The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-01-10
q asl,i,,g,on, ci,at.
Special Correspondence.

| restion OF putting into effect his policy,
recently announced, designing to make.
the Indians Of the United States SELF
supporting. Commissioners Jones has
frequently expressed the opinion that
the present Indian policy has many Sc
rious defects, and it contains nothing
| to impress upon the mind Of the req
| man that he must think, act and work
| for himself.
In accordance with the idea circu-
| lar letter has been addressed to Indian
officials in vari Jus parts Of the United
States. copies Of which were sent to the
| agencies in Wisconsin,, Minnesota and
the Dakotas, calling for data as to the
number Of Indians on the various reser-
vations living on allotments, ard who,
in the opinion of the officials, are suf1i-
| GENTLY advanced in civilization to adj
minister their own affairs. This In
formation is to be utilized by the COM
missioner of Indian affairs in making
| readjustment of the land and financial
matters of the Indian tribes.
It is the first step in the direction of
| abandoning cash annuitiss. It is pro-
posed that the tribal funds shall be dis
solved as such, and that the money in
the United States treasury to the credit
ferred to the Individual members. At
present, money to the credit of the In
dams in the treasury are the common
property of the tribe. The commission
tr proposes that these funds shall be
credited to the individuals, and when
each person is considered competent to
manage his own affairs that his share
shall be paid to him, and the annual
annuity thus discontinued. Further.
that money or allotments belonging to
a deceased Indian shall be the property
of his heirs, instead Of going to the
tribe, as under present conditions. This
policy is designed to break up the trib-
al relations, and Commissioner Jones is
confident that it will accomplish that
purpose.
Senator Mason intends to press his
bill for a government postal telegraph
system. 1t provides for the issuance of
bonds by the treasury department in
sufficient amount to pay for the proper
ty Of the existing companies, bearing
or 2 IL per cent interest and running
for twenty-five years. 1t will also pro-
vide for the extension Of the service
gradually to all Of the postofices of the
country, a reduction in the rates, and
for the creation of a sinking fund from
the earnings of the lines with which to
pay the bonds. The bill is also to pro-
vide that the bonds may be used by the
national banks for deposit in the treas
ury as a basis for circulation. In dis
cussing the scheme, Senator Mason
said:
cit is true that I favor the govern
ment ownership of the telegraphS. They
ought to be a part of the postal sys-
TEN of the country, just as they are in
Europe. The wires, like the mails. are
simply means of communicating in
telligence, the only difference being that
the telegraph is quicker.
1.-THE question of the proposed pur-
chase has been brought to my atten-
ton, and I know that the subject will
receive attention at this session of con-
gross. I am contemplating the intro
duction Of a bill providing for postal
telegraph through the purchase of ex-
listing lines"
When the acting architect of the cap
itol came to remove the paintings from
the hail, Mr.. Woods discovered the eN-
istence Of a remarkable work of art, by
c. Brumidi, the artist who decorated
the rotunda of the capitol and many OF
the senate committee r.'oms and corri-
doris thirty-fve years ogo. In the
southwest corner is picture Of Wash
ington's farewell to his officers, which
was supposed to be a bit Of painting.
On examination, to determine the ques-
ton Of removal, it was found to be
what is probably the finest specimen Of
clay mosaic in the country. The mate
rial is clay, set into the wall when in a
plastic condition, so prepared that. in
the dry state it fits into the picture In
proper tint, the whole, at a little dis
lance, resembling an oil painting.
Its nature and method of composition
was pointed out by Mr.. Joseph Rake
mann of Washington, who was an as
sistant Of Mr.. Brumidi, and who, with
his son, decorated the new committee
rooms and corridors this year. Brurni-
dis signature to the work reveals a
clear, artistic trait of the artist.
While he was at work on the rotunda
and the senate wing there was much
criticism over the selection of for
eigrer to do the work, so he took out
naturalization papers, and the sigma
ture to the work in the hall of the
house reads, &C. Brumidi, Citizen, Art
list"
An order has been signed at the post
office department affecting the pay of
rural delivery carriers, and intended to
expedite the monthly payment of sala-
ries. There are now 6,263 carriers in
the rural service. and the number is
being increased at the rate of about
600 per month. Under the system
adopted in the past it was impossible
for warrants for salarier to reach these
carriers until thirty or forty days after
tn. certificate of service had been is
sued by the postmaster.
i There are q. large number Of these
carriers in the Northwestern states.
Iowa leading the list with 582; Michl-
gan next. with 1884; Wisconsin. 2s6:
Minnesota. 1872; South Dakota, ~, and
North Dakota, 8. Under the new plan.
disbursing offices are designated In each
state, through which treasury warrants
will be sent for the salaries of each
carrier. For Wisconsin, the amounts
.s1y ~