New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-19
REPORT OF THE INTERIOR
SECRETARY BLISS STATEMENT OF THE
DEPARTMENTS AFFAIRS.

A YEARS PROGRESS IN THE VAST AND VARIED
INTERNAL INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY
WHAT SOME OF THE BUREAUS
HAVE DONE.
Washington. Nov. 1s.-The report OF the secretary
Of the Interior for the fiscal year endeG June 81
1897. which is made public. IS volume whlch
covers wide ground. Even with priei review Oh
the affairs Of each of the many bureaus OF the De-
partment the report treats OF so many varied inter-
ests that the details arc countless, and genera!
and comprehensive summary becomes extremely
difficult IL is only possible 10 pick out mere ana
there some of the statements most likely 10 DE OF
widespread interest and give them as they stard
In the report. not necessarily related to one an
other
The report of the Commissioner OF Pensions
shows thai on June So 1897 there were on the pen
SION rolls Oh names an increase of 1855 over the
number Oh the rolls on June 30. 1896. Oi these theIe
IS Ta a2Tyo anG of he Mar Of s Isl TGows
of of s Ss Mes e! h1 W M and d
Indian wars. 663 army nurses, ana 4oSoet surNNols
nd ydS f sbs n3 War Fea the Of The
number represents those pensoned on sD5 Nav
service. The number Of persons reS od d S Inc Inc
rolls on June g. s W W6c HT sd% pensions on
Of death and disability not h"Ise"'e " '"e
The number added to the rolls during the year
was 54O72 the number dropped from VARIOUS CAUSES
was 42 and the G munger Of The amount dis
Pn.qRB dq5 1aS '9S Ts
fiscal lg9 by TIE SIN a. Mere issued
The appropriation for The payment of pensions ior
the fiscal year 1877 was s4oC% 90 o,,,ar. nens,on
claims awaiting adjudication. and is estIna6e G
that q or 50 9h ess c Claims snfrS9 rsd ad
they will swell the pension roll from $1,000 c ~
sfndicated and nTst payments made thereon the the
amount OF the pension ro VIII ssG M thS nrst
, MaSr The Commissioner estimates that Oooooo
will be rsaued % pay view Of the foregoing
ments however, it Is probable that oencsTS np
ToT 1se Executive order Of July j. 1891 suspend
Ing the operation OF the order OF iIs Indes
Dtv "a The interest Of the service and the Gov
eament will be best aonende the passage of
la~ providing that no pension nbs sa hersser arry
inder existing laws woman who marT aes = SOL, SOL,
der ImdeT y, Widow Unless shs were
RED TO the soldier prior to the paSs4ge u .e so
diep nsnSioned under the general law and there
oteer becomes a widow. Is entitled 70 WIDOW
Elimination woman who maTrles s0 r.H a no~
hrytwo years since peace sS waS was not his Wife
during The war a aGnS GI to the HE Of
wife Of soldier. and should not therefore, DC
placed on the rolls as such
THE OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
p,ror, IN. Office Of indian Affairs IT is stated that
no serious outbreak has occurred IN the ias' ga
cation has been substantial as could De eNpeceu
rha ,otal Indian population Of the United states.
exolusive Of the New-York Indians ana thoSe III
the Indian Territory. embraced In Wha' are gen
orally known as tho Five Civilized Tr.hos' numbers
approximately 17T17s. The report o. me DI I'VE
coninission. appointed to negotiate with tne rh I'VE
Civilized Tribes for the purpose OF me XVI ands
fDeIr of the national or tribal title 10 an! M ~
within the Indian Territory held by any ana =" ne
such ma rns mart thereof 10 the United States. or
Sv the allotment and division OF the same IN seN
c,I, Nv as may be entitled 10 the same, or by
such other method as may be agreed upon between
~ mem. with the United States. with view 10
1itv as NAV with the consent of such nations
or tribes Of Indians, so far as may De nrCeSSary
Ss REQUISITE and suitable to enable me ultimate le
Creation OF STATE or states OF me T Ton T rg
shall embrace The ands d Whn e'i the Sppcaons
Tor citizenship in the several nations lndca6es
that he ~ bs % n 3aoas has
tcaly completed that 1t has been re .nyer,l
tribes ard has negotiated three agTeenenS to met
with the Choctaws concluded DeceinDea 10 roo'' ia
,ybicb fhe Chickasaws refused TO concur, was SUI
pe-seded bv one concluded April q 1877 with pom
tribes The latter %4s fSr%aIaGSS 40 ana rat
cation and has recently been ratiheo by the Ohoc-
taw and Chickasaw tribes. ,,.,,, tho Creeks
sspsmfSs. q 9 &. sT the By
unanimous vote The commission does not SPEAK
encouraglngy OF the prospect OF any reused
70 make any agreement with the Commission, ana
negotiations with that tribe nave lor 'ho ''''N'
"a rrecments concluded with such Of the rive
Tribes as have consented 70 negotiate var, 80
greatly I'm their provisions that, IN we" OF tne "a.
mat eventually q uniform system OF goVcrhineHt
mm., he proyided for the indian ory IL is
questionable whether any OF the ssreenenitHs now wv
Under consideration should be dehnltey rstneu py
Congress until the desired ana necessary mummy
san be secured
THE sECRETARYs COMMENT
The Secretary goes OIL 10 say of this matter;
The Ave tribes have undoubtedly violated IN many
ways the spirit OF their agreements with the nhl'ed
States under which me Territory is now held and
governed, and while do recommend any action
b. The Government OF the United States that shail
be harsh that shall seem in any way 10 Dreak
faith with the trioes deem II 10 De o y ru 70
the chaotic condition OF the affairs OF the TERRITORY
growing out OF their methods OF administering the
have absorbed great tracts of land to the exclusion
6ristocracy has been practically established. 10 the
whites estimated AT from two hundred thousand 10
two hundred and Gfty thousand souls. has. by per-
mission of the Indian government, settled In the
Territory These settlers have improved farms and
built villages and towns. but, they nave no lesal
status-no property rights-nnd are merely tenants
The abolition OF tribal courts and establishment
II United states courts and veto power OF the Presi
dent over acts Of tribal councils PROVIDED Tor by aet
OF Congress passed June Z. 1897. will II is believed
cause consIdera Die Improvement in the government;
but government for the Indian Territory viii be
satisactory until Congress snn proN , ,r me
entire Indian Territory ;nat shait place az IT'S IN.
habitants in possession OF the nights OF American
= citizens.
CONDITION or THE RAILROADS.
The Commissioner Of Railroad Affairs remarks
upon the reduced earnings Of railroads during tho
last year compared with former years, and inc
number Of roads which have gone into receivers
lxr tronr