The Holly chieftain., 1897-08-27
DEAD PENSIONERS.
A Plot to Get Balances Due to De-
ceased inmates Of Soldiers Homes.
DAWES INDIAN COMMISSION.
New Grass for Arid Reelons-rhe South
Sends Many Inv,tations to Secretary
Wilson to Visit That section
Handbook ON Alaska.

WASHINGTON, Aug. aa-What looks
fike q systematic plot to defraud the
soldiers home of funds in its posses
sion has been unearthed and exposed.
Under the statutes pensions drawn by
inmates Of the home, II not assigned to
wife, child or parent, are handed over
to the home to be held in trust for the
pensioner. He is permitted to draw
upon it for necessary expenses and to
receive all the balance to his credit
when discharged from the home.
Balances Of pension money due to de-
ceased inmates are payable to his
legal heirs under the statute If claimed
within three years Otherwise it
escheats to the home. The pension fund
of the home now amounts to nearly
S45, 900. From time to time claims are
made upon this fund by heirs Of de-
ceased inmates, and considerable sums
have been paid to such alleged repre-.
sentatives, in number Of cases sew
eral years after the three years linn
itation had expired. 1t was noticed
that q single firm of attorneys in this
city were building up quite business
in pressing such claims, and it was
suspected, and afterwards discovered
to be the fact, that information of the
names of deceased soldiers and amounts
due them from the pension fund were
being surreptitiously afforded by some
of the clerical force at the home.
| Dawes Indian Commission.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-The Indian
oureau officials do not give any serious
considers tion to the reports from
Chelsea, 1. T., of the threats of tribal
war made by the Keetoowa society of
full blood Cherokees on account of the
contemplated reforms for which the
Dawes commission is negotiating.
The members of the society, who are
intensely hostile to any change what
ever in the present organization Of the
nation, are stated to have threatened
personal damage to the members of
the Cherokee commission who are to re-
sumo the negotiations with the Dawes
commission on September l, In case
they make an agreement Indian Off
cials say they realize that there is a
bitter feeling entertained by the full
bloods against allotments and any
changes in the tribal government, but
they do not anticipate that there will
be any resort TO VIOLENCE on occount OF
the forcible methods OF the govern
ment.
New Graas for Arid Regions.
WASHINGTON, Aug. a5.-The agricul-
tural department is preparing to make
an experiment with new forage plant
which is thought to be adapted to the
semi.arid regions of the west. 1t is
the bromus inermis, grass which is
indigenous to the Russian steppes. An
order for two tons of the seed of the
plant has been wired to Moscow in re-
sponse to telegram from Prof. Han
son. the departments agent, that he
could secure this quantity by taking it
Immediately. The grass is said to
thrive on lands which are too dry for
the ordinary forage plants. 1t is tall
nutritious plant and it is hoped will
prove to be adapted to the plains in
the region along the bases of the Rocky
| mountains.
| Secretary Wilson Wanted South.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-Many invita-
tions addressed to Secretary Wilson to
visit state and county fairs during tine
approaching autumn are being received
at the agricultural department, large
number of them being from the south
ern states. The invitations from that
section. express desire to have the
secretary inspect the agricultural con-
ditions and to have the benefit of his
advice as practical farmer after such
inspection. As the secretary is absent
from the city no definite reply can be
made, but it is known that he expects
to go to Nashville during the fall, and
it is considered probab that he may
so time his visit there as to take in
some of the fairs in the neighboring
states.
| Handbook on Alaska.
| WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-The bureau
Of American republics in this city has
| just published handbook of Alaska,
which contains valuable information
concerning the new gold mining re-
gions.