Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-10
DELAWARE GAZETTE AND STATE JoURNAI-wII

Element OF the troublesome qunotion Of
tribal membership Tha reception OF
their first protfera of negotiation was
not encouraging, but through patience
and Huch conduct on their part as
demonstrated that their intentions
were friendly and in the interest of
the tribes the prospect Oh SUCCESS has
become more promising. The effort
should be to save these Indians from
the consequences OF their own mistakes
and improvidence and to secure to the
real Indian his rights as against in
truders and professed friends who
profit by his retrogression.
A change ia also needed TO protect
| life and property through thu opera
tion Of courts conducted according to
strict Justice and strong enough to
| enforce their mandates. AS a sincere
friend of the Indian l am exceedingly
| anxious that these reforms should be
accomplished with the consent and aid
| OF the tribes, and that no necessity
may be presented for radical or drastic
legislation. hope, therefore, that the
| commission now conducting nego-
tiationa, will coon be able to report
| that progress has been made toward q
friendly adjustment of existing diff
oultios.
II appears that very valuable de-
posit of gilsonite or asphaltum has
been found on the reservation ia Utah
| occupied by the umcompahgre Ute
| Indians. Every consideration of care
for the public interest and every sensi-
BILE business reason dictates such
management or disposal of this i'm
portant source of publie revenue as will
except 1t from the general rules and
incidents attending the ordinary dis
position Of public lands and secure 10
the government fair share at least OF
its advantages in place of it's transfer.
for nominal sum to Interested indi-
viduals.
| indorse the recommendation made
by tho prasent Secretary of the In
terror, as we'll as his predecessor. that
a permanent commission, consisting Of
three members. one of whom shall be
an army officer, be created to perform
tho duties now devolring upon the
commissioner and assistant commits
sinner oil Indian affairs. The munaRe-
ment of tho bureau involves such
numerous and diverse details, and the
advantages OF an uninterrupted policy
are so apparent that hope the change
suggested will meet the approval Of
the Congress.
The diminuticn of our enormous
pension roll and the decrease of pen
sion expenditure, which have been SC
often confidently foretold, still fail in
material realization. The number oil
pensioners on the rolls at the close oil
the fiscal year ended June 3Oth, 1896,
was $40, G7S. This ia the largest mum.
ber ever reported. The amount paid
exclusively for pensions during the
year was Sl3S. 214, 761. "a, slight dc.
crease from that of the preceding year,
while the total expenditures on ac
count Of pensions, including the cost
of maintaining the department and ex
penses attending pension distribution
amounted to Sl42. 20G, $50. SO, or withir
very small fraction of ono-third D
the entire expense Of supporting tn,
government during tho same year
The number of new pension certificates
issued was. 90,Gi0. or these 40, 81
represent original allowances Of claim
and 1888 increases of existing pen
sions.
The number of persons receiving
pensions from tho United States, bu
residing in foreign countries, at tn
; close of the last fiscal year was 3, 7S1
; and the amount paid to them dnrin
: the year was 1852, 1856. 3S.
: The sum appropriated for the pay
. ment of pensions for the current fisca
) year ending june 3oth. 1897, is $40,
$ 600, 900 and for the succeeding year
| is estimated that the same amount wi
be necessary.
4. Tho Commissioner of Pensions re
!, ports that during the last fiscal yea
! 800 indictments were found againf
u violators of the pension laws. Upo
these indictments 1877 convictions IT
: suited.
In my opinion, based upon sue
statements as these and much othe
information and observation, th
g abuses which have been allowed I
- creep into Our pension system hay
, done incalculable harm in demoralizin
i, our people and undermining good cit
r. zenship. ! have endeavored within m
Il sphere of official duty to protect OF
!, pension roll and make il what
+. should be. roll Of honor, eontainin
n thu names Of thGRo disabled in the
% countrY's service and worthy of the
: country's atfectionate remembrance.
I'd When | have seen those who pose
II the soldiers friends, active and ale
Il in urging greater lsxity and more reel
" less pension expenditure, while nursir
selfish schomcp, l have deprecated Il
If approach of Il situation when nucesaa
ly retrenchment ARD enforced econon
y may load to an attack upon pensiC
IS abuses, so determined rs to overoc
o. tho discrimination duo to those VIII
1t worthy of nations care, ought
Id live and die under tine protection of
II nations gratitude. Tho Secreta
III calls attention 10 tho public interes
p involved in en adjustment of the o
n legations to the Pacific railroads to Il
or government deem it to BIZ m il
rs portant duty to especially present th
Is subject to the consideration of ii
ne Congress.
IL On January 1st, 1897, with Il
ho amount already maturod, more thu
Sl3 600, 600 of the principal of ii
sn subsidy bonds issued by the Unit
sn States in aid of the construction
IF the Union Pacific railway. includil
.Iy its Kansas line and more than sc, COG
no 600 OF like bonds, issued in aid of Il
in Central Pacific railroad, iucludii
oJ those issued TO the Western Pacii
,nI Railroad Co, will have fallen due al
M been paid, or must on that day
I'd. paid by the government, witho
,c- reference to tho application of d
a. sinking fund row in the Treasury.
or This will create such a default ,
"a tho part OF these companies to Il
government as will give it tho right
ot at Onpa inStjtutb nropnafliDpl IA for