The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-23
THE iN1Euls,s IMPAIRMENT
An"u ! R~pors at :. er~ssry Gii..-Pe".ioa
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Washington. November 1s.-Secretary
OF the Interior Bliss. in his annual re-
port made public tonight. submits esti-
mates aggrega,ing sl5s.532,4l9 for ap-
propriations by congress for the fiscal
year ending June 50. 1889. Discussing
pensions he says 200. 600 pension claims
are awaiting adjudication and it is es-
timated that 40 or so per cent. Of these
will be finally admitted. II they are
rapidly adjudicated they will swell the
pension roll from s., 900, 900 to $1,000. 90.
When, however these claims are ad-
judcated and first payments made
thereon, the amour Of the pension roll
Will decrease very rapidly, possibly TO
s125, 00O, 900 or $3.50. 900, 600 the first year.
The total indian population OF the
United States, exclusive OF the New
York indian and the five civilized
tribes, approximates 177,17S, located on
III reservations, which contain pro
imately 80, 404, S37 acres.
The secretary says the five tribes
hav undoubtedly violated in many
ways the spirit of their agreement with
the United States under which the ter
ritOry is now held and governed and.
while he does not recommend any harsh
action, the secretary calls attention or
the president and congress to the
chaotic condition of at1airs Of the ter
ritory growing out of the several
tribe methods Of administration. From
200. 600 to 250,0O0 whites, by permission
of the indian government, have settled
in the territory, but are merely tenants
by sufferance. No government Tor the
, Indian territory will be satisfactory
until congress shall provide for the es-
Enlistment of a single uniform system
for the entire Indian territory that
shall place all it's inhabitants in posses
sion Of the rights Of American citizens.
Speedy action in securing proper leg
! islation for the coming twelfth census
is urged; lack of sufficient time in the
past two or three enumerations is COM
planned of, and the necessity of many
reforms in the way of lessenlng the
bulk of reports and the elimination or
several branches Of inquiries from the
twelfth census either by postponement
or transfer to bureaus already in exist
ence is urged.
Concerning Alaska, Secretary Bliss
says existing conditions demand a rad
lea! change in the laws relating thereto
and he recommends that the pubic
land laws be extended to that district.
that adOltlOnal ldnO Offices NC
and appropriations made to carry them
into effect; that the granting OF rights
of way for railroad, telegraph and tel
ephone lines and the construction OF
roads and trails be specifically author
ized; tina provision be made or the IN
CORPORATION OF municipalities, providing
for the holding of elections, defining
qualifications for voting, and givlne
such powers as are used and exercised
by municipalities elsewhere; that the
legal n political status of the native
population, which is in doubt, be de-
fined: that citizenship be extended tc
the Metlakahtla Indians who emigratec
from British Columbia and. under au.
thority Of an act Of congress approved
] March 3rd, 1891, now occupy Annette Is
lands> that complete territorial govern
ment be authorized and establlsnet
and hat representation in d
granted.
Work on the Nicaragua ana IS SUI
suspended and the company reports ia
hilities consisting of the amounts Sill
due under the concessions to the com
, pany. of Sc, 7O5, 900 Of bonds and not ex
ceeding 500, 900 cash liabilities out
standing unpaid; asseSts, unused cap
, tai and stock $518, 500 first mortgag
= bonds and the 2,420 shares Of capita
: stock. received in liquidation. the con
= cessions, rights, privileges. rrancnlses
etc. while it now owns, plant. equip
= ments, lands railways, supplies al
y other property in Central America III
{ Guiding the land between the lake al
!. the Pacific.