The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-02
THE CARE OF THE INDIANS.
Commissioners Morgsn's Annual Report TO
the secretary Of the Interior.

General T. ]. Morgan, Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, has submitted to the
Secretary of the Interior his fourth an
nual report. The plan Of detailing army
officers TO take charge of Indian agencies
is discussed and disapprOved. After care
full consideration of the subject of law
and courts for the Indians. the Commits
siOner concludes that it is not desirable
to formulate any elaborate special sys-
TEN. The rules for the Indian courts
have been carefully revised. giving TO
them larger jurisdiction ard placing them
on a higher plane. 1t is thought that
these will serve for all practical pur-
poses until the process of allotment has
been completed.
The report discusses the question
What is an Indian? and opposes the APP
plication of the common law principle
that the offspring of free persons follow
the condition of the father in deterDin-
ing the status Of the children born Of
white man, citizen of the United States,
and an Indian woman, his wife. The
Commissioner does not think that chill
dren of such pGrcnts are, therefore, by
birth not Indians, but citizens OF the
United States" The law of descent,
he SAYS, must be determined, not after
Roman or English precedent, but In ac-
American administrative sanction.
There are LOW in operation, or soon to
be opened twenty large training schools
for Indians situated in civilized commu-
mites Three years hgO there were
eight such institutions. When completed
the total capacity of the twenty will be
about 5000 pupils. The total enrolment
of pupils in all the schools, Government
and COltrlct, for the year ending June
of more than 1000 within three years,
or more than % per cent. -Four years
more at this rate Of progress will see
practice lly all Indian children gathered
into schools.
Rapid progress has been made during
the year i'll allOting lands to Indians. a
careful survey Of the entire work accom-
plished, in progress. and yet remaining
to be done, shows that the allotment of
land to al! the Indians to whom applica-
ton of the severalty law would be for
their interest can be completed within
the next three or four years, with the
possible exception of the Sioux Indians.
Reports from Indian agents regarding
the effect of actments upon the Indians
are on the whole favorable.
A system has been established on the
Indian reservations of opening and con-
structing roads and highways similar 10
those in use among civilized commune
ties. The sum of 100000 is being eX-
pended on the Crow reservation in Mon
tana in the development OF a system OF
irrigation, and more than 10000 Is be-
ing expended for the same purpose on
other reservations. An irrigating canal
is building through the Fort Hall reser-
walton. Ten thousand head of stock and
cattle have been purchased and distrib-
uted among the Sioux Indians, who are
taking a lively interest in stock raising.
Tables are given showing that nearly
100000 Indians receive regular stated
wages from the Government for ser
vices performed and that including
| those employed at irregular labor, an
aggregate sum of nearly $4OO,0OO
| year is paid ont for Indian labor. Most
| of the money is being as well expended
| by the Indians as 1t would be by any
| other clCss of people.
The commissioner recommends the
! gradual reduction of ratiOns until the
| Government cot SOS TO issue TO the In
| dia1s anything in the way OF food or
| clothing, and substitutes fer such issues
/ cash payments for whatever may be
! done. He also recommends that the re-
| servation of the NayaJoes be carefully
surveyed and that steps be Immediately
| taken to construct a system Of lrrlga-
| ton flat SnaH renuer lue ItHciN .'liou
| canable of supporting properly the large
body of Navajoes who make it their
| home.
| There has been a decrease in the an
| nual cost of Indian administration. eX-
cent in the items of the purchase Of
lands from the Indians and in the matter
| of education. There has been a steady
| increase in the amount of money appro-
| priated for schools, but the commissioner
| insists with great earneStness that this
sum should be still further largely and
| rapidly incref sed. The commissioner
recommends the entire enforcement of
Indian affairs from party politics. the
enlargement of the authority everywhere
of the commissioner and the building
M everywhere in the Indian service of
| th, mort system.