Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1886 — INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. [ARTICLE]

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

Synopsis of the Annual Report of Secretary Lamar. The annual report of the Secretary of tho Interior coinuioncts with a resume of operations in tho Indian Bureau. Out of an estimated Indian population of 2150,009, less than 100 havo been in revolt during the yoar; the average school attendance is about sixteen hundred greater than ever before, and there bus been a general improvement in their moral and industrial condition. The Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation, in the Indian Territory, furnishes a striking illustration of this improvement. Of these Indians Secretary Tamar says: “There has been an increase of over 1,500 acres in cultivation ; farms have been fenced by Indians, who have built for this purpose 100 miles of fencing. They have cut and put tip for winter use more than 400 tons of hay ; havo hauled over 1,e0J,000 pounds of freight from the railroad to the agency, and have over 150 more of their children in schools. Nearly all of tho ‘squaw men’ on this reservation have become legally married to their Indian wives, in conformity to the requirements of this department " The report says that, while the work of elevating the race is bearing fruit, there must be radical changes in our In. ian policy before they cau be incorporated into our political and social systems as citizens Iu this connection the Secretary recommends passage of tho bill fur the appointment of a commission to inspect and report on Indian affairs, which is now before Congress. During the year about eight hundred Indians have received title to .land allotments, and a number have taken up homesteads. Congress is asked to pass a general law regulating the allotment in severally of lands to Indians. The Secretary also recommends that the army appropriation act be modified so that army officers may purchase grain, hay, and other produce from Indians near the posts. Tho Secretary consid. rs it desira de that a law be enacted authorizing Indians to pasture cattle on their reservations at a reasonable compensation lor the benefit of the trib . Of the Indian Territory the Secretary says: “It is certainly of the greatest importance, and no less for the interest of the Indians themselves than for the people of the adjoining States, that the vast area of country should havo extended over it, as early as may be practicable, the universal laws ot the land, and its large population -and immense property interests be brougnt under tho influence and operation of those laws as administered by the judicial establishment of our country, so that lawlessness may be punished, aud peace and good order preserved turougn and by the courts of justice, and not by the agency of sne executive •.iOi urtmcntH, aided by the military force of the Government ” Secretary LamarTceommends that the salary of the ('ouimissiouer of Indian Affairs be increased from 54,AU to So.OOJ per year. The expenses of the Indian Bureau for tho fiscal year were 8(5,(9 i,751. . The total area of public lands disposed of during the year was 21,014,419 acres, for which 89,0,51,081 was received. The Secretary renews his recommendation that the minimum price lor sal. s of land at private cash entry be increased, in order to prevent the increase of largo tracts ip the hands of a few individuals. He also recommends the establishment of u date after which •.laims founded on alleged Mexicau land gran.B be barred from presentation. The recommendations contained in the last report, that the desert-land laws be modified, and that the timber-culture act be repealed, are renewed. Legislation for husbanding the timber resources of the country is urged. Considerable space is given to tue unlawful inc osure of public lands i>y cuttle-men. T.ie Si cretary says in this connection: “What- < ver appliances, however, the law has placed in the hands of the executive will hereafter bo invoked, if necessary, to put a final end to this enormous plundering of the public domain."