The evening times., 1896-12-07

| The cs ablisiiInent, Under recent acts OF
Of snpIS nd with wn1ch 20
and other II. odificauons OF methods, nave
iended materially 70 tiseir cheapening and
| better quality. 81 -
The , war college has dsy,slops,a iTIS int an an
of great value TO the navy, IN teaching the
| profess onal zeal in The navy, and 1T VIII
| be especially useful in devismg OF plans
FOR the utilization, in case OF necessity,
| States.
The Secretary has pcrsistently adhered
10 the plan he fouDtt in operation ior Sc
OF labor employment. and has done much
| TO make 1t complete and clfcent Inc
naval officers. wEo are familiar with this
| system and its operation, express the
| decided opinion that it's results have been
| 10 vastly improve the character OF the
work Gone at our yards and greatly reduce
The discipline among the officers and
| men or the navy has been maintained
| TO high standard and the percentage OF
| American citizens enlisted has been very
much Increased
The Secretary is considering, and Will
| formulate during the coming winter, a
| plan for laying up ships i'll reserve, thereby
| largely reducing the cost or maintaining
| the vessels afloat. This plan contcmplates
| that battleshlps, torpedo boats, ana such
| or the cruisers as are not needed for active
| service at sea, shall be kept In reserve, with
skeleton crewson board 10 keep thenin con
| efficiency OF the ships and their crews in
| time or activity.
The economy to result from this system
is too obvious to need comment Ihe naval
| militia. which wis authorized a few years
ago as an experiment, has now developed
INTO a BODY OF enterprising young men,
| their duties, and promising great uscful-
! ness. This establishment has nearly the
same relation TO- our navy as the national
army, and 1t constitutes a source or supply
| Tor our naval forces, the importance OF
which Is Immediately apparent.
The report OF the Secretary OF the In
| terror prese nts "A comprehensive and inter
| estingexhibit ofthe numerous andiInportant
affairs committed to
INTERN AL his supervision. 1t is
impossible in this
AFFAIRS. communication to do
more than briefly re-
ferto Z few of the subjects concerning which
formation.
this department and for Its disbursement
for the riscal year ended June 80, 1896,
amounted 10 more than S5T 900, 600, or
a greater sum than was appropriated Tor
The eutire maintenance OF the government
for the two fiscal years ended June 80,
1861.
Oar public lands originally amounting to
l,s4U, coo 900 acres, have been SO re-
duced that only about 60o.OO0,0O0 acres
sun remain IN government control, ex-
ciuding Alaska. The balance, being by
Tar the most valuable portion, has been
given away to settlers to new States and
1l, to railroads, or s9ld at comparatively i
execution OF railroad grants has progressed
rapidly during the year, and since the 4th
Gay or March, 1893, about ESQ 900 900
acres have thus been conveyed TO these
corporations.
/ agree with the Secretary thatthc re-
iaaiutier OF oar pubic lands should be more
carefully dealt with. ana their alienation
guarded by better economy and greater
prudence.
The commission appointed from the mem
hcrShip OF the National 4 cadenv OF Sciences.
provided for by an act or Congress, to
formulate plans for Il national forestry sys
ten, Will, 1t is hoped, soon be prepared TO
present the result ortborough and intelligent
examination OF t,is Import ant subject.
TIE tota, indian population OF the United
states is III 30, according to n census
made IN SS5, exclusive OF those within the
State or New York
THE INDIANS. and those comprising
the five civilized
tribes. 81
cr this number there are, approximately,
3S 900 children or school age. During the
year % 1893 OF these were enrolled in
schools. The progress which has attended
recent efforts 10 extend Indian school IA
ciiities, and the anticipation OF continued
liberal appropriations 20 that end, cannot
ran 10 afford the utniOst satisfaction to
those who believe that the education OF
indian cndren is a prime factor in the
accomplishment or Indian civilization.
IL may be said in general terms that In
every particular the Improvement OF the
most marked and encouraging.
The Secretary, the Commissioner OF In
dian Affairs and the gents having charge
OF Indians to whom alloIments have been
made, strongly urge the passage of law
prohibiting the sale of liqUor to allottces
who have taken their lands in severaity.
1 earnestly join in this recommendation,
and venture to express the hope that the
Indian may he speedily protected against
tns greatest OF all obstacles to his we'll
being and advancement.
TIE condition OF affairs among the Five
Civilized Tribes, who occupy large tracts
OF land in the Indian Territory and who
nave governments of their own has as
sGmed such an aspect as to render Il al
most Indispensable that there should be
an entire change in the relations OF these
Indians to tile general government.
THIS seems to be necessary i'll further
ance of their own interests, as well as
for the protection of non-lndian res Ients
III their Territory. \ commission UrEan-
lZed and empowered under several recent
lawsls nov negotiating these Indians
FOR the REIMBURSEMENT OF their courts and
the division OF their common lands in
seyefalty. and are aiding in the settle
meut of the Troublesome question of tribal
membership. The reception OF their first
proffers OF negotiationwasn not encoura ring
but through patience and such conduct on
their part as demonstrated that their inen
iiUus Were friendly aud IN tue interest Of
the tribes the prospect of success has be-
come more promising
The effort should be to save these In
dians from the consequence of their own
mistakes and improvidence and to secure
10 the real indian his rights as against
Intruders and prUfessed friends who profit
10y his TetrOgre Ssion. change is also
needed to protect life and property through
the operation of courts conducted accord
ing To strict Justice. and strong enough
10 enforce their mandates.
As a sincere friend of the Indian | am
exceedingly ANXIOUS tndt these reforms
should be accomplished with the consent
and aId OF the tribes. and tnat no necessity
may be presented for radical or drastic
legislation. 1 hope. therefore, that the
commission now conducting negotiations
Will soon be able TO report that progress
has been made toward friendly adjust
ment of existing difficulties 1t apuears
that very valuable deposit of Gilsonite
or aSphaluum mas Deen found on the rcseT
vaiiOn IN Utah occupied by the uncompah-
gre Ute Indians. Every consideration of care
for the public interest and every sensible
business reason dictate such management
lie revenue as will except it from the gen.
eral ruIeS and incidents attending the or
cure TO the governmenG a rair share at least
or Its advantages IN place of it's transfer
for a nominal sum to Interested individuals
l indorse the commendation made by
by the present Secretary OF the Inter or.
as well as his predecessor, thata permanent
commission consisting of three members,
one of whom shall be an army ofii-
Ger, be created to perform the duties
now devolving upon the commissioner
and assistant commiss,one of Indian AZ
fairs. The management OF the bureau IN
wolves such nume1 Gus ana diverse details;
and the advantages OF an uninterrupted
policy are so apparent, that / hope the
change suggested will meet the approval
the Congress -
roll, and the decrease OF pension expen-
ture, which have been 50 often confidently , 9s,y
PENSIONS. IL .ona ma1srinl Tne numSer 5sal1zoi Of
pensioners on the rolls at the close Of the
n to I'M In lnr o.