Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1897 — SECRETARY BLISS’ REPORT. [ARTICLE]

SECRETARY BLISS’ REPORT.

Head of the Interior Department Makes Recommendations. Secretary of the Interior Bliss, in hit annual report, submits estimates aggregating $156,532,419 for appropriations by Congress for the fiscal year ending Juns 30, 1899. Discussing pensions, he says 200,00 C pension claims are.awaiting adjudication and it is estimated that 40 or 50 per cent of these will be finally admitted. If they are rapidly adjudicated they will swell th« pension roll from $5,000,000 to $7,000,000. When, however, these claims art adjudicated and the first payments made thereon, the amount of the pension roll will increase _verv rapidly, possibly to $125,000,000 or $130,000,000 the first year. Secretary Bliss says while the opening of the Wichita reservation in Oklahoma to white settlement w ould greatly promote the development of that country, yet, in view of the unsettled condition of the questions affecting the rights of the Indians, until there is further legislation, he does not see how it can be done without causing great injury and distress. To guard against this recommendation is made that the Dawes commission be authorized to investigate questions and report recommendations for speedy and just settlement.

Referring to the work of the Dawes commission, it is announced that the investigation of the rights of applicants for citizenship in the five nations has been practically completed; the commission has prepared the roll of citizenship of the several tribes and has negotiated three agreements. That, with both the Choctaws and Chickasaw® of April 23, 1897, is before Congress and has been ratified by those tribes. That made with the Creeks Sept. 27 last was rejected almost unanimously by the Creek council and there is little prospect of any further agreement with them. The Cherokees have refused to make an agreement and negotiations with them have been abandoned for the time being.

The Secretary says the five tribes have undoubtedly violated in many ways the spirit of their agreements with the United States under which the territory is now held and and while he does not recommend any harsh government action the Secretary calls the attention of the President and Congress to the chaotic condition of affairs of the territory. No government for the Indian territory will be satisfactory until Congress shall provide for the establishment of a single uniform system for the entire Indian territory. Recommendation is made that the period for the allotment of lands to the Umpaghre Indians be extended such time beyond April 1, 1898, as Congress shall deem best. The sum of $1,216,886 is now in the treasury to the credit of the Utes’ fund, resulting from the sale of the Colorado lands, and in addition there must yet be realized from the sales over $500,000 to reimburse the Government, the expenses, etc., of the removal, and the $1,250,000 set aside from the public moneys as a trust fund. Secretary Bliss recommends that the public land laws be extended to Alaska; that the granting of rights of way for railroads, telegraph and telephone lines and the constrluction of roads and trails be specifically authorized; that provision be made for the incorporation of municipalities, providing for the holding of elections, etc.; that the legal and political status of the native population, which is in doubt, be defined; that complete territorial government be authorized and established, and that representation in Congress be granted. Work on the Nicaragua canal is still suspended and the company reports liabilities consisting of the amounts still due under the concessions to the company of $6,705,000 of bonds and not exceeding SIOO cash liabilities outstanding unpaid. Assets: Unused capital stock, $518,500 first mortgage bonds and the 2,425 shares of capital stock, received in liquidation, the concessions, rights, privileges, franchises, etc., which it now owns, plant, equipments, lands, railway supplies and other property in Central America, Including the lands between the lake and the Pacific.