The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-30
He Thinks the Red Man Is Steadily Adyanc.
ing. and that During the Past lear lie Has
Marched Rapidly Toward Civilization.
General Sheridan 0yerrules the Find.
ing of the Johnson Court-MartiaI.
A Novel Combat in the Rooms of the Fish
COmmissiOn-Another Call for Three Per
Cent. Bonds Other Washington News.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Facts and Suggestions from the Annual Re-
port of Commissioners Atkins.


Facts and Suggestions from the Annual Re-
port of Commissioner Atkins.
WASHINGTON. Oct 29-The Commissioners Of
peted his annual report, showing the operations
of the Indian Bureau during the last fiscal year
He begins by calling attention to the unmistak-
able evidences Of progress made by many OF the
tribes. and says: ''The excellent temper, subor-
dination and general tranquility which, with
two or three exceptions. have everywhere pre-.
vailed is Of itself a most auspicious omen of
progress. Many facts fully establish the claim
that during the past year the Indian race haa
taken frmer step in the march toward civiliza-
ton than ever before in the same length of time
The estimates for carrying on the Indian serv.
ice have been reduced from 81, ,32s 049 in 1886 ia
$56OS, 1873 for 1888, and but for an increase OF
| $l7I5O0 in the estimate for educational work
the reduction would have been greater"
Considerable space is devoted to discussion
of the condition and future of the five civilized
tribes in the Indian Territory. Referring to the
attempts of boomers" to encroach upon thei1
reservation, the Commissioner says 1T is moi
reasonable to expect that the governments will
never tire OF menacing its own people with its
Own army. IH0reIOre, IL becomes Vastly 1Lur
portant that these five civilized tribes should CO
operate with the government in establishing
peace and quiet within their borders" After
speaking of the failure of these Indians to sym
pathize with the government in its effort to pro.
mote the taking up of allatmsnts of land, Com
missioner Atkins says that it would be best f61
the Indians to divide their lands in severaly,
allotting 160 acres to each head of family, and
eighty acres to each minor child. The large sur
plus remaining should be sold to actual settlers
at just price, and the proceeds would enable
| the poorer Indians to improve their allotmentat
put up school buildings, etc. Says the Commits
| sioner: fmI
LET these Indians once assume all of the re-
sponsibilities of citizens OF the United States,
| with its laws extended as a protecting asgis over
| them, and the day OF their tear and apprehen-
| sons OF marauding whites will be forever end
| ed" ktk
The Commissioner dwes at length uponsthe
surplus land in the Indian Territory, and saye
that We're all the Indians of the United States to
be uprooted ane tganspantcd to that Territory.
there would then be, including those now resi-
dent there 1861 acres for each living Indian.
| He suggests that the Kiowas, Comaches Wi
| chitas, Cheyennes and Arapahoes, the only
| tribes in the Territory west of longitude 98 be
removed to lands east OF that line. He ex-
presses his conviction that the proposition to
throw open Oklahoma TO white settlements
would be an experiment dangerous to all con-
cerned. It's, therefore ,rscorsmended. ias pre-
| liminary step, that Congress authorize the de-
| partment to appoint Commission, who shall
visit the Cheysnnes and Arapahoes, the
| Wichitas and the Kiowas, oomanches and
| Apaehes, in the Indian Territory, to ascertain
| their views with reference tc.ths sDbject Of re-
moyal to lands in said Territory. east Of ninety
! eight degrees. The report says that the imme-
date necessity for the establishment of United
States district court within the heart of the
territory of the FIVE civilized nations, say
Muskogee, or Fort Gibson. no longer admits of
doubt. The necessity for legislation by Com
gress upon the question OF leasing Indian lands
is also subject of remark.
The Commissioner refers to his instructions to
agents looking to the teaching of Indians how to
farm, and says he intends to see to it that they
are fully carried out. The success or non-suc-
cess of the Misunderstanding experiments. hA says
it will require some years to demonstrate. The
Commissioner, in treating Of Indian schools,
speaks of the difficulty experienced in freeing
the pupils from adverse home Influences. and,
after some discussion of the matter, says: "At
this time however I would not advise diminu-
ton of material aid and support to any Of the
different kinds of schools now fostered by this
government. All are doing excellent and efficient
service in their particular spheres"
He suggests that an Indian graduate who
marries an Indian graduate be assisted in pur-
| -
fencing, breaking, and building house, and
that if he takes up land outside Of any Indian
reservation he be made citizen of the United
States.
Under the head of agency employ es. the Com
missioner says 1.-The general public has long
had the idea that corruption prevailed in tho
employe service at Indian agencies; that many
agents, having in their own hands the power to
employ or dismiss their assistants, had sur
rounded themselves wirh such material as they
could completely control through fear of dis
charge, or by collision with them in dishonest
practices; that this condition of affairs rendered
! fraud easy and its detection by in
spectors, special agents and this Office
almost impossible, and that thus
the government and the Indians were plundered
with impunity. I determined to make such q
change as would efectualy remove all just
cause for doubt as to the honesty and integrity
. of the service in this particular Indian agents
! and school superintenaents were therefore moth
} fed that the Office would select and appoint all
clerks, as well as physicians and sdditionSl
farmers. / am pleased to be able to report thai
.. most Of the agents cordially supported shi'
t move. The ruling that agency clerks shall b
selected by the Indian office is a wise one, anc
has already been found TO tend directly and
plainly TO the Improvement Of the service
or the necessity for appropriation 10 de-
| fray the expense of taking census OF the In
dians the Com missioner says: II do not doubt
that an accurate census would show decrease
in the number OF Indians throughout the coun-
try, or at least at several of the agencies The
outlay for taking the is inconsiderable
when compared with the great saving il would
probably effect. The saving iE two instances
Cheyenne and ArapGhos and the Pine Ridge
will amount to q large sum annually.
A VERDICT sEr ASIDE