The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-11-26
TIE PENSION ROLL.
Two Hundred Thousand Claims
Awaiting Adjudication.
THE REPORT OF SECRETARY BLISS.
Work of the Dawes Commission-Legisla-
ton Recommended for the Twelfth
Census-The Needs of Alaska
The Nicaragua Canal

WASHINGTON. Nov. 10. Secretary of
the Interior Bliss. in his annual re-
port. made public last night, submits
estimates aggregating Sl56, 532, 419 for
appropriations by congress for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1899. Dis
cussing pensions, he says 100000 pen
sion claims are awaiting adjudication,
and 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., O0O.-
600 to 81, 600, 900. When, however, these
claims are adjudicated and the first
payments made thereon the amount of
the pension roll will decrease very rap
idly, possibly to St25. 600, 600 or $780,
600, 600 the first year.
The total Indian population ofst
United States, exclusive of the New
York and the five civilized tribes, ap-
proximates 177,17S located on III res
ervations, which contain approx
mately 80, 4O4, SS1 acres. OF these, 4,545
have accepted allotments of land which
aggregate about ga 81 acres Secre-
tary Bliss says that while the opening
homa to white settlement would great
IL promote the development of the
country, vet in view of the unsettled
condition of the questions affecting
their rights until there is further leg
islation, he does not see how it can be
done without causing great injury and
distress Referring to the work of the
SC
that the investigation of the rights of
applicants for citizenship in the five
nations has been practically completed;
the commission has been preparing
the rolls of citizenship of the several
tribes and has negotiated three
agreements. That with both the Choc-
taws and Chickasaws of April %, 1897,
is before congress, and has been rati-
fed by those tribes. That made with
the Creeks September % last was re-
jected almost unanimously by the
Creek council, and there is little pros
pect of any further agreement with
them. The Cberokees have refused to
make agreement, and negotiations
with them have been abandoned for
the time being. Such arrangements
as have been concluded vary so in their
provisions that, in view of the fact
that eventually uniform system of
government must be provided for the
Indian territory, it questionable, the
report says. whether any of the agree
ments should be definitely ratified by
congress until the desired and neces-
sary uniformity can be secured.
Speedy action in securing proper
legislation for the coming 18th 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 lessening the
bulk of reports and the elimination of
several branches of inquiries in the
18th census, either by postponement
or transfer to bureaus already in exist
ence, is urged.
1t is anticipated that before the close
of the field season the geological sur
vey will have gathered sufficient data
as to the settled area of the reserves
embraced in the executive forestry or
ders to enable the. department to form
an opinion as to population and inn
provements included within the re-
serves and the distribution of the for
est and agricultural lands.
Concerning Alaska, Secretary Bliss
SAYS 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 additional land offices be
created and appropriations made to
carry them into effect; that the grant
ing of rights-of-way for railroad tele-
graph and telephone lines and the con-
struction of roads and trails be speci-
ically authorized; that provision be
made for the Incorporation of munich
palities, providing for the holding of
elections, defining qualifications for
voting, 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 In
dams who emigrated from British
Columbia and under authority of an
act of congress, approved March 8,
1891, now occupy Annette island; that
complete territorial government be
authorized and established, and that
representation in congress be granted.
Work on the Nicaragua canal is still
suspended and the company reports
liabilities consisting of the amounts
still due under the concessions to the
company of S., 7O5, 900 of bonds and not
exceeding 500 cash liabilities out
standing unpaid; assets, unused capt.
tai stock. S51s, 500 first mortgage bonds
and the 1870 shares of capital stock
received in liquidation, the conces-
sions, rights, privileges, franchises,
etc, which it now owns, plant, equip
ments, lands, railway supplies and
other property in Central America, in
Guiding lands between the lake and
the Pacific.