National Republican., 1875-12-08

steps to procure full and unbiased report Of the
condition Of things in that Territory, and II ask
the privilege Of submitting to you special re-
port on the subject at an early day amer tho
meeting Of Congress at which time some further
Recommendation In that behalf may be found to DO
The peculiar condition in which the so-called
Mission Indians Of Southern California are sltua-
ted is clearly stated in the Commissioners report,
and he makes suggestions in regard to their treat
ment. The unsettled condition of this people Is
source Of embarrassment to the white settlements
in that portion of California, and will continue TO
be an element of irritation and danger until some
measures are adopted for their relief.
1t would be beneficial to the Indian service, in
myopiniop and would tend 10 promote its eficfeney
II the laws preventing the detail Of army ON
for civil service were so far modified as to al
low their employment in the Indian service at the
discretion of the President in case of emergency.
Such a change would place at the disposition of.
the Executive eorRs 81 dsfPhed me nsegenS
country and the needs of the service would render
them invaluable in an emergency such as has
arisen during the present year, and such as is lG.
Bile to arise at any time in the treatment Of large
bodies Of wild Indians.
The Secretary of the Interior now holds in his
possession, In trust for various Indian tribes bonds
of the United States and Of several of the States,
the par value of which is about 55000,OOO. Au-
thOrlty has been conferred upon the Secretary Of
the Interior from time TO time by IaIian treaties
and acts of Congress TO invest the proceeds of the
sales Of lands eeded to the United States by In
dian tribes. The authority so given TO invest, as
trustee, seems to have been construed as implying
also the authority TO hold such securities in pos
session by the Secretary OF the Interior in trust,
and he now holds such stocks and bonds to the
amount of S5,10I,5l6. Whether the right to hold
those securities is conferred by the laws and trea
ties referred to or, not, recommend that the
necessary legislation be made authorizing their
transfer to the Treasurer of the United States by
whom the interest thereon, 1t aecrues, shall DO
placed to the credit Of the proper tribe to be
drawn on requisitIon of the Secretary Of the In
terror, as in the case of appropriations. Such q
dispOs ton Of the securities will relieve The Seere-
tary of the Interior of disagreeable responsible
ity and duty not in any way homogeneous to the
general duties Of the office, and place the bonds
where all such valuables should be kept.
The cooperation Ofthe religious bOdies having in
charge the duty of nominating Indian agents has
been harmonious and satisfactory, and they have
evidently been careful in their selection Of proper
men for those positions.
The board of Indian commissioners has been
efficient in the performance of its duties and has
rendered valuable assistance to the Department
in the supervision of the purchase and inspection
Of annuities and supplies, in the examination Of
contracts, and the auditing Of vouchers. 1t is to
be regretted that their annual report is not made
in time for me to profit by their suggestions and
observations in making this report ana It is hoped
that hereafter it will be completed on or before the
LIST Of November in each year.
The Commissioner alludes to the fact that, with
the exception Of the hOstities with the Cheyennes
and Comanches, which were pending when the re-
ports for the last year were closed, and which
collisions between the Indians and the whites in
our entire domain. This fact is one of great en-
eouragement, showing conclusively thaC the In
dams are anxious to maintain peaceful relations,
and that even under great provccations, which
they have had in several Instances during the
year, they have come to recognize so thoroughly
the power of the whites and the good faith Of the
Government toward them as to trust to that Gov
ernment, and not to their own strength to redress
There are still some rowing bands of hostile
Sioux in the Big Horn and Powder river country
OF Dakota and Montana, which should be subiu-
gated and compelled to cease their raids and
depredati0ns upon other tribes and upon the
whites. When this is done there will be but little
trouble, with q fair degree of tact, intelligence
and force. to control entire Indian
On the whole, cannot but regard the work of
the year tnthe Indian service as showing decided
progress in the direction Of establishing peaceful
relations encouraging to habits of Industry lead
ing toward civilization and education, and gener-
ally tending toward the accomplishment Of what
you sought by your policy to secure, namely tho
protection, support and improvement of the abo-
rgines of the country, without impeding the west
ward progress Of white settlements. The expert
Of the year have developed necessities for stf
further Legislation, which are mentioned in the
Commissioners report, and towhieh careful atten-
The thanks of this Department are due to the
War Department and the officers of the army for
the prompt and efficient aid they have rendered
during the year in the management of Indian af-
fairs throughout the country, and for their hearty
cooperation and advice whenever called upon to
render assistance in carrying out the details Of the
The commission which was appointed- during the
year to investigate the management of affairs at
the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies made
some valuable suggestions in their report, in which
IcannOt refrain from cOneurrng In regard to
the necessity OF laws Tor the protection anu
ishment of Indians. they say:
..The criminal laws Of the United States should
be extended oyer the reservations, and when an
Indian outside of a reservation shall commit an
Offense he should be made subject to the police
and criminal laws of the State in which such of
fense is committed. Some form of territorial pol
ley should be established for their government
when the number and conpaetness Of their popu-
latiOn would render such an organization proper
The individuality of the Indian a member Of the
community should be recognized. and the absurd
fiction of tribal sovereignty in which that individu-
ality is now merged. should be abolished. Courts
should be organized for the administration of JUS
tice over such territory. The Individual owner
ship Of property should be encouraged under tenn
porary on alienation and the privileges
of citizenship made accessible upon such terms as
good policy may prescribe. The evils that result
from the absence of provisions like this appar
enterSre a1d NJ a5d S a2 10 t6
legal responsibility for crime has depre
dations, robbery, murders, and assassination
plies, they remark:
e. 1--WE have already recommended that officers be
detailed for the inspection of beef and beefeattle
at the Indian agencies and for reasons similar to
those already mentioned in that connection, we
recommend that all Inspections of Indian goods
Except annuity goods, the inspection of which Is
provided for by treaty. and supplies at the points
Of purchase and shipment, at terminal points of
railroad transportation, and at the agencies, be-
fore the articles pass into the possession Of tho
agents, be under the exclusive charge of the
commissary general of the army. We believe
that such a system would not merely serve as q
salutary check on contractors, freighters and
agents, but would be Of great use in satisfying
the public mind that the service was fully and
faithfully performed. It would seem desirable
that copy Of the reports of all such Inspections
should be transmitted, through the proper chan
nels, to the Indian Office"
They also recommend:
THAT in accordance with the provisions of tho
treaty Of 1858 army officers be detailed to inspect
ons o indian supplies and besf bs made S ahSs
the direction Of the eommissary general of the
army.
uniform for all agencies, be established with the
mode Of Issuing and accounting for all articles
definitely prescribed.
in ithe amount Of intelligence and capacity re-
quired to conduct them, be so graded as to estab-
fish for the most important salaries sufficient
to secure the services of thoroughly trained and
competent men.
"That all future legislation for the Indians
policy Of bringing them as rapidly as possible
tarts Of the United States"
The minor recommendations of the commission,
J such as require no legislation and need only De-
partmental action, will be carried into execution
rapidly as possible, SO far as they meet my ap-
prevail
----il.4f PENSIONS.
The annual report Of the Commissioner Of PEN
sions shows that the number Of pensioners on the
roll continues to increase. as was anticipated m
the last annual report Of this Department. The
greatest number was reached during the year
ending June 30, 1873 sinee which time the roll has
however, been o corresponding reduction in the
. annual charge to the Government on this account,
for, while the roll has decreased I'D in number
during the last fiscal year. the total annual rate Is
e44 TSl l3in OF that OF the preceding year.
This result Is owing. principally. to the steady
growth of the roll OF invalid pensioners and the
Increase In the average annual rate Of such pen
siOns which has advanced, under the operation
Of the more liberal euactments OF Congress, from
$9026 in 1917 to slO3.9l in 1875 TO each pensioner
On the 30th Of June. 1873 the names OF -, al
pensioners were borne On the rolls. at an annual
aggregate rate OF sd, 24,TS6.46. During the year
next ensuing IL, 557 names we're added to the ron,
and L, ,s77 dropped therefOm for various causes,
June 81, 1875, whose pensions annually aggregate
the sum of $26, ,2s9, ,5l950. of the latter number
no 363 were army pensioners los, ,4TS OF whom were
invallds, and 1of. sS5 widows and dependent rela-
tfyes; 3,s2D navy pensioners, OF whom l,6i5 wS-e
invalids, and 1,Is4 widows, &e:' and q. .43S were
pensioners of the war of lsl2 l5.S75 of whom were
survivors, and 1853 widows-a total Of ~ Sl pen
sioners. ' .'.I--i'Ia t-.--.t7at :
n There were examined and allowed during the
fiscal year 26,0l5 army pension claims, Of which
5ST6 were for invalid pension Is 4s3 for Increased
pension TO inyalds, t,7S2 for pension to widows,
dependent relatives, &c, and 1.gT for increased
pension TO widows, SC: A3 navy-pension claims Of
which l70 were for for invalid pension, III for In
creased pension to invalids ~ for pension to
widows, dependent relatives, Sc, and q for IN
creased pension TO widows, sc; and $50 claims for
pension Of survivors and widows Jf soldiers In the
war Of 1sl2 Of which 24l were for pension 70 sur.
yfyors, and 416 to understanding q total Of
n. us claims adiudicated during said year, &C an
aggregate annual rate Of e, lis, 1o9.0T. -, -
llrrrfrO aafd the navnTpntp from arryo-