Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-12-10

attended recent efforts 10 extend Indian
echoo! facllities. and the anticipation Of con-
tinued liberal appropriations to that end
ton 10 those who believe that the sducs-
the accomplishment OF Indian civilization.
every particular i the 'n IMPROVEMENT Of the
Indians under Government care has been
most marked and encouraging.
The Hecretary. the Commissioners or In
dian Affairs and the agents having charge Of
Indians to whom ail0tments have been made
strongly urge the passage OF a law prohib-
itinx the sale Of liquor 10 nllottees who have
taken their lands In severalty. earnestly
join In this recommendation.
The condition OF affairs among the nve
civilized tribes. who occupy large tracts
of land In the Indian Territory, and who
have governments OF their own. has assum-
ed such an aspect as to render 1t almost
Indispensable that there should be an en-
tire change In the relations OF these indi-
ans to the general government. COM
mission organized and empowered under sew
ernl recent laws In now negotiating with
the division OF their common lands In sew
crafty. ana are aiding In the settlement OF
the troublesome question OF tribal member
ship. The effort should be to save these In
dams from the consequences OF their own
mistakes and improvidencc. and to secure
to the real Indian his rights as against In
truders and professed friends who proht
Of the Indian 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.
The Pension Roll.
The dimlnution Of our enormous pension
roll and the decrease OF pension expendi-
turc, which have been so often confidently
forctod, still fall In material realization.
The number Of pensioners on the rolls at
the close Of the fiscal year ended June 80,
1896. was 970,67s.. This is the largest num-
bier ever Tfeported The amount paid sS
was $lSS.2l47Gl.04 slight decrease from
that OF the preceding year, while the total
expenditures on account OF pensions, In
Guiding the cost OF maintaining the de-
partment and expenses attending the pen
sion distribution, amounted to $142. 200, 5000,
or within very small fraction OF one-thrd
OF the entire expense OF supporting the
Government during the same year.
The number OF new pension certificates Is
| sued was 0O,640. or these 40.374 represent
original allowances of claims and 1J.S7S In
creases OF existing pensions. The number
OF persons receiving pensions from the
United States. but residing In foreign coin-
tries, at the close of the last fiscal year. was
the year was $3.50, 1888. The sum appro-
prlated for the payment OF pensions for the
current fiscal year ending June 40. 1897, Is
| SAC. 000,OO0, and for the succeeding year 1t
Is estimated that the same amount will be
necessary.
The Commissioner Of Pensions reports
ments were found against violat0rs Of the
pension laws. Upon these indictments 1871
convictions resulted. In my opinion, based
upon such statements as these and much
| other information and observation, the abus-
es which have been allowed TO creep Into
| our pension system have done incalculable
harm In demoralizing our people and under
mining good citizenship. have cndeavored
| within my sphere OF official duty TO protect
our pension roll and make II what II should
be. a roll Of honor. containing the names
of those disabled In their coun.ry's service
and worthy Of their country's affectionate
remembrance. When have seen those who
pose DIS the soldiers friends, active and
alert In urging greater laxity and more reck-
less pension expenditure while nursing self
| ish schemes. have deprecated the approach
of situation where necessary retrench-
ment and enforced economy may lead to
an attack upon pension abuses, so deter
mined as to overlook the discrimination due
to those who, worthy of nations care,
ought to live and die under the protection
Of a nations gratitude.
Pacific Railroads.
The Secretary calls attention to the public
interests Involved In an adjustment OF the
obligations of the Pacific railroads to the
Government. i deem Ii to be an important
duty to especially present this subject to
the consideration of Congress. On Jan. 1,
1897, with the amount already matured,
more than S13,000,000 of the principal of the
subsidy bonds issued by the United States In
aid OF the construction OF the Union Pa
cifc Railway, including its Kansas line, and
more than $4,000 900 of like bonds, issued
In aid of the Central Pacific Railroad. In
Guiding those issued to the western Pncihc
Railroad Company, will have fallen due and
been paid or must that day be paid by
the Government. Without any reference to
the application Of the sinking fund now In
the Heasury this will create such default
on the part Of these companies to the Gov
eminent as Will give 1t the right to ut once
institute proceedings to foreclose It's mort
gage lien. In addition to this indebtedness.
which will be due Jan. l, 1897, there will
mature between that date and Jan. 1, 1899,
the remaining principal of such subsidy
bonds, which must also be met by the Gov
ernmenf. These amount to more than 80
100000, ON account OF the Union Pacific
lines, and exceed S21,OOO,OO0 on account or
the Central Pacific lines.
The situation of these roads and the con-
diton of their Indebtedness TO the Govern
ment have been fully set forth In the reports
Of various committees to the present and
prior Congresses. In view Of the fact that
the Congress has for a number of years al
most constantly had under consideration IA
rious plans for dealing with the conditions
existing between these roads and the Gov
eminent, l have thus far felt Justified In
withholding action under the statute above
mentioned In the case Of the Union Pa
clhc Company, however, the situation has
become especially and Immediately urgent.
Proceedings have been Instituted to fore
close a first mortgage upon those aided parts
of the main lines upon which the Govern
ment holds n second and subordinate mort
gage lien. In consequence of those pro-
ceedings and increasing complications add
ed to the default occurring the LIST day of
January, 1897, a condition Will be presented
at that date. so far as this company Is con-
cerned that must emphasize the mandate
Of the act Of 1887 and give to executive duty
under Its provisions q more Imperative as
pect. Therefore, unless Congress shall
otherwise direct, or shall have previously
determined upon different solution Of the
problem, there will hardly appear to exist
any reason for delaying beyond the date OF
the default above mentioned such executive
action as will promise TO subserve the pub
lie interests and save the Government from
the loss threatened by further inaction.
Department of Agriculture.
The Department Of Agriculture Is so in
timately related TO the welfare OF our peo-
ple and the prosperity of our nation that
Il should constantly receive the care and
encouragement of the Government From
small beginnings Ii has grown to be the CEN
ter of agricultural intelligence and the
source OF aid and encouragement 10 agri-
Under the present management Of the de-
partment its usefulness has been enhanced
in every direction, and at the same time
strict economy has been enforced to the
utmost extent permitted by congressional ac-
ton. The Secretary reports that the value
of our exports of farm products during the
last fiscal @ over 20 tSose Of fSc an
Immediately preceding. This statement Is
not the less welcome because of the fact
that, Notwithstanding such Increase, the pro-
portion Of exported agricultural products Of
our total exports of all descriptions fell DUR
ing the year The benefits Of an increase
in agricultural exports being assured, the de-
crease In its proportion to our total exports Is
the more gratifying when we consider that
Is owing to the fact that such total ex-
ports for the year Increased more than $751;
900, 900.
In nv opinion the gratutous distribution
of seeds by the department.. as at present
nd fa1 N discontinued.