The sun., 1886-12-09
THE INFERIOR.

THE INFERIOR.
GOOD SHOWING.
The report of The secretary OF the interior pre-
sents a comprehensive summary Of the work Of
the various branches OF the public service con-
pected with his department and the sugges
tions and recommendations which 1t contains
for the Improvement Of the service should re
ceive your careful consideration The exhibit
made OF the condition of our Indian population
and the progress Of the work for their enllghten-
meut, notwithstanding the many embarrass-
r,epts which hinder the better administration
of this important branch OF the service, IS
gratifying and hopeful one. The funds appro-
priated for the Indian service Tor the hscal yea
just passed. with the available income from In
dian land and trust moneys, amounting In all TO
1850, 10 II, We're ample}for the service under
the conditions and restrictions or laws regu-
lating their expenditure. There remained bal
ance on hand on June so, 1896. or $l.6bO,-
o23 so. of which 81. 337, 76S.2l are permanent
funds for the fuitillment of treaties and other
like purposes, and the remainder, 1882 25oo9
is subject 70 be carried TO the surplus fund as
required by Las. The estimates presented for
apprGpriations fot the ensuing fiscal year
amount to So, COS. 1884, or S4423So 20 less
than those laid before the congress last year.
The present system of agencies. while abso-
lutely necessary and well adapted for
the management OF our Indian l al al
it was adopted is. in the present state OF Indian
management inadequate, standing alone Tor the
accomplishment OF an object which has become
transition from tribal organizations to citizen
ship of such portions Of the Indians rs are
capable OF civilized life. When the existing s9s.
tenn was adopted the Indian race was outside OIL
che limits OF organized states and territories and
beyond the immediate reach and operation OF
civilization and all efforts were mainly directed
to the maintenance OF Isieudly relations and the
preservation Of peace and quiet On the frontier
All this Is now changed. There Is no such thlne
- the Indian frontier. Civilization. with the
i,usr hum of industry and the influence of
hris amt a.
point None OF the tribes are outside the bounds
Of organized government and society, except
that the territori system has not been EXTENDED
over that portion OF the country known as the
Indian Territory As race the Indians are
NO LONGER HOSTILE,
hut NAV be considered as submissive to the con-
troll of the government. as few of them only are
troublesome. Except the fragments OF several
bands all are now gathered upon isser-atlu
l. is no longer possible to force them TO supsisi
by the chase ard the spontaneous production OF
Il. Garth. With an abundance or land, II 1ur-
nisbed with The means and implements for
profitable husbandry. their lie OF entire depend
ence upon government rat1oAs i:on aay TO day
is no longer uatensluie Their INCLINATION, Ions
foslcred by defective system OF control. ls fG
c!I.E TO the habits and customs Of shfiF ances-
tors and struggle with persistence against tbs
change OF iifs which their altered circumstances
press upon them. Rut barbarism and civlllza-
tlou cannot live together II r. linposslnle tnas
such iucongruous conditions should o6sslsC on
the same goil. They are portion OF our people,
are under the authority OF our government. ana
have a peculiar claim and are entitled TO Lne
fostering care and prutece0n OF the nation Inc
government cannot relieve itself CT TINS resposl-
bilitv until they are so far trained ana civilized
as to lie able wholly 10 manage and care Tor
themselves The paths in which theF shouid
walk must be clear marked out for them, ana
they must be led guided Until they
are familiar with the way and competent
10 assume the duties aGd responsibilities OF our
clti-z ship Progress IL th.- great work Will
continue only at the present SLOW baes ard at
great expense, unless the system ana methods
I ,,,,A oya
changed coalitions and urgent demands or tho
service. The sgca.s .4aving general charge ana
supervision il many cases o. more IMAM o,oo1
Indians. scattered over large reserYat.oIs, and
burdened with the details OF accountability Tor
funds aad supplies have time to look after the
industrial training and Improvement OF lew
indians only The many are negle TED, and re-
main Idle AID rspondent-conditlons not favor-
able for the prcSress Of civilization. The COM
pensation allowed these ageEts and the coudl-
tions of the service are not caiGal4te4 to secure
| for the work men who are fitted by ability srQ
skill properly plan and dintelligently direct TIC
,.latilOds best adopted to produce the mosG
| speedy results and permanent benefits. Hence
the necessity tor a supplemental agency or sys-
| TEN directed to the end OF promoting the general
! and more rapid transition Of tribes from the
| habits and customs OF DarbarIsm to the ways OF
/ civilization With an anxious desire to devise
some plan OF operation by which to secure the
welfare OF the Indians and to relieve the treas
ury as fa. as possible from tho support OF an
| idle dependent poJ,El letiOn, l recommended in
my previous annua! nessage me passage OF a
| law authorizing the
| APPOINTMENT OF A COMMISSION
! as an fundamentally auxiliary to those already
| established for the of the Indians. 1t was
designed that This commission should be COM
| posed OF six intelligent and capable persons
three to be detailed from the array, iaging prac-
tical ideas upon the subject OF the treatment OF
Indians and Interested in their welfare, and that
! il should be charged under the direction OF the
| seefstarv Of the interior, with the management
o. auch NATTER OF detail as cannot with the
present organization be properly and success.
| fully contacted, and whioh present dlferent
phases as the Indians themselves differ IT, thel,
! progress needs, disposition and capacity ioi
! improvement or immediate self-support. by
the aid of sucn I. commission mucn un"lse ano
! useless expenditure OF money, waste OF nater1.
ais and unavaiing efforts mlgho pe avoided, ant
| it is hoped chat this, some measure y nlG
the wisdom OF congress may peS.er aexi"e e. :.
! receive your consideration and the appropriate
legislation be provided. The time is ripe fo
the work of such an agency, There Is less oppo
sition to the education and training or th
Indian yonth as shown by the Increased attend
ance upon the schools, and thore Is yielding
tendency for the individual holding OF LANDS
Development and advancement in these direc
| tions are essential, and should have every en-.
courngement. AS the rising generation ar
taught tie language of civalization and tra1nee
in habits e2 industry, they shouio as
, sumo the duties, privileges and responsibilities
of citizenship, and no obstasies should hlndel
.hs location and settlement OF any in1-lan VIII
tnx te take land in severalty. On the contrary
the incInation to do so snould be stimulated
| all times when psoper and expedent. But ther
| is no authority of law Cor making allotments or
some CT the reservations and o.. others the alot
ments provided for are so small that Inc tndians
.Lough ready and desiring to settle down, afs no
| willing TO accept such small areas, when thei
reservations contain ample lands to afford then
homesteads OF Sufficient size to meet their pres
ent and future needs. These inequalities OF ex
listing special laws and treaties Ghould be cor
| rected and some general legislation On the sub
| fect should be provided that the more pro
| rressiye members of the different tribes may b
: settled upon homesteads, and by their exampl
learn others to follow, breaking away from triba
| customs and substituting therefor love of home
interest of the family and rale CT the state In
I1dian character and nature are such that the
| are NOT easily led while brooding over unad
justed wrongs. This is especially 30 regardin
their lands. Matters arising from the con
srruction and operation Of railroads across som
of the reservations and cfalME OF title ana rlgn
of occupancy set up by white persons to some G
the best land within other reservations, requlr
legislation for their final adjustment. The set
tlement of these matters will remove many em
| barrassments to progress In the work OF lead1n
| tn. Indians to the adoption of our institution
| and bringing them under the operation, the in
fuence and the protection OF the universal Jaw
| Of our country.
THE PUB1dG LANDS.
| The recommendations of the secretary of tn
interior and the commissioner of the genera
| land office looking to the better protection O
| public lands and of the public surveys. tn
| preservation of the national forests, the adjudi
cation II grants to states and corporatiOns an