The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-11-30
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT,
Secretary Bliss Reviews Work ofPen-
ston, Indian, Land, Patent Educs~
tiopal and Territorial Bureaus'

II
tiopsI and Territorial Bureaus'
| washington. Nov. 1-The annual report
,f secretary OF the Interior Bliss reviews
| in detail the progress OF pension, indian.
land natsnt. educational and TERRITORIAL
arfairs' Reviewing the gradual dimlnu-
/ ton Of pubic land area, secretary ohss
Gays: "Of 100000 acres OF desert iano
| recurring Irrigation TO render them vaiu-
| able farming lands, the available water
supply Is suficient for only 7l,60o,oOo acres,
| leaving 2cOs7e,OO0 acres suitable only for
| grazing purposes There are 30 forest res
ervations embracing an estimated area
| OF 40.7l9i74 acres" -
The indians are declared to have made
| substa ntial progress and the Chippewa OUT
| break was the only serious disturbance OF
| the year. Referring to this trouble the re-
| port points to Commissioner Of Indian Az
| fairs Jones' successful efforts In bringing
| about the surrender OF the Indians and
| says the origin of the trouble Is now under
| joint investigation by the departments OF
| the interior and OF Justice.
| Considerable effort has been made to In
duce the Mile Lac Chippewas to go to
White Earth reservation. but with meager
| success, though Chippewa Commissioner
| Hall hopes quite a number Will remove
| this autumn. The senate is urged to ratify
| the treaty with the Uintah Indians TO re-
| ceive such Uncompahgres as should be al
| Iotted to lands on the Uintah reservation
| No agreement, however. can be made with
| the Uintahs for the sale OF all their lands
| In order that all not needed for allotment
might be offered for sale. The commission
| reports its failure and says the terms
| specified were not acceptable TO the tribe.
The workings of the Curtis Indian territory
| act are praised and the more progressive
| element Of the Indians in the territory are
reported as inclined to accept the situa-
ton In good faith.
Reviewing pension matters, Secretary
Bliss reports ST., 600 claims OF all classes
pending. and says a separate division Aas
been organized for the adjudication OF
claims growing out of the war with Spain
These soldiers will receive their pensions
under the general law for permanent dis
abilities contracted in the service. He also
concurs In the recommendation for the
creation Of a commission TO revise the pen
sion laws and regulations In the interest
OF q future reliable, intelligent and uni
form practice Early legislative enact
ment for the taking OF the twelfth census
is urged In view of the necessary large
amount Of work preparatory TO the enum-
Grafton OF the population.
Assistant Secretary of the Interior Web
ster Davis, in his annual report. says the
l2,GS1 appeals from the pension bureau and
C26 motions for reconsideration filed dur
ing the year make up number unprece-
dented In any one year or two years In the
history OF the board Of pension appeals
The proportionate increase still continues
| and on October l last there were ll.S2G
such appeals and motions pending and
Secretary Bliss concurs in Assistant Sec
rotary Davis recommendations for provid-
ing for three additional members of this
board; for additional legislation amending
the act OF August I, 1882, relating to mar
riages: legislation regulating the payment
| of pensions TO soldiers who deprive their
families OF the use thereof because of i'm
moral habits and incompetency: and leg
iSlative amendment In behalf OF widows
whose husbands died while in the service,
death not being the result OF any violation
| OF any law, regulation or rule of the mill.
| tary or naval service, death under such
| conditions to be held 10 be equivalent &c
an honorable discharge. as now required
The advancement along educational lines
| is outlined by an increase OF over $4,000 OF
school pupils in the United States for the
fiscal year 1867. over the previous one. but
yet the total average amount OF schooling
per individual for the whole United States,
measured by the present standard. does
not quite equal five years of 200 days each
| for each inhabitant The total number Of
school pupils In the country. In elementary
pubic and private schools. colleges, uni
| yersities, high schools and academies, Is
put at lG. .C93.
Secretary Bliss, summing up the report
| OF Gov. Brady. Of Alaska, calls attention to
| the ulHlcuty OF tHe smuggling
| of liquor into Alaska. 1t being impossible
| 10 enforce ptesen> regulations without u
| feet OF revenue cutters and steam launches
| 10 patrol the tortuous channels Of south
| cast Alaskan waters. Smuggling prevails
and saloons are open in all OF the towns
and mining camps. The governor reports
a consensus OF opinion in favor OF strin-
gent high license law which would tend to
stamp out smuggling and liquor selling 10
| the natives. The application TO Alaska of
| the liquor laws in force in the District OF
Columbia with several minor modifica-
| lions, is urged as meeting q majority ap-
| prevail. The governor believes that Alaska
| should and can pay revenue into the United
| States treasury. Under a high license law
| he estimates that the liquor traffic would
yield an annual revenue of not less than
| $3.50, 600; q tax OF few cents per case of
| salmon would produce from GOO to $50 =
| O00; ten cents per ton on wharfage collected
| during the past year would have yielded
| 100000. He recommends, however. tha;
| any system of taxation for the territory be
| deferred until land laws shall have been
| provided.
| Many sections Of Alaska, It is shown. are
| suitable for agricultural purposes. With
| proper care, cattle can be raised In the
milder districts it ca mot be doubted tina [
| in the course of time vast herds of reindeer
| Will cover the plains Of northern Alaska
| and few thousands OF dollars spent now
in helping the Eskimo 10 obtain herds will
save the expenditure of many thousands
| In the future.
| Representation In congress for the citi-
| Gems of Alaska Is strongly urged.
| The past year has been one OF great
| progress in mining operations Many
| Americans who located claims in the north
| west territory have abandoned them and
| have settled on the Alaskan side OF the
| international boundary line, where a ne W
town. Eagle City. has sprung up. There
| has been great development in quartz min
| ing in southeast Alaska and along the Goa st
| as far as Unalaska. Coal has been dis
| covered near the upper Yukon. the Tanana.
| and on Prince William sound
| Public buildings at Sitka are urgently
| needed for the accommodation OF the Of
| ttcials. 1t Is recommended that congress
| appropriate $ll0,OO Cor the erection of q
| penitentiary and other buildings