Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-12-01
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Secretary BIIas Reports the Work Of Hln
Department. - Indian, Pensions and
Schools -webster DavlE Report.

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Washington, Nov 95,-The annua
report of Secretary of the interior
Bliss, made public last night, review,
in detail the progress Of the pension
Indian, land, patent, educational and
territorial affairs. Reviewing the grad
ual diminutiou OF public land area,
Secretary Bliss says:
OF 800 and odd million acres OF desert lands
requiring irrigation TO render them valuable
farming lands, the available water supply Is
sufficient for only 7l,bOO,OOO acres leaving 200,
$4,000 acres suitable only for grazing purposes
There are 20 forest reservations embracing au
estimated area OF 40 no, IA acres
The Indians are declared to have
made substantial progress, and the
Chippewa outbreak was the only seri.
GUS disturbance of the year. The sem
ate is urged to ratify the treaty with
the Uintah Indians to receive such
Uncompahgres as should be allotted
to lands on the Uintah reservation.
No agreement, however, can be made
with the UintRhs for the sale of all
their lands in order that all not need
ed for allotment might be offered for
sale. The commission reports its fail
ure and says the terms specified we're
not acceptable to the tribe. The
workings OF the Curtis Indian terri.
tory act are praised and the more pro-
gressive element of the Indians In the
territory are reported as inclined to
accept the situation in good faith.
Reviewing pension matters, Secre-
tary Hiss reports 637,O claims of all
classes pending and says separate
division has 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 disabilities
contracted in the service. He also
concurs in the recommendation for the
creation of commission to revise the
pension laws and regulations in the
Interest of a future reliable, intelligent
and uniform practice.
The advancement along educational
lines is outlined by an increase of over
$50, 900 of school pupils in the United
States for the fiscal year of 1s96.07 over
the previous one, but yet the total
average amount OF schooling per indi-
vidual for the whole United States
measured by the present standard,
does not quite equal Ave years OF 200
days for each inhabitant. The total
number of school pupils in the country,
In elementary, public and private
schools, universities, high schools and
academies, is put at 10, 955, O9S
Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Webster Davis, in his annual report
says the 123, OSl appeals from the PEN
sion bureau and 026 motions for recon-
Sideration filed during the year make
up a number unprecedented in any
one year or two years in the history of
the board of appeals. The proportion
ate increase still continues and on Oc-
tober last there were $50 such APP
peals and motions pending and Secre-
tary Bliss concurs in Assistant Secre-
tary Davis recommendation for pro-
Viding for three additional members
Of this board; for additional legislation
amending the act of August Z, 1897,
relating to marriages; legislation reg
alating the payment of pensions to
soldiers who deprive their families Of
The use thereof because of immoral
1abits and incompetency; and legis.
alive amendment in behalf of widows
whose husbands died while in the
service, death not being the result of
airy violation of any law, regulation
Or rule of the military or naval serv-
ICE, death under such conditions TO be
equivalent to an honorable discharge
rs now required.