Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-11-15
OUR INDIAN WARDS.
Government Expends Over 100000
600 Annually In Their Behalf.

Government Expends Over 100000
600 Annually In Their Behalf.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-The total
expenditure by the government on ac-
count of the Indian service from March
4, 1850, up to and including July 80,
1900, has been $36S, S,35S,217, according
to the annual report of Commissioner Of
Indian Affairs William A. Jones. The
expenditures for the fiscal year ended
last July amounted to $1O,175, 107. OF
this amount at least $3,330,O0 was de-
voted to the cause of Indian education.
The report reviews the change in the
system of transporting supplies by which
supplies are shipped in open market in
common carrier at tariff or better rates
AMI estimates that this saves 90 per cent
in cost. Under the head of obstacles to
self support of the Indians the report
deprecates the ration system, annuity
payments and the leasing Of allotments.
The ration system, says the report, is the
corollary of the reservation system. The
Indian population of the United States
is about 100000, Of which 1920 re-
ceive daily ration. The ration issued
and its value vary according to the tribe.
Nearly two-fifths of the number receiving
rations belong to the great Sioux nation.
The ration has been gradually reduced in
the past few years in accordance with
the policy Of the Indian bureau. If the
Indians claim for full rations as a right
is conceded, the commissioner predicts
that the time when they will be self sup
porting lies In the very distant future, il
it comes at all. A number of Indians
also are assisted by occasional issues,
and at several agencies the old and in
digent are provided for.
There is now in the treasury to the
credit OF Indian tribes $33 3,317 $500,
drawing interest at the rate Of and )
per cent, the annual interest amounting
to $1,846, ,4S5.96. Besides this, several
of the tribes have large incomes from
leasing and other sources. 1t is a safe
prediction that SO long as these funds
exist they will be the prey Of designing
people.
'The ultimate disposition of the Indian
trust funds is u subject for the most Sc
rious consideration. In some cases they
are small and in others very large. With
respect to the former, they can as rule
be paid out to the Indians with little, If
any, evil consequences. With respect to
the latter, their proper disposition is more
difficult. 1t is admitted that great
wealth Is source OF WeukHeSS 10 any
Indian tribe and productive Of much
evil"
There were 250 Indian schools of all
kinds conducted by the government and
an increase of lap pupils in enrolment
and Lac In average attendance shown
over the previous year. About 5000 of
the $4,000 eligible school children are un-
provided for. Compulsory education Of
the Indian children is strongly indorsed,
and congress Is urged to authorize the
commissioner to place every one of school
age in some school, the selection of the
school to be left largely to educated In
dian parents
The report controverts the commonly
accepted theory that by constant contact
with the whites the extinction of the In
dian is only matter of time. 1t says it
can be stated with a great decree Of con
fidence that the Indian population of the
United States has been very little dimin-
ished from the days of Coluinbus. Coro-
nado, Raleigh, Captain John Smith and
other early explorers.
The first reliable Indian census was in
1870. and certainly since then the Indian
population has been nearly stationary,
whatever decrease there is being attrib-
utable to Indians becoming citizens.