Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-19
SECRETARY DLrsYs REPORT.
Pcnsfons.-The Indians-Twe1fth Gen.
sus-Alnsf<a--Etc.


WASHINGTON. November IS.-secre-
tary-of-the-Interior Bliss, in his annual
1 report made public tonight. submits
estimates aggregating si5s,5S2,hs. for APP
preparations by Congress for the fiscal
J year ending june 80. 1898.
Discussing pensions, he says 10000 pen
sion claims are awaiting adjudication,
and 1t Is estimated that 40 or 90 per cent.
of these will be finally admitted III
they are rapidly adJudicated, they Will
| swell the pcnsion~roil from S.0o0,VVo 10
s.. COO. 900. When, however, these claims
are admdicated, and the first payments
are made thereon. the amount of the
pension-roll will decrease very rapidly,
| possible to Sis. 100000 or $l3O,oOe,Oo0 the
/ first year.
The total Indian population of the
! United States, exclusive OF the New
/ York Indians and the FIVE civilized
tribes, approximates 177,l7S, located on
III reservations, which contain approx
mately 30, 4Ol,SS7 acres. OF these, 4,5ib
! have accepted allotmcnts OF land, which
/ aggregate about 6l4,l47 acres.
Secretary Bliss says that, while the
opening OF the Wichita reservation In
| Oklahoma to white settlement would
|
country, yet, In view Of the unsettled
condition of the questions affecting the
rights of the Indians, until there is
, further legislation, he does not see how
II can =. done without causing great in
jury and distress. To guard against this,
| recommendation is made that the Dawes
| Commission be authorized to investigate
| the questions as to their rights ana
| claims, and report recommendations for
speedy and just settlement.
DAWES COMMISSION.
Referring TO the work of the Dawes
Commission, 1t is announced that the
| investigation OF the rights Of applicants
for citizenship in the Five Nations has
been practically completed. The COM
mission has been preparing the rolls OF
citizenship of the several tribes, and has
negotiated three agreements.
| These 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 gov
| erned. and while he does not recommend
/ any harsh action, the Secretary calls
the attention of the President and Of
Congress TO the chaotic condition Of
| affairs of the Territory. growing out Of
the several tribes methods of admins
| tration.
From 200. 900 to $4,000 whites. by permits
sion of the Indian Government, have set
tied in the Territory, but are merely
| tenants by sufferance. No government
for the Indian Territory will be salts
! factory until Congress shall provide for
| the establishment of single, uniform
system for the entire Indian Territory,
that shall place all its inhabitants in
possession of the rights of American
citizens.
ALLOTMENT OF LAND.
Recommendation is made that the
period for the allotment of land to the
| Uncompahgre Indians be extended such
time beyond April /, 1883, as Congress
| shall deem best.
| IL the sales of the Colorado lands can
not Immediately yield sufficient for re-
| endorsement of the Uintahs, the govern
| rnent is urged to advance the necessary
sum, and await the sale of the lands
for its own reimbursement.
The sum of Sl,2l6,SS6 is now in the Urea
sury to the credit of the Ute funds, re.
sulting from the sale of the Colorado
lands, and, in addition, there must yet
be realized from the sales over $4,000, TO
reimburse the government for the ex-
| penses, etc. of the removal and the d, zoO,'
600 set aside from the public moneys as
| a trust fund.
such legislation as will enable the peo-
pie of the United States to reap the
| benefit of the valuable and fruitful mine
raj deposits is recommended.
TWELFTH CENSUS.
Speedy action in securing proper legis-
lation for the coming twelfth census is
! urged. lack Of sufficient time in the past
| two or three enuinerations is complained
| of, and the necessity of many reforms In
| the way of lessening the bulk OF reports,
and the limitation of several branches OF
inquiry from the Twelfth census, either
by postponement or transfer to bureaus
already in existence, is uged.
| 1t IS anticipated that before the close
! of the field season, the Geological Survey
will have gathered sufficient data as 10
| the settled areas of the reserves embraced
| in the Executive forestry orders to en-
| able the department to form an opinion
| as to the population and improvements
| included within the reserves, and the dis
| tribution of forest and agricultural lands.
ALASKA.
| Concerning Alaska, Secretary Bliss says
! existing conditions demand radical
change in the laws relating thereto, and
| he recommends that the public-land laws
tional land offices be created. and appro-
! priations 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 incorporation of muni-
| clpalities, providing for the holding OF
elections, refining the qualifications for
voting. and giving such powers as are
| toll oil
where; that the legal and political status
of the native population. which is In
doubt, be defined; that citizenship be ex-
tended TO the Metlakahtla Indians, VINO
emigrated from British Columbia, and,
under authority of an act Of Congress,
approved March 3, 1891. now occupying An
| notte Island; that complete territorial
government be authorized and established,
and that representation in Congress be-
| granted.
NICARAGUA CANAL.
| fe 81