
Discussing forest reservations. the report
says no permits to cut timber on public
lands should be granted for any purpose
other than to supply the needs of actual
settlers in the neighborhood of the forests
NhNAb bAAAAbAA - ~ hI NuA anu Sll0hih Dt
accompanied by all possible safeguards.
The Pension Roll.
The total amount paid by the govern
mcnt in pensions and the cost of disburs-
ing the same for the last 81 years is So
O34, ,S17, 100. This lacks only little over
S346, 7l2, 500 of being equal to the high
water mark of the interest bearing public
debt The present number of pensioners.
hf.h a. a. I,rrf 4 "a tI,,r,
in 1898, when the maximum annual cost
was reached, and is greater than ever be-
fore.
This is due to the death Of old soldiers
and the continued payment Of allowances
TO their heirs, while the amount paid is
decreased through the death of invalid
pensioners leaving no dependents The
pension policy Of the department has been
TO make the pension list roll a roll of honor
rather than to save money to the govern.
mont The effort has been to defeat the
designs of imposters while recognizing the
claims of the needy and deserving. Gen
crnl public sentiment, however, is that the
obligation Of the government is confined
To those who fought for its maintenance
and those dependent upon them.
The secretary says he has requested an
oQirion from the secretary of the treasury
rs 10 WHOlnAI llt NMllAl Ittlllt lN III Ot-
uult--the road S representatives claiming
b is not-and of the attorney general as
g. whether, if in default, he is authorized
"a latent lands granted to bond aided rail
roads even when they have been sold to
inra fido purchasers. 1t will be noticed
orc that the secretary here, by Implication,
Questions the authority of the concurrent
resolution of congress of June 10 last di-
rctiing him to continue the issue of rat
EMS TO bona fide purchasers of lands slld
by bond aided railroads
Mr.. Francis Recommendation.
l,Oferring to the railroad commissioner
recommendations for commission to set
tie the Indebtedness of bond aided rail.
roads, the secretary says: Congress is not
likely to delegate TO any commission the
power TO settle this indebtedness without
making such settlement subject to its an
proyM This Indebtedness has been a sub
;ect of attempted legislation for many
years past, and it seems impossible tC
frame any renewal or extension Of the loan
which will be acceptable both to the legis
lators and the indebted companies. A
funding of the debt which contemplate.
the government accepting long time boEds
for its advances, win not remove this trou
blesome subject from the consideration OF
congress and would probably result in re-
ncyod measures for relief of the roads be
ing proposed as these bonds approach ma
turity.
'sIn my judgment il Is much better fol
the government to accept lump sum in
cash for its claim against these roads il
by doing so that claim can be settled an0
the connection between the government
and the only reads it has ever aided by
direct subsidy be effectually severed Sucl
a solution of this vexed question woult
meet with the hearty approval of the peo
pie generally and relieve the legislator
and all branches Of the government of 4
troublesome problem and a trying respon
eibility. "
Fatally burned by an Explosion.
WIIIIANspopT Do hoo Nre