The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-11-24
PENSIONS AND INDIANS.

he Principal Suhircts Discussed by Score
tary Blias IN His Annual RepOrt-A. .askA
Should be Represented In Congress.
Washington, Nov. 19.-Secretary Of
the Interior Bliss in his annual report
made public last night submits esti-
mates aggregating $156. $50, 419 for APP
preparations by congress for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1899 In discuss
ing pensions he says 100000 pension
claims are awaiting adjudication and
now it is estimated that 40 or so per
cent of these will be finally admitted.
If they are rapidly adjudicated they
will swell the pension roll from s., ,0Oo,-
900 to $7,OOO,0OO. When, however,
these claims are adjudicated aud the
first payments made thereon the
amount of the pension roll will de-
crease very rapidly, possibly to $685.
900, 900 or $3.50, 900, 900 the Hrst year.
The total Indian population of the
United States, exclusive of the New
York Indians and the five civilized
tribes, approximates 177,17s, located
on III reservations, which contain APP
proximately SO, 404, SS7 acres. OF these
4, 545 have accepted allotments of land
which aggregate about ga, ,147 acres.
Mr.. Bliss says while the opening of
the Wichita reservation in Oklahoma
to white settlement would greatly pro-
mote the development of that country,
yet in view of the unsettled condition
of the questions affecting their rights
until there is further legislation. he
does not see how it can be done with.
out causing great distress.
Referring to the Dawes commission,
it is announced that the investigation
of the rights of applicants for citizen
ship in the five nations has been prac,
tically completed; the commission has
been preparing the rolls Of citizen
ship of the several tribes and has
negotiated three agreements. That
with both the ChoctawB and Chicka.
saws of April 2S, 1897, is before con.
gress and has been ratified by those
tribes That made with the Creeks in
September last was rejected by the
Creek council and there is little pros.
pect of any further agreement with
them. The Cherokees have refused to
make an agreement and negotiations
with them have been abandoned for
the time being
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 governmental action, the secre.
tary calls the attention of the presi.
dent and congress to the chaotic con.
dition of affairs of the territory grow.
ing out of the several tribes methods
of administration.
Leading Indians have absorbed great
tracts to the exclusion of the common
people, and government l,y an Indian
aristocracy has been practically estab
lished to the detriment of the people.
From 100000 to $50, 600 whites by per-
mission of the Indian government have
settled in the territory, but are merely
tenahts by sufferance. No government
for Indian Territory will be satisfac-
tory until congress shall provide for
the establishment of a single uniform
system for the entire territory that
shall place all its inhabitants in pos.
session of the rights of American cit.
liens.
Speedy action in securing proper
legislation for the coming twelfth cen.
sus is urged. Lack of time in past
enumerations is complained of.
Concerning Alaska he says condi.
tions demand radical change in the
laws relating thereto and he recon.
mends 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;
also that representation in congress be
granted.