The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-19
CRY FOR MORE PENSIONS
OVER $5,0O0,000 MORE CALLED
FOR PER ANNUM.
THEN A DECREASE is PREDICTED
The Indian Situation State1- Speedy Action
Urged for Taking Of 18th Census--ln-
ternaI Development and Laws Rec
commended for Alaska.


commended for Alaska.
Washington, D. c., Nov. 1S.-Secreta-
ry of the Interinr Bliss, in his annual
report made public tonight, submits
estimates aggregating $156, 6,532,4l9 for
appropriations by Congress for the MS
cal year ending June 80. 1899. Discuss
ing pensions, he says 100000 pension
claims are awaiting adjudication ana II
Is estimated that 40 to oO per cent OF
these will be finally admitted. II they
are rapidly adjudieated they VIII SVEN
the pension roll from S5,UO0,UUU TO 81
100000 When, however, these claims
are adjudicated and first payment made
thereon. the amount of the pension roll
will decrease very rapidly. possibly TO
S125. 100000 or S130,000,000 the fnst
year.
The total Indian population of the
Tinted States. exclusive of the New
York Indians. and the five civilized
tribes, approximate 17T,11S, located on
III reservations. which contain approx
mately SO, 404, ,S37 acres. Of these. Il
645 have accepted allotments of land,
which aggregate about 644,l4i 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, III
view of the unsettled condition of the
question affecting their rights, until
there is further legislati ion, he does not
see how il can be done without causing
great injury and distress. To guard
against this. recommendation is made
that the Dawes Commission be author
lied TO investigate questions as to their
rights and CLAIMS aud report rec0mmen-
dations for speedy and just settlement.
Referring to the work of the Dawes
Commission, it is announced that the
investigation of the rights of applicants
for citizenship in the five nations has
been practically completed; the commits
sion has been preparing the rolls OF clu-
zenship of the several tribes and has
negotiated three agreements.
The Secretary says the Five Tribes
have undoubtedly 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 recommend any harsh ac-
ton. the Secretary calls attention Of the
President and Congress to the chaotic
condition of affairs Of the Territory
kEOMluS Out III tI4S SCfCidi piAbCo AAANNh
ods of administration.
From 100000 to 250,000 whites, by
permission of the Indian government,
have settled in the Territory, but are
merely tenants by sufferance. No gov
ernment for the Indian Territory will be
satisfactory until Congress shall pro-
vide for the establishment of a single
uniform system for the entire Indian Ter
ritory that shall place all its inhabitants
in possession of the rights of American
citizens.
Recommendation is made that the pc
riod for the allotment of lands to the
Uncompahgre Indians be extended such
time beyond April /, 1898, as Congress
shall deem best.
If the sales of the Colorado lands can
not Immediately yield sufficient amount
for the reimbursement of the Uintahs,
the government is urged to advance the
necessary sum and await the sale Of the
lands for it's own reimbursement. The
sum of S1,21b,SS6 is now in the Treas
ury to the credit of the Utes fund, re-
sulting from the sale OF the Colorado
lands and in addition there must yet be
realized from the sales over SoOO,OOO to
reimbuse the government the expenses,
etc., of the removal and the $1,25O,OO0
set aside from the public moneys as a
trust fund.
Such legislation as will enable the peo-
pie Of the United States to reap the BEN
eft of the valuable and useful mineral
deposits is recommended.
Speedy action in securing proper legis-
Iation for the coming twelfth census is
urged; lack of sufficient time in the past
two or three enumerations complained
of and the necessity of many reforms in
the way Of lessening the bulk of reports
and the elimination of several branches
Of inquiries from the twelfth census eth
er by pOstponement or transfer TO bu-
reaus already in existence, is urged.
1t is anticipated that before the close
Of the field season the geological survey
will have gathered sufficient data as to
the settled areas of the reserves en-
braced in the executive forestry orders
to enable the Department to form an
opinion as to population and improve
ments included within the reserves Of the
distribution Of the forest and agricult,,-
raj lands.
Concerning Alaska, Secretary Bliss saws
existing conditions demand a radical
change in the laws relating thereto. and
he recommends that the public land laws
be extended to that district, that addi-
tional land Offices be created and appro-
priations made to carry them into effect:
that the granting of rights of way for
railroad, telegraph and telephone lines
specifically authorized; that provision be
made for the incorporation Of municipali-