The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-30
.PAC|F|CCOAST LANDFRAUDS
Report of the Secretary Of the In
terror.
PENSIONS COST THREE BILLIONS
Secretary Hitchcock Says Three Persons
Have Been Indicted in Oregon-Wide-
spread Conspiracy to Obtain Title to
Public Lands Total Indian Popula-
ticu Now About 100000.

spread Conspiracy to Obtain Title to
Public Lands - Total Indian Popula-
ticu Now About 100000.
Washington, D. C.-The most signlt-
cant feature Of the annual report OF
the Secretary of the Interior is the dis
cussion of the land frauds. The estl-
mates of the Interior Department for
the expenses of protecting the public
domain during the next fiscal year call
for $3.50 900, a large increase over the
amount asked for and appropriated by
the Congress last year. ~
1T is the purpose of the Department
TO pursue with unflagging zeal" says
Secretary Hitchcock in his report, ''un-
iii Justice is meted out to all persons
shown to have committed frauGs
against the Government by unlawfully
acquiring any portion Of the public do
main" ",'.'
A United States Commissioner IA wo-
man) and three others have been in
dicted in Oregon on charges OF fraud.
"Suits have been brought" says the
Secretary, "in a number OF instances
in the Federal courts to vacate patents
and to restore to the public domain
the lands acquired by alleged hcti-
tious entrymen.
So widespread has been the consplra-
| cy to obtain title to the public lands IN
violation Of law that there are now
10000 entries suspended on charges OF
| fraud.
Busy as the Interior Department has
been in ferreting ont evidences or
| fraud and preventing dishonest prac'
tices by land SPECTATORS, there has
| been time for the administration or
| q large volume of routine business IN
connection with the disposal OF the
public domain and other matters.
| There were disposed Of during the last
| fiscal year public lands aggregatlne
%, ,S24,2 acres, classified as foliows:
Cash sales, 3,073.S96 acres; mis-.
celianeous entries, embracing home
steads, land warrants, scrip loca'
tions, State selections, swamp
| lands, railroad and wagon road selec-
tions, Indian allotments, ETC.. 1871
OBJ acres, and Indian lands, 1887
acres, showing an increase of $780,
| 764 acres as compared with the aggre-
| crate disposals for the preceding fiscal
| wear. The total cash receipts during
| the fiscal year from various sources,
including disposal Of public land $lO.-
b5T,61S) and Indian land tS309, ,939),
from depredations on public LANDS
| 1895, ,251), from sales Of timber on Tor
est reserves (S31 1,9G6), from sales OF
Government property ($S49 and for
furnishing copies Of records and plats
| S(30,11S). aggregate S11.O24,T43, an IN
crease of $4,I62, SIG over the preceding
fiscal year.
The disbursements for pensions from
July /. 1890, to June 30 1865, were
S96,445, ,444.23. Since 1865 the disburse-
ments for pensions were $2,942,l7o,'
1853, and for maintenance and ex'
penses S95,647 ,934.71, total Of 3d.
! OBJ, ,S26,0S0.64 making the entire cost
of the pension system since the foun-
Lation Of the Government 3,134,27l,'
524.S7.
During the fiscal year ended June 3O.
1908, the total number of pensioners
on the roll was 1,043,J33, and the num-
| DcE oA tAAC -OAA w SSS
of the year was 996,545., " -.
The gains to the rolls during the year
were 4O,OS6 new pensioners and 44Ol
| restoratlons and renewals, total or
44,4S7. OF this number e31 were pen
stoned by special acts Of Congress.
The losses to the rolls during the same
time by death were 40,907, and from
other causes 64S1, total of 47,3SS,
net loss for the year of 2901. The
number of deaths of soldier pension
ers for the year was 29.4S1. and! OF
| this number 27,842 were volunteers OF
the Civil War. The pension roll at, the
close Of the year contained the names
/ Of 72S, 1872 soldiers, 267, ,1S9 widows and
dependents and 624 army nurses.
The total Indian population of the
| United States. the report says. re-
mains about the same as last year,
approximately about 100000, Of which
the five civilized tribes and New York
Indians embrace about 10000; leaving
about 10000 occupying 1856 reserva-
tions, containing 55,127 900 acres out
side Of the Indian Territory and the
State Of New York.
The New York Indians number 5232
and occupy eight small reservations
of about $4,000 acres in the northwest
ern part of the State Of New York.
These Indians receive small annuities
in money and goods under treaty stipu'
lations. The Cherokee, Chickasaw,
Choctaw, Creek and Seminole, known
as the five civilized tribes, located in
Indian Territory. including freedmen.
| number about "a. 500. and Occupy res
ervations whose aggregate area is 49,