Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-07
INDIAN COMMISSIONERS
An Interesting Meeting OF Those Working for
the Red VI ans Good.


This morning at 10 o'clock there was quite
large and interesting gathering OF people il
the psrlors Of the Riggs House. For the mos
part these people were connected in one wal
or another with missionary work among til,
Indians. for the United States board OF Indiar
commissioners was holding its annual confer
encs with the representatives. of various re
hgious bodies which are engaged in mission
the Indians.
WHO COMPOSE THE BOARD.
The board Of Indian commissioners is com
posed of ten men from different parts Of the
country, who are commissioned by the Presi'
dent They are the only commissioned officers
OF the United States who serve entirely with
out compensation President Merrill E. Gates
Of Amherst College is chairman OF the board,
having been elected after the death OF Gen.
Clinton b. Fisk, who was for several years the
presiding ofhcer of the board President
Gates presided over the meeting this morning.
The other nine commissioners are Gen. l.
Whittlesey of Washington, d. G., Albert n.
Smiley esq, of Lake MohOnk, " l., Col VIM
McMichael of New York, William ii: Lyon,
esq, of Brooklyn, MIR. Joseph Jacobs OF Miehi-
gan, Bishop William ID. Walker of North Da-
soti. Philip c. Garrett OF Philadelphia. ex-
Congressman Darwin K James Of Brooklyn
and Ebert L. Monroe of Southport, Conn.,
REPORTS SUBMITTED
The morning session today was taken up py
reports from Mr.. Woodbury. of the American
Missionary Association. DR.. J. J. Janney OF
the Friends Missionary Association, Rev. T.
L Boyd of the Presby terrain Home Missionary
Society. Mr.. Thornton, teacher from cape
Prince OF Wales, and others. In the report
from the missionary to Alaska special stress
was land upon the untold mlserles that come
from the surreptItious sale OF liquor to the
natives of the iar-Od land by wbaIers and other
vessels that visit their shores
Nearly % 600 Indian children are now gath
cred into Euglish-s speaking schools, where Ihey
are taught BY EuglIsh-speaklng people. The
appropriations tor systematic educat no
Indians have increased from S75, 900 for 1881 to
g, Z9l, 0C0 for 1897.
AID FOR RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The amount appOrtioned in 1882 to aid the
diere Mt religious bodies IN main tanning schools
among the indians is S604, coo. of which the
Roman Catholic schools have SIS 100, .IIe
next most important appropriations being
S44, 900 TO the PresbyterIan5 and s29,OOO to
the Congregational schools
The government has within the last three
years largely increased the number OF Its
framing schools and Of It's day schools upon the
reservations The number OF students enrolled
Is nearly Il, QUO. which is $500 greater than
!; was four years ago.
TO PROTECT THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS.
The matter OF law. and OF easy access to
courts for the protection OF rights OF Indians
upon the reservations and Tor the punishment
OF crimes and misdemearors, was matter
which claimed the attention of the Conference
well certain friends Of the Indians have
prepared a bill which Is likely TO be introduced
this winter looking to the establishments o.
special courts Tor the administration ot justice
upVn Indian reservations
there vas another session Of the conference
this afternoon, and the closing session will
probably be held tonight