The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-11-24
A REVIEW OF ITS WORK.
Condition Of Affairs In the In
terror Department.

Secretary Bliss Presents His Annual
HepOrt-Pensi0n List GrOwing-In-
dian Matters an Important
Issue-Needs of Alaska.
Washington, Nov. 1e.-Secretary Of the
Interior Bliss. IN his annual report. submits
estimates aggregating $156. 532, 419 for APP
preparations by congress for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1899.
rension Claims.
Discussing pensions, he says 100000 PEN
sion claims are awaiting adjudication, and 1t
u estimated that 40 or 50 per cent. OF these
VIII be finally admitted. II they are rapid
ly adjudicated, they will swell the pension
roll from IS, 900 to 81. OOo. 600 When. how
ever. these claims are adjudicated the first
payments made thereon, the amount of the
pension roll will decrease very rapidly. pos
sibiy TO SIZE. 100000 or $50. 100000 the first
year.
The total Indian population of the United
States, exclusive of the New York Indians
and the five civilized tribes, approximates
lT,11S, located on III reservations. which
contain approximately &c. 404, SS acres. OF
these 4,545 have accepted allotments Of land
which aggregate about 644,1H acres.
Secretary Bliss says while the opening OF
the Wichita reservation. in Oklahoma, to
white settlement would greatly promote
the development of that country, yet, in
view Of the unsettled condition of the ques-
lions affecting their rights until there is
further legislation, he does not see how II
can be done without causing great injury
and distress. To guard against this, rec
ommendation Is made that the Dawes COM
mission be authorized to investigate ques-
tons as to their rights and claims, and re-
port recommendations for speedy and just
settlement.
The Dawes Commission.
Referring to the work of the Dawes COM
mission, It Is announced that the investiga-
ton Of the rights of applicants for citizen
ship In the FIVE nations has been practically
completed; the commission has been pre-
pairing the rolls of citizenship Of the sew
eral tribes, and has negotiated three agree
ments. That, with both the Choctaws and
Chickasaws of April %, 1897. is before con-
gress, and has been ratified by those tribes.
That made with the Creeks September Y last
was rejected almost unanimously by the
Creek council, and there is little prospect Of
any further agreement with them. The
Cherokees have refused to make agree
ment, and negotiations with them have
been abandoned for the time being. Such
agreements as have been concluded, vary
so IN their provisions, that in view Of the
fact that eventually a uniform system OF
government must be provided for the In
dian territory, ii is questionable, the re-
port says, whether any Of the agreements
should be definitely ratified by congress
until the desired and necessary uniformity
can be secured.
Agreements Violated.
The secretary says the five tribes have I'M
doubtedly violated in many ways the spirit
of their agreements with the United States
under which the territory is now held and
governed, and while he does not recon-
mend any harsh government action. the
secretary calls the attention Of the presi-
dent and congress to the chaotic condition
Of affairs Of the territory, growing out of the
several tribes methods of administration
Leading Indians have absorbed great tracts
to the exclusion Of the common people. and
government by an Indian aristocracy has
been practically established to the detri-
ment of the people. From 200, 900 to go, 900
whites, by permission Of the Indian govern
ment, have settled in the territory. but are
merely tenants by sufferance. No govern
ment for the Indian territory will be sat
fsfactory until congress shall provide for
the establishment of single uniform sys.
tenn for the entire Indian territory that
shall place all its inhabitants in possession
of the rights Of American citizens.
Work of the Patent once.
In the report on the bureau OF patents
the secretary says:
The report shows there were received
within the year 1884 applications for
patents, 2,0SS applications for designs. 30
applications for reissues, 2,1S caveats.
1854 applications for trademarks, and 81
applications for labels and prints. There
were q, 994 patents granted, including re-
issues and designs: LOO trademarks. three
labels and 81 prints registered. The num-
Der of patents which expired was l2,5s4.
The number Of allowed applications. which
were by operation Of law forfeited for nom
payment of fiaal fees was 5,034.
The total receipts were Sl,343, 719.A; the
expenditures, approximately. were 1925.
ca leo rrTllr1 nf he
moneys covered into the treasury on &C.
count of receipts from fees, ETC., in patent
cases, from July 4, 1886, up to and including
June 90, 1897, and in excess Of the cost Of the
management of the patent off1ce, amounts
10 $5.09S, SAB.
Concerning Alaska, Secretary Bliss says
existing conditions demand a radical
change in the laws relating thereto, and he
recommends that the public land laws be ex-
tended to that district, that additional land
offices be created and appropria tions made
to carry them into effect; that the granting
of rights of way for railroads. telegraph
and telephone lines and the construction of
roads and trails be specifically authorized;
that provision be made for the incorpora-
ton Of municipalities, providing for the
holding of elections, defining qualifications
for voting, and giving such powers as are
used and exercised by municipalities else
where; that the legal and political status
Of the native population, which is in doubt.
be defined; that citizenship be extended to
the Metlakahtla Indians, who emigrated
from British Columbia and, under author
fty Of an act Of congress approved March
9, 1881, now occupy Annette island: that
complete territorial government be author
lied and established, and that representa-
ton in congress be granted.
Nicaragua Canal.
Work on the Nicaragua canal is still sus-
pended, and the company reports liza bilities
Consisting of the amounts still due under
the concessions to the company of 81. 705.-
600 of bonds, and not exceeding 500 cash Tia
biIities outstanding unpaid; assets. unused
capital stock, $5lS.5O0 first mortgage bonds
and the 2420 shares Of capital stock
received In liquidation, the conces-
sions, rights. privileges. franchises.
etc, which II now owns. plant. equipments.
lands, railway supplies and other property
in Central America, including the LANDS De-
tween the lake and the Pacific.
some Recon- me- ndat fOns.