National Republican., 1882-12-25
DOWN ON DANCING.
Poor Lo Must No Longer Shake His Light
Fantastic MOCCasn.
MIR. Price Don't Like IL, and IL Going 20
Make Him Quit IL.

Mr. Price, the Indian commissioner, has
Just sent out circular letter to all Indian
agents, calling their attention to an elaborate
set of rules recently promulgated, and direct
ing them to see to it that the requirements
thereof are strictly enforced, with the view of
having the evil practices mentioned ultimately
abolished. These rules are in substance, as
follows:
l. There is to be established at each agency
tribunal, to consist of three persons, neither
Of whom shall be a polygamist nor believer
in polygamy, to be maintained by the regent,
after consultation with the Indians in COUP
Gil, from among the most intelligent of the
tribe aud those well known and recognized
for their good moral character and integrity,
and these persons so nominated by the agent
and appointed by and with the approval of
the commissioner, shall constitute u tribunal
TO be known as
"THE COURT OF INDIAN oFFENsEs,"
and the several judges thereof, shall be styled,
respectively, Judge of the court of Indian
Offences" each of whom shall be appointed
for u term of one year, subject to removal at
any time, at the discretion of the commits
sioner of Indian affairs, and each judge, for
hehalf, shall receive monthly salary of $50.
II. The. court of Indian otfenses of each
agency shall hold at least two regular sessions
in each month, and special sessions may be
held when requested by three reputable mem.
bers of the tribe, and approved by the agent.
III. The court shall hear and pass judg-
ment upon all such questions as may be pre-
sented to it for consideration by the agent or
by his approval, and shall have jurisdiction
over all
"INDIAN oFFENsEs"
designated as such in rules 4, 3, g. and Z of
these rules and that the several orders of
the court may be carried into full effect, the
United States Indian agent il authorized to
compel the attendance of witnesses at any ses-
sion of the court and enforce with the aid of
the police, if necessary, all orders that may be
passed by the court or majority thereof ;
but all orders, DEGREES, or judgments of the
court shall be subject to an appeal to and final
revision by this Office, provided the appellant
shall furnish security satisfactory to the court
and approved by the agent of good and peace
able behavior pending the final decision by
this office.
Nv. The sun dance, the scalp dance. the
war dunce and all other so called sports as
smilating thereto shall be considered "In-
dian Otfenses" and any one found guilty of
being a participant in any one or more of
these )" Otiensesn shall for the first otiense
the person or persons so found guilty by the
court, his or their rations for period not ex-
Ceeding fifteen days; and If found guilty of
any subsequent oiicnse under this rule shall
be punished by Withholding his or their ra-
tions for a period not less than ten DAYS or
more than thirty, or by incarceration in the
agency prison for period not exceeding
thirty days. or both. at the discretion of the
court.
V. Any plural marriage hereafter con-
tracted or entered into by any member of an
Indian tribe, under the supervision of a
United States Indian agent, shall be consid-
cred on Indian Otfense," cognizablc by "The
court of lndiln otlenses," and upon trial and
conviction thereof by said court, the offender
shall pay fine of not more than $50, or work
at hard labor for period of twenty days, or
both, at the discretion of the court the pro-
cceds thereof to be devoted to the benefit of
the tribe To which the offender may at tn.
time belong and wherever it shall be proven
to the satisfaction of said court, that any
member of the tribe fails, without proner
cause, to support his wife and children, hu
rations shall be issued to him until such time
as satisfactory assurance is given to the court
that the offender will provide for his family
to the best of his ability.
vi. The usual practices of so-called
MEDICINE MEN"
shall be considered Indian oflenses, cognizable
W tbt tbulu VI lnulull oItllSCS, anu WnGn-
ever it shall be proven to the satisfaction of
the court that the influence or practice of
so-called medicine man" operates us a him
drance to the civilization of tribe or that
said medicine man " resorts to aay artitice
or device TO keep the Indians under his infu-
ence, or shall adopt any means to prevent the
attendance of children at the agency schools
or shall use any of the arts of u coniurOr to
prevent the Indians from abandoning their
heathenish rites and customs, shall be ad-
judged guilty of an Indian ofiense and, upon
conviction of any one or more of these speci-
fled practices. or any other of an equally anti
progressive nature, shall be confined in the
agency prison and fed on bread and water for
term not less than ten days, and not exceed
ing thirty days, or until such time as he shall
produce evidence satisfactory to the court that
he will forever abandon all practices styled
Indian ofienses" under this rule.
Any Indian who shall wilfully destroy or
attempt to destroy, or
WITH INTENT TO STEAL OR DESTROY,
takes and carries away any property of any
value or description, being the property free
from tribal interference of any other Indian
or Indians of the same tribe, shall without
reference to the value thereof be deemed
guilty of an Indian offense," and upon trial
and conviction by "the court of Indian
otienses' shall be compelled to return the
stolen property to the proper owner, or in case
the property shall have been lost or destroyed,
the estimated full value thereof, and in any
event the party or parties 50 found guilty
shall be confined in the agency prison for a
term not exceeding thirty days, or until such
time as evidence satisfactory to the court is
presented that the otlense will not be rcpeated
provided that it shall not be considered a
sufficient or satisfactory answer to any of the
otfenses set forth in this rule that the party
charged was a " Manner" and was justified
in taking or destroying the property in ac-
cOrdance with the customs or rules of the
tribe.
In order that the court of Indian oflenses
shall be organized at each agency at as early
date MS practicable, each agent is instructed
to read and explain the foregoing rules to the
Indians at his agency, and after consultation
with them nominate whom he may consider
fit persons for the positions of judges that they
may be duly appointed by this office.
The agent should be especially careful that
he nominate none except those whom he be-
lieyed to be intelligent, honest, and upright,
and of undOubted integrity.
The LOwViIie POstohice Case,
The following statement in regard TO the
Lowville (N " postothce case, about which