The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-27
Suggestions Concerning the Things Neces-
sary in Solving the Much-Discussed
Indian Problem.
Judge A. 3. Carlton Thinks Polygamy
Is Decreasing in Utah.
Reasons for Suspending the Fitzgeralds from
Practicing in the Pension Department
Other Washington News.
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Commissioners Price Thinks the Indians Are
on the March of Improvement.


on the March of Improvement.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 26.-The following is a
synopsis of the annual report of Indian Com
missioner Price: A decided advance has been
made in the march of improvement among
the Indian tribes, particularly in the matter
of industrial pursuits and schools of educa-
ton. Some tribes have been pursuaded to
send their children to school that heretofore
resisted all efforts to induce them do so. One
question may now be considered settled be-
yond controversy, and that is the Indian
must be taught to work for his own support
and to spell the English language or give
place to people who do. Among the things
needed to secure success and efficiency in
solving the Indian problem are
First-An appropriation to survey out the
boundaries of the Indian reservations, so
both Indians and white men may know
where they have rights and where hey have
none.
Second-A law for the punishment of per-
sons who furnish arms or ammunition to the
Indians. (No such law now exists.)
Third-More liberal appropriations for In
dian police.
Fourth-An appropriation sufficient to de-
fray the ex pense of detecting and prosecut-
ing persons who furnish intoxicating liquor
introduced into the Indian country under
any pretense whatever, nor their sale per-
mitted within twenty miles of an Indian
reservation. Under existing laws upon the
subject it is a notorious fact that ale,
beer and preparations of alcoholic stimu-
lants, disguised as medicines, are sold at
military posts to soldiers and civilians, and
although the post traders not permitted
to sell it directly to the Indians. yet it is an
easy matter for the Indians to obtain it from
soldiers and civilians to whom it is fur
nished.
The practice of approving contracts to col
lect from the government money due the In
dians is one that ought not to exist. 1t has
for years been a practice to approve con-
tracts by which outside parties have taken
from the Indians hundreds of thousands of
dollars for service which ought not to cost
the Indians one cent. During the
last four years agreements have been
entered into between the Indians and
different attorneys by which these
attorneys were to receive from
the Indians $75.521 for collecting from the
government money said to be due the In
dians.
Allotments in severalty to the number of
one hundred and forty-six have been made
to the Indians during the year, with the best
results, and the Commissioner will adhere to
the policy of allotting lands where the same
can be legally done, and the condition of the
Indians Is SuCn as TO warrant III.
The attention of Congress is again invited
to the necessity of legislation to enable Indi-
ans to make entries under the homestead law
without cost to them.
An amendment to the law in reference to
intruders, so as to punish by Imprisonment
as we'll as fine, is absolutely necessary. An
intruder without property has very little
fear of fine, Notwithstanding his frequent
expulsons from the Indian Territory.
Payne and his party of oklahoma
colonists have twice during the
at settlement in that country, requiring the
aid of the military, at great expense to the
government to effect their removal. The
Commissioner gives detailed account of
Paynes operations, and asks that the special
attention of Congress be called to this ag-
gressive movement on Indian Territory
lands.
During the year there was paid the In
dians in cash, as annuity and otherwise
$745, 900. Less than $40, 900 of this amount
was for the payment of annuities proper,
many of which will expire in the near future
by Limitation of various treaties.
An interesting event during the year has
been the educational inroad in the Ute
tribe The wild southern Utes allowed
twenty-sevep youth to be taken to the Albu-
querque boarding-schools, although not one
of the tribe had ever before attended school
of any description.
Religious societies have contributed $780,
555 for educational work among the Indians,
but this, the Commissioner says, by no
means expresses half the assistance thus
given Indian education and civilization.
The influence OF women whose lives are de-
voted to uplifting the degraded and ignor-
ant cannot be measured by dollars and
cents.