Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-11-10
THE INDIANS.

Synopsis of the Annual Report of the Com.
missioner of Indian Affairs-A More
Thorough Educational System and Less
Whisky Believed to BE the Solution Of
the Indian Problem-An Increase In APP
propriations Asked for.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-Hiram Price,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, submitted
his annual report toa the Secretary of the
Interior. He calls attention to the fact that
the general condition of the Indians in 1883
is in advance of the Indians of 1882. Among
the things needed to secure success and
efficiency in solving what is called the
Indian problem he enumerates: 1. An
appropriation to survey the outbound
aries of Indian reservations, so that both
Indians and white men may know where
they have rights and where they lave none.
This will save not only much trouble and
expense but many lives of both white men
and Indians. 2. A law for the punishment
of persons who furnish arms or ammunition
to Indians. No such law now exists. 3.
More liberal appropriations for Indian po-
lice. 4. An appropriation of money suf-
ficient to defray the expenses of detecting
and prosecuting persons who furnish intoxi-
eating liquor to Indians.
The reports of his predecessors, he says,
for the last thirty years, agree with singular
unaniminity in reference to the
trouble among Indians growing out
of the use of intoxicating liquors,
and the fact has been established
beyond controversy that it has been produc-
tive Of more disease, crime andfloss of life
than all other causes combined. In this
connection he asks that the law allowing
army officers to take whisky into the Indian
country be repealed. He says no ardent
spirits should be introduced into the Indian
country under any pretense whatever, nor
their sale permitted within twenty miles of
all Indian reservation.
He asks that appropriations for the Indian
service be made more in bulk, and not cut
up into two hundred and sixty different
heads, as it initiates against the efficiency
of the service. Attention is called to the
fact that during the last four years $775,22
were paid claim agents by the Indians for
collecting from the Government money due
the Indians. He d%enounces the practice in
strong language.
MI. Price recommends that Congress con-
fer both civil and criminal jurisdiction with
in their respective limits Except where such
property is expressly exempted by treaty or
act of Congress> and give the Indian all the
rights in the courts enjoyed by other per-
sons. During the year 146 certificates and
patents to lands in severalty were issued to
Indians of various tribes. He asks that
Indians be allowed to make homestead
entries without payment of the fees
now required. He regards the law for the
punishment Of intruders on the Indian res
e~rvation as entirely inadequate. All that
can at present be done is to remove the in
truder, OF if he reappears to bring a civil
suit against him in the nature of an action of
debt to recover the statutory penalty of
$1,000.
The Commissioner notes an encouraging
increase in the attendance of Indian pupils
at boarding and day schools during the year
just closed.
The number of Indians III Alaska is placed
at 20, 900. On this subject the report says:
IF the published statements in reference to
Alaska be true, we are doing much less for
the civilization of these people than was
done before we took possession of that coun-
try. The Russian Government gave them
laws, churches and schools; the American
Government has done nothing in that direc-
ton" The Commissioner reports the diff
culties between the factions of the Creek
nation as amicably adjusted.