Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-30
THE SIOUX INDIANS.
An Important Circular Letter Sent TO Agent,
by Indian Commissioners Morgan

ALL TIE TREATIES AND LAVE lkFknRRp TO
AND THE AGENTS INSTRUCTED 10 TILL ruE
INDIANS THAT THEY WILL BE ExPEcrrD TO
ossxRvE TIE CONDITIONS IMPOSED on rnKn
An important circular letter has been sent
by Indian Commissioner Morgan 10 the agents
1t the various Sioux reservations. giving .
synopsis Of all existing agreements and treaty
provisions between the Sioux Indians and the
government This letter covers the provisions
OF all treaties made since 1865 and includes the
important laws passed by the last Congress.
Under the treaty Of 1865 the government agrees
to furnish annually for thirty years TO each
male Sioux Indian over fourteen years Of age
suit OF good substantial woollen clothing, .
flannel shirt and . pair of socks, and 10
each female over twelve years Of age q fan
mel skirt, or the goods to make il, . pair of
woollen hose, twelve yards Of calico and
Twelve yards OF domestic cotton. For the boys
and cotton goods as may be needed to make
each suit and pair Of wooden hose for each.
The letter states that the usual annual appro-
priaiion OF Sl25,000 has been made by Con-
gress to purchase the tweuty-second Of the
thirty installments Of clothing authorized.
TIE TREATY OF 1877.
Under the provisions Of the treaty Of 1877 food
w w Areutu W TIC luuldts, COu-
sisting Of daily ration for each individual Of
pound and half Of beef, or in lieu thereof
one-hah pound Of bacon, one-half pound Of
Hour, one-half pound Of corn, and for every 100
rations four pounds Of coffee eight pounds of
sugar and three pounds OF beans, this ration 10
De continued until the Indians are able to sup
port themselves.
The commissioner adds: Almost without ex-
cepuon the full amount Of rations named in
the agreement have been issued to the Indians.
The exceptions were caused by delayed or re-
ouced appropriations by Congress. In 1889
congress reduced appropriations for the sub
sistence and civilization Of the Sioux to the low
est point reached since the agreement Of 1877
| VIZ. to 5000, 900, 100000 less than the amount
estimated and appropriated for the two pre-
ceding years. This caused a reduction Of
$780, 600 pounds in the amount Of beef pur-
chased for the Sioux for the fiscal year ending
June 3d. 1850, and the appropriation for the
| subsistence and civilization Of the Sioux during
| the current fiscal year was reduced to $3.50 900.
MORE BEEF TO BE BOUGHT.
By the act OF January l9, 1891, Congress ap-
propriated $780, 900 to be immediately availa-
bic to purchase additional beef required for
issue to the Sioux to supply said deficiency of
the appropriation for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1880. The matter will be attended to
hereinafter stated. BY the Indian APP
| preparation act of March g. 1881
there is appropriated for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1892 ", 100. 600 for the subsistence Of
the Sioux and for the purposes Of their civiliza-
ton, as per said agreements ratified by act of
Congress approved February %. 1877. This
appropriation will be promptly used in the new
fiscal year for the purpose for which it was
| made"
As TO EDUCATING THE INDIANA
In regard to the provisions made for the
education of Indian children the commissioner
| says:
1t IL provided in the seventh article OF the
Sioux treaty of April 90, 1868, that the Sioux
children between the ages Of six, and sixteen
years shall attend school, and the United
States agreed that for every thirty chill
dren between said ages who could be in
| duced or compelled to 60 to school, a house
| should be provided and teacher furnished,
| such provision to continue twenty years. and
by the thirteenth article of the same treaty the
| Indians the teachers contemplated in the treaty.
| BY article five of the agreement with the
Sioux, ratified by Congress February 2s, 1877,
| the United States agreed to furnish them
schools as provided for by the treaty of 1868
By section IL of the act of March 2, 1889. the
educational provisions contained in said article
seven Of the treaty of 1868, subject to such
notifications as Congress shall deem most e.
| fectiye to secure to the Sioux equivalent bene-
| fits of such education, are continued in
Il
the act was to take effect. 1t is also
provided in section 20 Of said act
| Of March 2. 1889. that the Secretary of the In
| terror shall cause TO be erected not less than
| thirty school houses. and more If found neces-
sary, on the different Sioux reservations.
| NEW SCHOOL HOUSES PROVIDED FOR
| Provision was made in the Indian appropria-
ton act of August 10, 1890, for the erection of
fifteen school buildings. being in part compli-
L fba % 4.
aforementioned act of March 2, 1889 and
5000 was appropriated for that purpose.
The sum Of $780, 900 is appropriated by the
first section Of the act Of January l9. 1891, to
be Immediately available, for the erection of
| day and industrial schools, providing furniture
aud other necessary articles and pay of teachers
| in accordance with article z of the treaty of
April 20, 1868, which article is continued for
| twenty years, as allowed indicated, and in the
same section $4,000 is appropriated for the
erection of fifteen school buildings provided
| for in article 20 of the act of March 2, 1889.
There is a clause in the first section Of the
Indian appropriation act of March 3, 1891, ap-
propriating Sl0, 400 for pay of five teachers
| land one physician, one carpenter, one miller,
| one engineer, two farmers and one blacksmith) !,
per thirteenth article of said treaty of April
| 20, 1868. The government has heretofore
substantially carried out all its OBJ
legations for the education of the Sioux
| and will duly apply the late appropriations re-
| ing the recent disturbance it il understood
| that some school buildings and school appli-
| ances were destroyed. The Sioux must under
stand that they have no right to in.
sist on compliance with those stipu-
| lations Of their agreements which pro-
vide for them food, clothing, &c. while at
| the same time they reject and refuse to comply
with those provisions which require their good
behavior peaceable conduct, the education Of
| their children, efforts to become self-support-
ing, &c. They must live up to all the stipula-
tions Of their agreements il Their want the
United States to do likewise.
WHERE CONGRESS FAILED.
After referring in detail to the other liberal
provision made by Congress for the discharge
of the claims due the Indians the commissioner
adds: Congress failed to make the appropria-
tian recommended by this department. Of
s1S7, 039 to compensate the Indians Of the
Crow Creek reservation for loss sustained by
them in receiving less land per capita in their
diminished reservation than is received by the
Indians occupying other diminished reserva-
tions, the amount to be added TO the share Of
the permanent fund Of the said Crow Creek
Indians and to draw interest.
The government has thus fairly and ade-
quately complied with its treaty obligations to
| the Sioux, has complied with all the promises
made to them by the commission consisting Of
Gen. Crook and Messrs. Foster and Warner
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