Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-30
AMERICAS ABoRIGINEs.
Commissioner Price Reports on theil
Enlightenment and Needs.


Enlightenment and Needs.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.-Hiram Price,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, has lust
made his annual report to the Secretary
of the Interior of the operations of that
bureau during the fiscal year ended June
80, 1884.
He prafaces the report with a statement
that more Indians are living in houses and
fewer in trees than there were one year ago.
and that more are cultivating the soil and
fewer following the chase; that there are more
in carpenter, blacksmith and other mechani-
cal shops trying to earn an honest living and
fewer at the war dance, scalp dance and
sun dance; that there are several
hundred more Indian children In industrial,
agricultural and mechanical schools, fitting
themselves to become useful and intelligent
citizens than there were twelve months since,
and that during the same period many In
dlans have, with the proceeds of their own
labor, purchased improved machinery, agri-
cultural implements, and are making great
headway. He says that the Indian apprO-
prlation Is too small, If it is expected TO trans
form the Indians from being wild, rowing no.
mads into peaceable, industrious and self
supporting citizens in any reasonable time.
INADEQUATE PUNISHMENT.
He complains of the inadequate punishment
of offenders against the law forbidding the
sale of liquor TO Indians, and says that the
penalty should be made not less than $500 fine
ana not Tess JnAn Two years imprisonment.
He adds that the Indians themselves complain
Of the government allowing white men to
furnish liquor to their people, and IN some
cases dO all in their power to cure this evil by
severely Furnishing their own people who in
dulge in the use Of intoxicating liquors. Con-
siderable space in the report is devoted to a
statement OF the pressing necessity for law
providing for the punishment of crimes and
Ofienses among the Indians themselves, and
in connection with this subject the Commits
sioner calls attention to tbe'iNportance of es-
tablishing United States Court in Indian
Territory, in accordance with treaty stipula-
tiOns. School work is a so reviewed at length
and statistics literally furnished. The Com
missioner says that the value Of day schools
among the Indians is proven. and that for
10000 Indians their establishment is virtually
required by treaty stipulations. Some pro-
gress is being made toward compulsory edu-
cation, it having been successfully tried at
four agencies, eompalsi6n at two taking the
form of Withholding ratiOns, and at Others of
Withholding annuity payments,
A large portion of the report is devoted to
discussion of attempted settlements bv whites
IN Indian Territory, and the, commissioner
says That recommendations have repeatedlv
been n ade for an amendment of the laws re-
latlng TO trespassers on Indian lands so as to
make such otf6nses punishable by imprisOn
ment as well as by fine, and that without the
passage OF some stringent law of this kind in
trudcrs can only be kept ont by troops. Sh0uld
they at any time be temporarily withdrawn
for any purpose the Territory would be rapid
ly OYerrUD