Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-12-09

The money apptpriatcd on neronfe i this department &d for it's disbufsempr U for fhe fiscal yef ended liiae 40 isa fl amounted 10 mf than Sla1 000 ,0e0 CT . greater sum th99was appropriated for th r entire maintengce of the governlneft fo Y thu two fiscal Y.fs ended June 50. ls6t. Oar publ9ants originally anonafin y to ,s40DD0V acres have been 90 reduce U main ia EHf4neHt control cSelifliu , Alaska T' balance, being hy tar ll " most valtble portion. has been pav. iS away to ftlcrs, to new states and rai Il roads ortid at il comparatively noulln + stun. ,.
 y mainI Of our pHtlic iands shonhi W more F'fully dealt Nith and thrif alien 7 7 idS~2 ss%2 Sa'e' e' bette r.'"'4' ""a s'.'e a Tbs ee-t-, pata~ u ne universal postal niiinp 4vl,tsa, i4a. s- sf'races all of the civilized world ar eoSe delegates will represent ,O0D 0u00G :, Fopie, Will hold it's fifth eohgicss in tlr q hty of Washington in May. 1S9s Y inc United States may be said to hay, taken lhe Initiative which lead 10 the frs meeting ot this congress in Befne in fSft ffeNlols congresses have met in Berne Llshoh and Vienna and their respectie, countries m which they Assembled hay, hidde generous pruyisipnfOr their nccum hodation and for Inc reception aud eni4I. alnment Of the delegates earnestly hope that such af appropriation HiH be made for the expenses necessary attendant hpoh the coming IueetHg
 Our Indians
 lhc total lndlaufopnIation of the uniied States k li7 ,233 according to n census made in lS!l5 exclusive of those within tue stiue uf New York and those comprising the five civilized tribes or this number there are approximately 'iS, coo children of school age During the year 93 .tgS of thesr were enfutieti in schools The pro gross which has attended recent eiierts to extend Indian school facilities, aud tho anticipation of continued libcfal appro- priations te that eHd cannot faIl to afford the utmost satisfaction to those who be lieve that education of Indian children is a prime factor i'll the accomplishment of Indian civilization,
 It may be said in general ternet that in every particular the Improvement of the Indians under government cure has been most marked and encouraging
 The condition of affairs among the five civilized tribes, who oeeupy large traets of land i'll Che Indian Territory and who have governments of their own. has assumed such an aspect as to render 1t almost iuds pensable that there should be nn entire change in the relations of these Indians to the general government This seems to bt necessary in furtherance of their own in terests as well as for the protection of non. Indian residents in their territory com mission organized and empowered under several recent laws is now negotiating with those Indians for the relinqnishment o their courts and the division of their com mon lands in seNeralty. aud are aiding 1T the settlement of the troublesome uilestior of tribal membership.
 A change is also needed tu protect If, and property through the operation . courts conducted according to strict ius tice and strong enough to enforce tle mandates.
 l endorse the recommendation made h' the present secretary Of interior, as well Fl his predecessor, that permanent comms sion of three members, one uf whom shlll be m army officer, be created to perform the duties now devolying upon the com missioner and assistant commissioner q Indian affairs.
 Pensions.
 The diminution Of our enormous pensio roll, and the decrease of pension expend ture, which have been SO often confidentl foretold, still fail in maternal realization The number of pensioners on the rolls q the close of the fiscal gear ended Juno 8i 1S96, was g70.gfs. This is the largest nun Der ever reported The amount pal exclusively for pensions during the yea was Sl3S 2i4, ,76is9l, Il slight decrease froi that of the preceding year, while tn total expenditures on account of per sions, including the cost of mail taining the department and e penses attending pension distribution amounted to Sl42, 2,2O6, ,25O59, or within ftf expense of supporting the geverHmen during the same year. The number new pension certificates issued wHs g0.G4 Of these, 40,374 represent original alloy ance of claims, and l5,S7s increases of c. isting pensions. The number oi persof receiving pensions from the United State but residing in foreign countries at iii close of tue last fiscal year was 3isi an the amount paid to them during the yer was S5S2, 3s The sum appropriated ft the payment of pensions for tue currer fiscal year ending June 50, lSJ1, is &Iit COG, 00O and for tue succeeding year it estimated that the same amount will necessary
 Pacific Railroads. The secretary calls attention to the pul | lie interests involved in an adjustment the obligations of the Pacific railroads the government l deem it to be an in ! DOIbdUL uuty tD tNpttl&il9 IitscIib Ail subject to the consideration of the eol gress.
 Department of Agriculture.
 The department of agriculture is so in, mately related to the welfare of our peep and the prospects of our nation that | should constantly receive the care and e 1 eouragement of the government. From small beginning it has grown to be il | center of agricultural intelligence and tf source of aid and eneouragement to agl cultural efforts Large sums of mont are annually appropriated for the maint nance of this department, and it must confessed that the legislation relating to has not always been directly in the intere of practical farming or properly guardt against waste and extravaganza. So ia however, as public money has been appr propriated fairly and sensibly to help tho who actually till the soil, no expenditu has been more profitably made or mo generally approved by the people. | The secretary reports that the value
 our exports of farm products during u last fiscal year amounted Q S510, GOO 600, : increase of ST .000 GOO over those of u year immediately preceding.
 The weather bureau now attached to u
 department of agriculture, has eonulnu
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