Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1893 — DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. [ARTICLE]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

Aunl Report ®f Secretary Hok* Harfttfc The annua! report of the Secretary of the Interior was made public Friday. Secretary Hoke Smith reviews with thofoughncM the work of his department. Upon the subject of pensions the Secretary calls attention to the great amount saved to the Government by the stoppage of payment of Illegal pensions in Norfolk, Va.. New Mexico and Io«tt. The Secretary comments on the utter Inadequacy of legislation thus far enacted to providefor the legitimate procurement of public tim- , bur to supply the actual necesritierof * the people dependent upon ft to promote settlement and develop the natural resources of the public lands. The Secretary discusses at length the opening of the Cherokee outlet. He says the hardships incurred by applicants was an unavoidable result, when so large • crowd, far in excess of the land to be obtained. was preparing to rush madly upon ft. No care of the department could have lessened the Intense heal or prevented the stifling dust The searcltv'of water was due to an extended drought, which bad dried up many of the usual sources of water supply. The work of the Indian Bureau shows that they are steadily advancing in elrlllzat'sT. It Is a mistake,* he says, io suppose that their number Is rapidly decreasing. On the contrary tribal wars and wars with the whites having ceased, they are increasing, and there are now over 253.010. Much good is being accomplished by allotments In severalty and the schools. Th# payment or Indian depredation claims Is deemed a subject of grave consideration. Under th* existing law. the appropriations Intended for the support of these Indiana will be consumed by the payment of these claims, and a second appropriation would be necessary to meet their needs so that the payment of these claims will eventually devolve upon the government It is estimated that these claims will absorb many millions of dollars and the policy of subjecting the treasury to this strain Is questioned. The recent troubles In the Choctaw Nation are touched upon at length. The Secretary urges the prompt passage of th* bill now pending before Congress, extending the jurisdiction of the United States In the Indian .Territory, so as to include the right of removal of all cases, where local prejudice la shown, without regard to citizenship. Referring to the work of thn Comms Office, the Secretary states? “I now feel all confidence that every effort is being consciontionsiy made to bring th* census to a close, and to render It as useful as possible when finished.” It is intimated that the appropriations now available will be sufficient to meet the expenses uw to the Ist of February, but that additional snpropriations to the amount of $503.(00 will l>e necessary to continue the work from that time. In closing the renortthe Secretary states that, In the estimate of expenditures for the department, a great majority of the proposed improvements were rejected, onlv those actually necee-. wry for the conduct of public business being adopted. x