The San Francisco call., 1897-11-19
ANNUAL
''!}]1'[G REPORT OF
Mr.. BLISS
Secretary of the Interior
Urges important
Reforms.
DECIDED INCREASE
OF PENSIONS.
Indian Territory Tribes Have
Violated the Spirit of Their
Agreement.
WHITES ONLY TENANTS BY
SUFFERANCE.
Legislation for the Coming Census
and a Change in Alaska Laws
Are ReComm ended.
Indian Territory Tribes Have
Violated the Spirit of Their
Agreement.
WHITES ONLY TENANTS BY
SUFFERANCE.
Legislation for the Coming Census
and a Change in Alaska Laws
Are Recomm ended.
Special Dispatch to THE CALI.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1s-Secretary of
the Interior Bliss in his annual re port,
made pubic tonight. submits estimates
aegregating $l56. $50, 419 Tor appropriations
by Congress for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1899.
Discussing pensions he says 200, 900 pen
sion claims are awaiting adjudication and
it is estimated shat 40 or so per cent of
| these will be finally ad limited. If they
are rapidly adjudicated they will swell the
pension roll from So 600 700 to ST. 000, 600.
When, however these claims are adju-
dicated and the first payments made
thereon the amount of the pension roll
will decrease very rapidly, possibly to
$125, 900, 900 or $3.50, o00 900 the first year.
| Referring to the Indians in the Indian
Territory the Secretary says the five tribes
have undoubtedly violated in many ways
the spirit OF their agreement with tine
| United States, under which the territory
is now held and governed, and while he
! does no: recommend any harsh Govern
ment action, the Secretary calls the atten-
| ton of the President and Congress to the
chaotic condition of affairs in the Terri
tory growing out OF the several tribes
| methods of administration. Leading In
dians have absorbed great tracts to the
exclusion of the common people and
government by an Indian aristocracv has
been practically established 10 ihe detr-
| ment OF the people.
From 200 600 to 250 900 Whites, by per-
mission OF the Indian Government, have
settled in the Territory, but are merely
ot1ff NO 10
The Indian Territory will be satisfactory
| until Congress shall provide for the es-
Enlistment Of single, uniform system
for the entire Indian Territory thai shall
place its inhabitants in possession Of the
rights OF American citizens.
Recon- is made that the pe-
riod for the allotment of lands 10 tie Un-
com pahgre Indians shall be extended to
such time beyond April /, 1889, as Con-
| gless shall deem best. Reference is made
| to the contentious of the Uncompahgres
as to allotment requirements, and it is
| stated that the proceeds of the Colorado
| lands when received over and above the
! cost of the removal of the Indians ($429.-
$50 and the trust fund OF 81, $50 900, is to
| be applied, SO far as requisite, TO the re-
| imbuI ements of the Uintahs, whose lands
are 10 be taken.
The UnCompa b gres, contrary TO their
| ideas, do not In fact pay for the allot-
ments, except as a matter of exchange
| Ii the sales of The Colorado lands cannot
Immediately yield sufficient Tor reim-
bursement of the Uintahs the Govern
ment is urged to advance the necessary
sum and to await the sale OF the land for ii
own reim bLrsemept. The sum OF 81 ZIG.
$50 is now in the treasury to the credit of
the Utes fund, resulting from the sale of
| the Colorado lands, and In addition there
must yet be realized from the sales over
| $50 600 to reimburse the Government, the
expenses, ETC.. of the removal and the
| 81, $50 600 set aside from the puOlic moneys
! as trust fund. Such LEGISLATION as will
enable the people of the United States TO
reap the benefit of the valuable mineral
| deposits is recommended.
Speedy action III securing proper legis-
| lation 1or the coming twelfth census is
| urged, lack OF sufficient time in the past
| two or three enumeratlons Is complained
| Of and the necessity OF many reforms In
| :he way of less ,ning the bulk of re ports
| ana the elimination OF several branches of
inquiries from the twel tn census, either
| by postponement or transfer to bureaus
| 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 10 the
| settled area of the reserves embraced in
! the executive forestry orders 10 enable
| the department TO form an opinion as to
population and improvements included
within the reserves and the distribution
OF the forest amt agricultural lands.
Concerning ALASKA Secretary Bliss saws
existing conditions demand q radical
change in the laws relating thereto, and
he recommends that the public land laws
| be extended 20 that district; that addi-
tional land offices be created and appro-
pr iaIions made to carry them into effect
that the granting of rights of way for
railways, tlegraph and telephone lines
| and the construction of roads and trails
be specifically authorized; that provision
be m ade for the incorporation OF m uni ci-
| palities, providing for the holding of elec-
| lions, defining qualifications for yotine o
| and giving such powers as are used and
exercised by municipalities elsewhere:
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 au-
| ihority Of an act of Congress, approved
March 80, 1891, now occupy Annette
| Island; that complete terrii oriaI govern
ment be authorized and established and
that representation in Congress be
granted.
Work on the Nicaragua canal is still
suspended and the company reports liza
| bilities consisting of the amounts still due
under the concessions 10 the Company of
| Sc, 705, 900 of bonds ana not exceeding 500
cash liza bilities outstanding unpaid assets
unused apital stock, $51S,500; first mort
gage bonds and the 2420 shares Of capital
stock received in liquidation. the conces-
sons. rights, privileges, franchises, etc..
whicn it now owns. plant, equipments,
lands, railway supplies and other prop.
erty in Central America, inclnding the
| Lands between the lake and the Pacific.
Appropriations for the needs of the
troops stationed in Yellowstone Park and
the repair of road s and bridges there are
recommended.