The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-15

fund in 1916 sl,o95,564 81
fund in ISL - 7.,5ss 50
Amount designated to go to the surplus -,
tund IN lSiS lo'''F %
sl,a2s,527 70
This system necessarily increases the yearly estimates
to the extent that the old balances could be used out
this far better than that those balances should DC re-
tanned, and the estimates lessened accordingly, ana ne-
lusve be thus presented to Congress OF 'he Popape
amount of expenditures in the next succeeding year ,
The accumulation OF large amounts IN the hands oil
discussing agents. has always been considered one OF the
most fruitful of maeasance IN the public ser.
vce-leadng frequently does, 10 speculaons with
the public funds, and eventually to deialcaons, The
special attention OF this Office continues TO be directed TO
this subject As stated last the large sum oil Ssh
$40 o. which had accumulated in the hands OF the various
agents, Withdrawn therefrom and restored to the
treasury and the remances are now Sc arranged and
regulated that they never have In their possession any
thing beyond what is almost immediately required for
expenditure.
Tables and H are appended TO show the amounts
invested in stocks of various States and of the Uni
led States for the benefit of several of the tribes and
the annual income theefrom and also the amounts not
invested but held in trust and interest thereon annually
In my report of last year noticed the peculiar situa
ton of certain Indian reservations IN the State OF ILLINOIS,
which had been apart by treaty for the and bene
fit of individual Indians, without vestng in them the fee,
and which they could not therefore SELL as IN other
cases. but the act of the 9th of March last authorized
them TO do with the approval OF the President Reg
uatons prescribing the conditions OF such approval were
adopted, and widely circulated; but far only four
cases have been perfected in accordance herewith, and
other reservations under various treaties have been eX-
amined during the past year. OF which upwards OF hfty
having been perfected according to the regulations OF the
department, have been confirmed.
OF reservations under treaties prior to 1880, about sixty
remain unransfered, though about halt OF them are
claimed by purchases which have not been confirmed
because the prerequisites thereto have not been complied
with By subsequent treaies-principally those with the
Choctaws Creeks, and Chckasaws of 1850, 1892, and
Thousand
apart for Individual Indians the greater portion OF which
have BEEN sold by the reserves and the sales approved
The investigation and settlement of these have
posed upon the office vast of labor and difficult
y, there being many OF fraud, and numerous
tests between opposing Claimants which rendered neces
sary the greatest care and caution. Those remaining
unsettled generally in such situation that they
may soon be disposed of and as the evil and corrupt
policy of granting reservations in Indian treaties has been
discontinued this tedious and embarrassing class of bust
may be entirely closed early day. and the time
and attention required by be protably devoted to the
other important and increasing duties of the office.
Under the acts of August B. 1872 and August g. 1916,
there have been adudcaed three thousand eight hun
dred and thry-wo claims, including those OF children
of that class of the arising under the 18th article of
the Choctaw treaty of $780, for which reservations could
not be assigned in accordance with the specific provisions
of that treaty. and for which those laws authorized the
granting of scrip the claimants; onehalf only OF which
to be issued to them, the other half being required to
be funded by the act of March 3 1915, and on which
mencing their arrival in the country of their brethren
west of the Mississippi river OF the half deliverable to
a3o,sio of land The remainder s in the hands of
the agent of the Choctaws of the Mississippi ready
to be issued to the Indian claimants they shall
have removed there it being withheld till them in accord
with the decision OF the President of September
1917, (see appendix b. The whole amour, OF the scrip
awarded in this class of claims is equal to one million
four hundred thousand four hundred and eighty
land; one half of which only, however, will be absorbed
by the unfunded portion OF the scrip.
An increasing interest continues to be everywhere
manifested in the of education Many of the tribe
which have heretofore refused to permit the introduction
OF schools into their country, are now coming forward
and asking for their establishment, and some of them
even Offering to appropriate portion OF their
TO the promotion of this great object This gratifying
change in their sentiments and views has been brought
about in great by the system which has been
pursued for time of impartng knowledge of agri-
culture and the mechanic arts, with that of letters, and
the efficient operation OF the different missionary
Cieties in the efforts of the department
The number of schools in the Indian country has in
creased rapidly during the past than any preced-
ing year, whilst the attendance and department of the
scholars have been far constant and exemplary than
before 1t appears from the reports made this Office
that there in successful operation among the
different tribes sixteen manual abor institutions al
which are maintained and educated eight hundred and
nine scholars, of which five hundred and ven
males, and two hundred and thirty-two females;
and eighty boarding and other schools with 2s73
schoars-2,o73 males and 500 females These schools
are represented to be supplied with good and competent
teachers and to be otherwise in pro sperous and highly
satisfactory condition. With the efforts of the govern
ment and of the various religious and philanthropc
cieties of the United States thus united the blessings
and advantages of this great moral enterprise worthy
the and OF the country may be extended 10 the whole
of our aboriginal race.
There also under contract and in progress of
establishment, seven more large manua labor schools
one among the Chlckasaws, two among the Creeks
among the blamles, two among the Potawatomies and
one among the kanzas The aggregate set apart by
these tribes for the buildings and improvements is
1874 900, and that Tor their annual endowment and main
tenance about $4,000; which sums are in addition TO
the amount that is to be furnished by the missionary So
ceties under whose care they will great measure be
placed.
The Chckasaws not disposed to stop with the e,
adjustment of institution they have recently au-
thorzed the department to make arrangements for two
of the description; and in spirit of bealty
that might be advantageously initiated elsewhere have
appropriated from the interest arising from their stoc
investments the of $4,000 for the buildings and
like amount annually for their maintenance sup
port And the Creeks, unwilling TO be surpassed by
their neghbors in their appreciation of the advantages
arising from the education of their children, have deter
mined IN council, TO apply the whole proceeds of the
tund realized from the sale of their orphan lands which
was invested in stocks, to similar purpose.
Inc Chocaws have not only made provision for the
maintenance OF eight large boarding schools in their own
country, put they recently appropriated and apart the
interest arising rom certain moneys which they have in
vested IN stocks OF the United States for the instruction
OF such oil their youth as at the annual exam of
their own schools may appear to evlnce the most prom
Use and aptitude Tor study the various branches of
classical and scientific education In pursuance of this
policy, they sent on, during the last summer TO the
care of this department, five very interesting and nrom
ware College, and who although before ont of their
tn,nI ottDc npt1t