New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-28
GOVERNMENT REPORTS.
srrMMARJEs OF THREE OF THEM.
MANY POPULAR TOPICS TREATED or IN THEsl


of the tobacco tax, and favoB strict enforcement
of the revenue laws in the South.
INDIAN POLICY-THE PUBLIC LANDS.
A SUMMARY OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF The SEC
RErARY OF THE IETERIOR-HOw TO TREAT THE
WILD MEN-TIMBrR AND LAND GRANTS.
WAsHINGToN, Nov. 27.-The Secretary of the In
terror begins his annual report to the President
with reference 10 the plan of Indian policy"
sletched by him last year. The plan was to render
the Indians a fixed. civilized, land-hOlding and
educated population, by giving them permanent
reservations, issuing implements and STOCK Duhd-
ing school houses, etc. The present report says:
Considerable progress has been made In the execution
Of the plan above stated far it depends on the ac-
of this Department and the officers under its drec'
ton The consolidation OF a number OF agencies mas
been undertaken with a view TO beIter 10
cation OF the Indians, which viii at the same
time simplify the service, render more ell
htent supervision possible reduce the expenses OF tho
Government and lessen tine opportunities for fraud
and pecuation As far as the appropriations made by
Congress would permit, agricultural implements and
domestic cattle have been furnished TO Indian tribes, to
set the Indians work for their own support ana TO
encourage industrious habits. An indian police mas
organized twenty-five agencies, and from all OF
them favorable reports as to tine working OF the
new system have been received The labor oil
white men Indian reservations has rs much as
possible been suppanted by Indian labor Instructions
have been gwen discriminate in the distribution OF
supplies and annuites, which not actual Decesares,
against individual Indians who show disposition to
work, thus dscOurag1ng ideness. Permission TO send
hunting parties has been gwen only where wthOn'
hunting the Ihdiaus would nave ceen expose 70 VAIN.
The rapid disappearance OF game, however, IN many
Darts Western countries VIII very soon stop tbls
source susteuancc. The allotment OF lana among TIT
indians on several reservations mas Dceh ordee am
IN progress -.,- -. 49,, o,,,o,Aod os
much p0ssib and proper directions nave ocen gwen
for the Instruction of InGian children IN practical pGr
suits Fifty Tudan children, cUys ana girls, selected
from different tribes have been taken 10 le tIaPto
Normal anu Agricultural Institute, ~ virginia, where
tley SIl n ceiye elementary English epucatOn anu
thorough practical instruction IN farming ana other USE
ful WORK to he sent back TO their hides stef Tue COM
pi5eu co srect,on o these Children and VINO per
formed lis task In IA very satisfactory manher'
reports that continually increasing iItcrcS IN educa
ton l. shown by the Indians ana tiii they %ouio ,te
thousands OF children with him nad ne Dteh hpe 10
n fay0raDie may destined 20 become AN important
factor the advancement OF CIVILIZATION among INC
lndIans
The Secretary says that the Indian service has
been reOrganized in several of its branches. and
he believes that on the whole the character OF the
service has been raised in point of integrity and
efficiency. He continues:
am, however far from pretending that the present
condition OF Indian affairs Is what III ought TO De- ne
experience gained in earnest effort 10 overcome dill
entities and 10 correct abuses has enabled To aPpre
ciae clearly the task SIN 10 be accomplished III
my last aunJal report stated frankly, and nave To
rrpeaI now that III pursuing policy ever WISE aud
with a machinery efficient. gradual Improve
ment can be tfeoted only by Datient energetic anu
wel-direcicd work IN detail An entirely satisfactory
state OF thngs be brought about only under oreum
stances when not and cannot DC uuef the cOhuOl
II the recurrence OF troubs and disturbance is be
avoided, the appropriations made by Congress Tor the
support OF the Inuans who are not self supporting
must I've liberal enough TO be sufficient Tor that purpose
aud they must be made early enough In the year 10
rerdnr the purchase aud del very Of new supplies
possible before the old supplies are exhausted.
Soeand the indian service should nave AT It's uisposa
sufficient und u be used with proper accountability
al discretion in unforeseen emergencies.
Third the citizens Of Western states and Territories
must be made to understand that. II the Indians are
TO cease TO be Troublesome paupers and yaga-
tcy must have lands ft for Agriculture and pasture
that such lands they must be permitted TO reign and
establish permanent homes, and that such aresut can
be attained IL the white people insist upon taking
from them by force or tiekery every acre OF ground
that good for anything The hrst Two things can De
ACCOMPLISHED by appropriate action on the part OF
Congress. The difficulties growing out OF the
OntHuallyrepented encroachmens by the white peo-
pie on the rights the lndans DO es~ened by the
coneentI aiOn OF the Indians on smaller number u
reservations but they can be eIrey avoided even then
only by the most energetic enforcement OF the laws
the part Of tho General and local Governments.
To this end IL seems desirable That the South
western tribes whose present reservations appear
insecure. otherwise unsuitable Tor their per-
manent settlement suoud he gradually removed 10 the
Indian Territory. The climate OF the Indian Territory
Is congrusl 10 them while 1t has proved unwholesome
to the Northern Indians who were located thoro The
Northwestern tribes VIII, IN the course OF time, have to
BE- concentrated IN similar manner on few reserya-
the Paciho slope To keep tue Indians on
their reservations, and prevent disturbance ana
conflicts. tho Commissioner OF Indian Affairs rec
omm 'nGs the organization Of mounted body OF ln-
dian auxiharics" To be drawn from tue young men OF
the various tribes aud 10 he under the command OF the
military authorities. | heartily concur IN this recon-
menaation The young men enlisted in such an organi
tOn paid by the Government Will be withdrawn from
the gUug element ot the Indian tribes, and be dsci
pued In the service OF peace and order II is matter
OF general experience that Indians so employed can be
depended upon rs to loyal fidelity 10 the duties assigned
To them.
But tho principal end OF our Indian policy cannot be
promoted by peace measures alone. That eDd consists
In gradually introducing among mo Indians the haDn
by inducing them TO work
for their support by ENCOURAGING the pride OF tho
indy Idual ownership Of property and by educating tho
young generation; and no Efforts should be spared to
bring upon them the proper moral Influences IN
that direction such efforts shou not be sneered at as
mere sentimental IancieS, should they be dlscour
aged by the assertion that success Is impossible.
The Secretary says of the outbreak of the Ban.
nacks that it must be admitted that they were in
sufficiently supplied with food. which, however,
was owing to an appropriation Of money by Con-
gress utterly inadequate to their wants" OF the
trouble among the Cheyennes. this Summer, the
Secretary says that in this case, the outbreak
owing to the misohievous spirit of bad men among
the Indians themselves, and their determination to
return northward to their old hunting grounds"
Referring to the measures taken by the Depart
ment for the suppression Of timber depredatons
upon the Government lands, the report enters upon
a defence of tho special agents whose proceedings
were complained Of in the South and West. The
Secretary SAYS that the inquiries made into the
facts have indicated the agents employed; that
when private property had been seized improperly,
prompt restitution made; and that no hard
ship was inflicted on settlers in the West.
The Secretary expresses the opinion that the dis
astrous consequences of destruction of tho for
ests Of a country will inevitably come upon Amer
lea III comparatively short period of time
unless legislation be enacted TO arrest in
discriminate spoilaton. To that end no
rencws his recommendation that all lands