Evening star., 1914-12-10
Secretary Lane Discusses
Problem in His Annual
Report.
WESTERN development
ALSO TREATED IN REVIEW
Refers to Important Achievements
of the Interior Department
During the Past Year.

Adjustment OF the ward system un-
der which the American Indian now
lives and giving him citizenship and a
review Of the development of the west
are features of the report of Secretary
Franklin X. Lane of the Interior Dc
partment in his report made public
today.
Three things" says Secretary Lane.
"of unusual purport have marked tho
life of this department during the past
year-the passing of the Cherokee Ma
tion. the opening of Alaska and the
advancement of series of measures
aimed to promote the further develop
ment of the west These things are
apparently unrelated, yet they have
made an appeal to me as alike illustra
tive of the newness of our country. tho
novelty of Its problems and the re-
|sponsiveness of our government"
Present Almshouse Policy.
Secretary Lane discusses the Indian
problem at length and asks whether
"it is for the benefit of the Indian him.
self that the present almshouse policy
should continue.
1T is my conclusion, after inti-
mate a study as practicable of his ma
ture and needs that we should hence
forth make a positive and systematic
effort to cast the full burden Of indie
pendence and responsibility upon an
increasing number of the Indians of
all tribes.
Il find that there is statute which
significantly empowers the Secretary
of the Interior to do this in individual
cases. That authority is adequate i
intend to use such authority.
Measures Suggested Now Laws.
In 1880 the problem was how to get
the Indian out of the way. Today the
problem is how to make him really a
part OF the nation. The man who can
do for himself is the man to be re-
leased. And he is the man who thinks
not in terms of the Indians yesterday.
but in terms of the Indians tomorrow.
In one thing we are short-the art 'f
inducing ambition. This largely de-
pends upon the genius of the teacher
to fire the Imagination Of the pupil
That is the first step in all civiliza-
tion.
gested a series of measures for the
development of western resources
which l thought consonant with the
advancing spirit Of our time and would
were five of these measures. one pro-
viding for a government railroad sys-
tenn in Alaska. an Alaskan coal-leas
ing bill. a new reclamation act. a bill
providing for a new method of open
ing and developing coal. phosphate OIL
and potash fields and a waterpower
bill.
"All of these measures have passed
the House of Representatives., and the
first three also passed the Senate ami
by your approval have become law.
feel that 1t is conservative to say
that by the passage of these bills the
federal government has given the mora
remote states = greater assurances OF
its interest in their welfare than has
been given for many years"
Needs of Growing West.
In an extended discussion of tho
needs and development of the west.
Secretary Lane adverts. with notable
frankness. to embarrassments which
he has encountered in dealing with
the problems presented in his de-
partment.
1t cannot be unknown to YOU" the
Secretary says. that there is through
out the country, more especially in the
western states-which. because of their
am bition, are naturally impatient of
obstruction-a very real fear of what
is called the bureaucracy of Washing
ton. This is said to be a system of
organized machine. the spirit of which
is to oppose action or to effect Mega
tive action.
1T is visualized as either cynical or
malevolent. altogether out of sympa-
thy with those who needs must come
to the government for some form o:
help. and SO wound round and round
with the red tape of officialdom as TO
resemble a barbed-wire entanglement
which. il not absolutely impregnablc.
is only to be passed through after
much suffering and toll.
Refers to Accomplishments.
1T is a matter of no immediate con-
Germ how much basis there is for this
belief. The presence of the belief
makes il a real problem, and the de-
structfon Of the belief a necessity, If
the government itself is to remain an
object of pride and its beneficent ef-
forts understood and appreciated"
Secretary Lane points out the accom-
plishments of the several bureaus OF
the Interior Department during the
last year. among the important
achievements being a reduction in the
delay In acting upon homestead final
proofs by so per cent; return to the
$7.658,572 of the amount appropriated
by Congress. and. in the patent Office,
a plan worked out whereby the appli-
cant for patent may obtain II in two
thirds of the time formerly necessary,
and a [ the same time increased surplus
receipts of the office from $l5S,030 ia
1913, to s240.S56 in 1914.