upon its ratification by Congress before
March 4, 1893. The Secretary of the Interior, who has given the subject
very careful thought, recommends the ratification of the agreement, and
I am inclined to follow his recommendation. Certain it is that some
action by which this controversy shall be brought to an end and these
lands opened to settlement is urgent.

The form of government provided by Congress on May 17, 1884, for Alaska
was in its frame and purpose temporary. The increase of population and
the development of some important mining and commercial interests make
it imperative that the law should be revised and better provision made
for the arrest and punishment of criminals.

The report of the Secretary shows a very gratifying state of facts
as to the condition of the General Land Office. The work of issuing
agricultural patents, which seemed to be hopelessly in arrear when
the present Secretary undertook the duties of his office, has been so
expedited that the bureau is now upon current business. The relief thus
afforded to honest and worthy settlers upon the public lands by giving
to them an assured title to their entries has been of incalculable
benefit in developing the new States and the Territories.

The Court of Private Land Claims, established by Congress for the
promotion of this policy of speedily settling contested land titles,
is making satisfactory progress in its work, and when the work is
completed a great impetus will be given to the development of those
regions where unsettled claims under Mexican grants have so long
exercised their repressive influence. When to these results are added
the enormous cessions of Indian lands which have been opened to
settlement, aggregating during this Administration nearly 26,000,000
acres, and the agreements negotiated and now pending in Congress for
ratification by which about 10,000,000 additional acres will be opened
to settlement, it will be seen how much has been accomplished.

The work in the Indian Bureau in the execution of the policy of recent
legislation has been largely directed to two chief purposes: First,
the allotment of lands in severalty to the Indians and the cession to
the United States of the surplus lands, and, secondly, to the work of
educating the Indian for his own protection in his closer contact with
the white man and for the intelligent exercise of his new citizenship.
Allotments have been made and patents issued to 5,900 Indians und