, 1889-08-15

prob ibiting the importation oi liquor Is
a dead letter You can get whiskey on
every other street corner in Juneau
There were FIVE Indian spokesmen:
The Interpreter was "a bright young half
breed, employed us clerk In trading
store. Two OF the Auks complained
that although they are chiefs, they have
no offices, no salaries, and therefore are
not treated right Everybody Is getting
and Takus alike inveighed bitterly
against the dance-houses in Juneau,
which they said are spelling all the
young women. Some of the Indians
complained that white men induced
Indian women to live With them and
then left them in the lurch on returning
force or viole nee, nor did the committee
meet with with the least evidence of
such thing throughout the trip. The
white people OF juneau freely admitted
the existence of illicit relations between
whites and natives, but declared en-
phatically that their community, as q
cities of the East. The testimony of
both whites and Indians Is concurrent
on the point that the condition of affairs
in this respect is improving as the ed
ucation Of the Indians advances. The
native custom of selling, young girls
still prevails, however, and a case. hap.
pened to come directly 70 the notice OF
the committee at Jun eau. One of the
AUX Indians who appeared before them,
a stocky fellow, with quiet, determined
manner, proved to be the man who, u
few days before, had
BOUGHT GIRL FROM HER FAMILY
for thirty blankets, and was attempting
to compelher to conSuinute the bargain,
when the missionaries invoked the in
reference of the authorities. On being
questioned by Senator Dawes about the
matter, he Acknowledged u without
shame, curtly declined to discuss the
question of morality, and Justified his
conduct on the ground that, 1T was the
Indians way" Itappeared that he had
a wife who had gone wrong, as he said,
through the influence of white men.
The committee left Juneau Monday
afternoon, July q, stopped an hour or
two ut Douglas City to look at the
for Victoria and Port Townsend.
Regarding the results of the commit
| tees s observations, 1t can be said that
they find the Indians of southeastern
Alaska quiet, industrious, thrifty still
somewhat addicted to savage practices,
such as shainanism, the sale OF women,
etc, but gradually improving under the
init uence of education and their associa-
ton with the whites, despite the moral
disadvantages of contact with the rough
elements of frontier life. They are self
supporting and independent, requiring
no help except such as will enable them
better to help themselves. Their CHIEF
need is the industrial training school,
which shall develop their natural talent
as carpenters and artiticers, and teach
| them to cultivate the few simple crops
which their lands will prod uce. The
question OF land in seyernlty Is not yet,
nor will II be for many years, a pressing
one. Fish, flrs, timber and minerals,
not agriculture, are what the Indian
must depend on. The district court has
| decided that these Alaska natives are
citizens with the same right to sue and
be sued which the whites possess. II
this be their legal Status, the same law
which shall enable Il white man to OBJ
tain land title will give the Indian the
means OF securing his home TO himself
and his children.
That better means of communication
are necessary to the proper administru.
ton of governmental affairs in Alaska Is
beyond question. The only wagon way
| in Alaska is mile and half of mill.
tary road at Sitka, constructed by Gen
eral Davis when he was in command OF
tue district. Travel is wholly by water
and yet with a territory In his charge
having Il coast line longer than that o
all the rest of the United States, tho
governor of Alaska has not even IA row
boat under his control. Laws for the cs
tablishment of land titles, for the organ
ization of muninipal governments ant
new judicial code suited to the peclil
lar conditions prevailing in the district
are also matters OF urgent importance
| and there Is no doubt that all will re
| ceivc due consideration at the next ses
! sion OF congress.