Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
TELLS OF YEARS WORK
Secretary Garfield Submits
His Annual Report.
RETIREMENT OF EMPLOYEES
Urges Congress to Make New Grades
and Classifcations.
BENEFIT TO PUBLIC SERVICE
Head of the Interior Department
Discusses Every Subject Under
His Jurisdiction.


is needed more than a Redistribution OF
the employees in the service of the gov
ernment Congress has been urged by
him to make new grades and classifica-
tionS, and in his message to the Presl-
dent Mr.. Garfield comes to the point
quickly, saying early in the report that
new scale of salaries is needed.
He also states positively that the efl-
cheney of the public service would be
enormously benefited if adequate provi-
sion were made for the retirement of the
employees who have given good and efh-
cient service.
Discusses All Subjects.
The report is in the form Of a booklet
of seventy-two pages. and has something
to say on every subject under the Juris-
diction of the department. The Secre-
tary states that the value of the reor-
ganization of the department has been
proven. Full responsibility has been
thrown upon the heads OF the bureau
and the methods Of administration nave
been improved by close cooperation pc
tween the Secretary's office and the
heads of bureaus and offices.
Much activity is reported in the office OF
the assistant attorney general, and an III
crease of 20 per cent in the NUMBER OIL
appeals received was noted.
In cooperation with the Department or
Justice there has been a close scrutiny OF
the land litigation both in the District OF
Columbia and throughout the public land
states, and it was found that 100 suits
had been lying in the plgeonholes Tor
periods varying from ten to twenty years
and that in 800 or more actions nothing
had been done for more than TWO years
prior to July /. 1905.
Lawsuits in the District.
In the District of Columbia there have
been instituted an unusual number OF
mandamus and injunction actions against
the Secretary growing out of the settle
ment of the affairs of the Five Civilized
Tribes.
The Secretary has much to say on the
subject of what he considers looSeness
of ideals concerning the duties of the at
torneys to their clients in arguments be-
fore the department. 1t will be remem-
bered that several attorneys got int"
trouble with the department last year.
The Secretary says in his report that
whether or not he can disbar attorneys
will probably have to be decided by the
Supreme Court.
when cited to show cause why they
should not be disbarred." he adds, they
pleaded, among other things, that they
should not be held to as high plane of
ethics as attorneys before court On
this question l held and hold the con-
uary.'
INTERPRETATION Of Old Act.
The old timber and stone act, which
has not been repealed, and which provides
that certain public lands can be sold in
certain quantities for $50 an acre. has
in the past year been interpreted by the
Secretary as enabling the department to
sell the lands in question at not less than
the price mentioned.
Rights of way for all sorts or I'M
provements from reservoirs to telegraph
lines have been investigated, and the
Secretary has recommended that ninety
grants be revoked because OF the non
construction of the works or the aban-
donment after partial construction, or
the use of the right of way for purposes
other than were allowed by the acts un-
der which the rights of way were
granted.
Right-of Way Laws.
1.-THE right-of-way laws are neither
equitable, certain nor just it is de-
clared. "Some Of these laws give every
thing to the grantee without protecting
the peoples interests. Others fail alb
solutely to give the grantees that bust
ness security which must be the foun-
dation for great development. Another
class is so uncertain in wording that 1t
cannot be administered without friction
All rtght-of-way laws should be cod1hed
and revised so that they will be just,
reasonable and certain. The grantees
should have security against revocation
except because of nOn-use or misuse,
and a sufficient period of enjoyment so
that they can afford to spend the neces-
sary money for Development The peo-
Plies interests should be protected by
provision for the return of the grant 10
their control at some reasonable time In
the future in order that it may be dis
posed of again according to the demands
of the public welfare at that time The
best public interest also demands that
the ht-of-way laws provide a definite
and speedy procedure for the reVoca-
ton of rights Of way because of willfui
ana continued non-use or misuse.
Schools for the Indians.
Under the heading Indian Office the
report deals at great length with the
red-skinned wards OF the government. The
greatest problem that the Indian bureau
now has to deal with is that of educa-
ton. Commissioner Leupp has recon-
mcnded the discontinuance of certain non
reservation schools and the establishment
in their stead schools on the reservations
where children can be taught in their Gus
tomary surroundings Also he recon-
mends that in all cases the Indian boys
and girls be taught the things that will
enable them TO earn their living on their
own land. and in these two recommends
tons Secretary Garfield heartily agrees.
Interesting statistics are given in the re-
port covering pensions. During the entire
year ending June 80 1908, the total num-
Der of pensioners on the roll was 1.0O6. O.3
At the close of the year there were on the
roll 951 ,6S7 pensioners-65S,0G1 soldiers, and
sailors. 293 loo widows and orphans. and
80 army nurses. The gains to the roll
during the year We're 81 500 new pension
ers and 1913 reservations and renewals
a total of $3.50. OF this number $50
were pensoned by special acts OF Con-
gress. The losses to the roll during the
same time We're o0,6IG by death and $500
from other causes, a total of n, 366. The
net loss for the year. therefore, was
1J,6S1
Status of Pension Rolls.