The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-28
MORGAN ON The INDIANS
The Indian Commissioners Plan to
Abolish the Bureaus.
ABoRlGINEs OUGHT TO VOTE.
Gen. Morgan Would Not Only Give the
Indians the Ballot, but He Would
also Give Them Lands and Make Indus
trfous and Valuable Citizens of Them.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2s. = Gen. T. J.
Morgan, commissioner of Indian affairs,
in his fourth annual report, says that the
government has well defined policy OF
dealing with the Indians, the essential
element of which Is suggested by the
phrase, "Amsrican citizenship" Citi-
senship, accompanied by allotment OF
lands, viii destroy the whole agency sys-
tenn, and eventually do away with the
necessity OF any Indian bureau.
Citizenship is to be conferred upon all
che Indians, but IL should be done intel
ligently. The Indian should be prepared
for this great change in his status by
education. The subject of Indian educa-
tion ID covered fully.
be opened, twenty large training schools
located In the midst OF civilized COM
munities remote from the Indian reser-
vations. Their total capacity will be
about 5000 pupils. The total enrolment
OF pupils in all the schools, government
and contract, for the year ended June 80,
1892, was nearly 10000, an increase OF
more than 1000 within three years. Four
years more at this rate OF progress viii
see practically all Indian children gath
cred into schools.
Rapid progress has been made during
vne year IN oilOtnent Ci lhnuS 10 luuldus,
and IL u thought that the allotment of
land 10 all Indians to whom application
OF severalty law will be for their interest,
can be completed within the next three
or four years, with the possible excep-
tion of the Sioux Indians. Reports from
Indian agents regarding the effect of al
lotments upon the Indians, are on tho
whole, favorable.
The commissioner disapproves the plan
of detailing army Officers to take charge
of Indian agencies and he thinks IL ID not
desirable to formulate any elaborate
special system Of law and courts for the
Indians.
The report discusses the question as to
what is an Indian, and controverts the
position that the common lay principle
10 applicable to Indians, "that the or
spring of free persons follow the condi-
tion of the father and prevails in deter
mining the status Of children born of q
white man, q citizen OF the United
States and an Indian woman, his wife.
The commissioner does not think chill
dren of such parents are by birth, not In
dians. but citizens OF the United States.
He thinks the law OF decent must be de-
termined In accordance with Indian
usage and our American administrative
sanction. The report says that q system
has been inaugurated on the Indian res
ervations of opening and constructing
Soads and highways. Great progress Is
being made ip the encouragement OF in
dustries and great progress In being made
among the indians in their systematic
xsmunerative labor.
Ten thousand stock cattle have been
distributed among the Sioux Indians, who
are taking q lively interest in stock rails
ing. Nearly 1000 Indians receive regular
wages from the government for services
performed and nearly $400, 900 q year is
paid out for Indian labor. The total
amount of cash paid to Indians during
the last year In fulfilling treaty stipula-
tions, payment OF interest on funds held
In trust, payment for lands relinquished
TO the government, etc, was over 50, AGO.
600, and does not include payments made
to the five civilized tribes.
Most OF this money is being as well ex-
pended by the Indians az 1t would be by
any other GLASS Of people. The commits
sioner recommends gradual reduction of
rations until the government ceases to
issue food or clothing and substitutes
payments. The report shows a decrease
IN the annual cost of Indian administra-
sion, except in the items OF purchase of
lands from Indians and in the matter of
education. There has been a steady in
crease In the amount appropriated for
schools, but the commissioner urges that
this sum should bo still further largely
and rapidly Increased.
He recommends entire divorcemsnt of
Indian affairs from party politics, the
enlargement OF the authority and power
Of the commissioner, the increase OF the
clerk force in the Indian office, and the
building MP everywhere In the India
service OF the merit system.