Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-11-25
A REVIEW OF ITS WORK.
Condition Of Affairs in the In
terror Department.
Secretary Bliss Presents His Annual
RepOrt-PensiOn List Growing-In-
dian Matters an Important
Issue-Needs of Alaska.

Washington, Nov. 19.--Secretary of the
Interior Bliss in his annual report, submits
estimates aggregating $156, 532, 419 for APP
preparations by congress for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1899.
PENSION Claims.
Discussing pensions, he says zoe, 900 PEN
sion claims are awaiting adjudication, and 1t
Is estimated that 40 or SO per cent of these
will be finally admitted. If they are rapid
ly adjudicated, they will swell the pension
roll from IS, 900 to 100000. When, how
ever, these claims are adjudicated the first
pension roll will decrease very rapidly, pos
sibly to s125.0OO.000 or $13O,OOO.0OO the first
year.
The Indians.
The total Indian population of the United
States, exclusive of the New York Indians
and the five civilized tribes, approximates
l77,17S, located on III reservations, which
contain approximately 33,404,S37 acres. OF
these 4,545 have accepted allotments Of land
which aggregate about 644,1F acres.
Secretary Bliss says while the opening Of
the Wichita reservation. in Oklahoma, to
white settlement would greatly promote
the development of that country, yet. in
view Of the unsettled condition of the ques-
tions affecting their rights until there Is
further legislation, he does not see how II
can be done without causing great injury
and distress. To guard against this, rec
mission be authorized to investigate ques-
lions as to their rights and claims, and re-
port recommendations for speedy and just
settlement.
The Dawes Commission.
Referring to the work Of the Dawes COM
mission, 1t is announced that the investiga-
ton of the rights of applicants for citizen
ship in the five nations has been practically
completed; the commission has been pre-
pairing the rolls of citizenship of the sew
eral tribes, and has negotiated three agree
ments. That, with both the Choctaws and
Chickasaws of April %, 1897, is before con-
gress, and has been ratified by those tribes.
That made with the Creeks September'27 last
was rejected almost unanimously by the
Creek council, and there is little prospect of
any further agreement with them. The
Cherokees have refused to make agree
ment, and negotiations with them have
been abandoned for the time being. Such
agreements as have been concluded, vary
so in their provisions, that in view of the
fact that eventually a uniform system of
government must be provided for the In
dian territory, 1t is questionable, the re-
port says, whether any Of the agreements
should be definitely ratified by congress
until the desired and necessary uniformity
can be secured.
agreements Violated.
The secretary says the five tribes have I'M
doubtedly 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 recon-
mend any harsh government action, the
secretary calls the attention Of the presi-
dent and congress to the chaotic condition
ofaffairs of the territory, growing out of the
several tribes methods of administra ton.
Leading Indians have absorbed great tracts
to the exclusion of the common people, and
government by an Indian aristocracy has
been practically established to the detri-
ment of the people. From 100000 to 250.000
whites, by permission of the Indian govern
ment, have settled in the territory, but are
merely tenants by sufferance. No govern
ment for the Indian territory will be sat-
isfactory until congress shall provide for
the establishment of single uniform sys-
tenn for the entire Indian territory that
shall place all its inhabitants in possession
of the rights Of American citizens.
Work of the Patent Office.
In the report on the bureau of patents
the secretary says:
The report shows there were received
within the year 1854 applications for
patents 2.0sS applications for designs. 80
applications for reissues, 2.1S caveats,
1854 applications for trademarks, and 81
applications for labels and prints. There
were 1884 patents granted, including re-
issues and designs; LOO trademarks, three
labels and 80 prints registered. The num-
Der Of patents which expired was 1854.
The number of allowed applications, which
were by operation of law forfeited for nom
payment of final fees was 5,034.
The total receipts were $1,343, "A: the
expenditures, approximately, were $1,026,-
4.39, leaving surplus of S317,135.05. The
moneys covered into the treasury on ac-
count of receipts from fees, etc., in patent
cases, from July A, 1886, up to and including
June 80, 1897, and in excess of the cost of the
management of the patent office, amounts
to s5,O93.6 14.23.
Alaska.
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 ex-
tended to that district, that additional land
offices be created and appropriation made
to carry them into effect: that the granting
Of rights of way for railroads, telegraph
and telephone lines and the construction of
roads and trails be specifically authorized;
that provision be made for the incorpora-
ton of municipalities, providing for the
holding of elections, defining qualifications
for voting, and giving such powers as are
used and exercised by municipalities else
where; 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 author
3, 1891, now occupy Annette island; that
complete territorial government be author
lied and established, and that representa-
ton in congress be granted.
NicaraEuan Canal.
Work on the Nicaragua canal is still sus-
pended, and the company reports liabilities
consisting of the amounts still due under
the concessions to the company of Sc, 705,
900 Of bonds and not exceeding 800 cash la
bilities outstanding unpaid: assets, unused
capital stock, s51S,500 first mortgage bonds
and the 2,420 shares Of capital stock
received in liquidation, the conces-
sions, rights, privileges, franchises,
ETC.. which II now owns, plant. equipments.
lands, railway supplies and other property
In Central America. including the lands be-
tween the lake and the Pacific.
Some Recommendation.
Recommendations are submitted for sep
arate appropriations for the civil service
commission to be expended under it's own
supervision: that Indian agents be held re-
sponsible on their<off1cial bonds for all funds
in their custody, the law to apply to army
officers as well as civilians. and that when
desired. the United States provide such
bonds for army officers acting as Indian
agents. Appropriations for the needs of
troops stationed in Yellowstone park, and
the repair OF roads and bridges there. are
recommended.
New Counterfeit.