The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-20

Annual Report sf the CemnissieneR ~ Indian
Affairs.

has submitted his preliminary annual report 70 tho
Secretary Of the Interior He states that the Indian
population In the United States ID now about 500
exclusive Of those In Alaska. The Indiana he says
are decreasing in numbers from year to year. The
causes thereof as well a. Of much OF the misery and
degradation prevailing, may DO mainly attributed to
intestinal wars. the entailment Of disease by de-
PRAYED whites and the effects Of the OF sprituous
liquors. He believes that q large portion Of the
wilder tribes manifest disposition to emerge from
their savage state. They see the necessity OF do
ing in the advancement Of the white race and In the
disappearance Of game, and, therefore, they under
stand that their hope for the future must be In In
dustrtal pursuits The work OF amelorating the
diton OF the Indian he thinks should enlist the SYM
pathy OF all lovers OF humanity to much greater
extent than now seems to be the case He does not
undertake to assign any reason for this dminution
OF sympathy for the Indian, but says that 1t Is quite
apparent that the same interest Is not shown In the
welfare OF the red man by benevolent and Christian
organizations as In former years. Many ofthe tribes
have no schools and are without any religious IN
Information has been received from the Governor
time past by the Snake and other Indians on the bor-
ders OF Idaho Is virtually ended the military opera
tons against them having been successful Many
were captured and the rest compelled to sue for
peace. asf 4g4 AtHit
The Indian Peace Commission made treaties with
Northern Arapahoes and Cheyennes on May 10 and
the Mountain Crow tribe on May Z, which have been
other Sioux on April 49, not vet submitted to the de-
partment; one with the Ogallalla Sioux on May rs,
to which number OF Minneconjou chiefs added their
signatures. This treaty Is still at Fort Laramie,
be signed by the Sans Arcs and Uncpapa bands OF
Sioux The main features OF these treaties are
binding the Indians to keep the peace providing for
them suitable reservations and means FOR education
and civilization. In accordance with the promises
made by the Commissioners to the Sioux the military
posts OF G. f. Smith, Phil Kearney and Reno in the
Powder river country have been abandoned, and on
this point those Indians are now satisfied.
treaty was concluded with the Navajo tribe at
Fort Sumner, New Mexico. on June ], 1868, which
has been proclaimed. treaty was concluded at
shonee tribes which provides for their establishment
upon reservation In Wind River Valley This
treaty has not yet been received.
The three treaties made In 1867 with the Arapahoes,
Cheyennes Kiowas, COmanches and Apaches, at
Medicine Lodge creek, Kansas, have been ratified
Treaties were made in 1867 with tribes in Kansas
for their removal to the Indian country south Of that
vised the ratification, with amendments, Of those
made with the Pottowattomies, Sacs and Foxes Of
the MISSISSIPPI and the Senacas, Shawnees, Qua
paws, Peorias, Weas, Kaskaskias, Piankashaws,
Ottawas ana Wyandotts. The treaty with the Pot
towattomes has been ratified. The others yet await
the action OF the President, the acceptance OF the
amendments by the Indians having been but recently
received.
sioner Taylor and the Governor Of Colorado Terrific
ry at Washington, with the Tabequace, Muache, Ca
pote Weminqchce, Yampa,. Grand river and Uin.
tab bands OF Ute Indians, the principal features Of
which are the removing Of these tribes from New
Mexico and Colorado to large reservation IN Colo
| The Senate advised its ratification with amend
ments, which latter have been accepted by some Of
the bands and 1t is probable that Oil will accept
| them.
on the 9th Of May last q treaty was made with
the Usage tribe. by which this tribe agrees to sell
about 100000 acres Of land in Kansas Tor ST. 900
to the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Rail-
| road Company, and they agree to remove and
A treaty was also negotiated on the lst of June
following with the Swan creek and Black river
both Of which are now before the Senate '''''
treaty was made on the 9th Of July last at Wash
ngton Win t1e CheroSees as supplemental to ana
July 1885, which has not yet been acted upon by the
Last spring the President authorized q special
agent 80 visit the different tribes In Montana Terri
tory, to effect such treaty arrangements as might be
ties have recently been received that were made BY
this agent with the Blood PECAN and the Blackfeet
nocEs and shosnonees These treaties e provide for
the extinguishment Of the title Of the Indians TO
large extent Of country and for their location in dis
| tricts more suited to their needs.
me Commissioner recommends that treaty DC
made with the Stockbridge, In Wisconsin and the
In destitute circumstances and occupy valuable
lands, much Of which Is Of no use to them. BY the
ported and provided with means to ENGAGE In indus
trial pursuits and to educate their children.
i recently Deeu
IN session OF Chicago and, 1t ID presumed they will
shortly make another report. AS one Of the Com
mission Mr.. Taylor dissented from the views Of q
majority OF the Commission In reference to point
Of the greatest importance-that OF the expediency
Of transferring the management Of Ind ian affairs to
the War Department-and presented his argument
The Commissioner recommends Congress at its
next session to make liberal provision for the sub
sistence OF destitute Indians. On this point he says:
ut TO De exceedingly regretted that the requests
q "a 10 n
ing, the disturbance OF peaceful relations OF the In.
dans war and boodshed, with the expenditure Of
punish Offenders the proverb is no less true than
rite Better feed the indians than fight them, In
It IS Seeved that but 70 for ne
! OF the supplies OF subsistence they mad been re-
a. Us oy ne eace
| Tor want OF means by the department TO con.
tlnue them, there would have been no trouble.
| The Indians apparently satisfied and had nc
occasion to wander over the country in quest OF food
and thereby, under the cravings OF hunger tempted
their needs. The responsibility OF the unfavorabit
condition Of the Indian affairs In this regard s mol
acss and the necessity Of action IN the matter were
faithfully and earnestly represented In communica
tons addressed by this ofice to Congress- through
| The report also contains q recommendation thai
legislation be had for the protection OF tae people
| Texas from invasion by Indians from the north Of
Red river and from the eastern part OF New Mexico
which, the Commissioner thinks, can be secured b.
the location OF suncient NUMBER OF military posts
adjacent to along the northern and western Dor
| ders OF the State
The section OF the law regarding the barter, sale
giving to Indians spiruous liquors, or the intro
| duction OF them to the Indian country, should be
amended, he says, SO as to include beer and cider
as the Indians indulge in these liquors to an alarm
i ing extent and too often become intoxicated. In
4 some instances interruptions men, knowing they
were not liable to penalty, have established their
| breweries near Indian reservations.
Report Of the COmmissioner Of Pensions.
| The following statistics are obtained from the re.
\ port OF the Hon. G. @. Cox, Commissioner or Pen.
| the Treasury:-The number OF original invalid pen
4 sons admitted during the year was 9325, at an
nua aggregate rate OF e62s.22I 20; increase OF PEN
sons allowed, ASA at an annual aggregate rate OF
a2so4S7 %. The average rate OF original pensions
granted IL SGT 37k, or - 35H less than the pre-
ceding year. The number OF original applications by