Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-11-13
FOR THE INDIANS.
Recommendations by Indian Commits
sioner Jones For the Benefit Of
m: His Department.
"a Law for Compulsory Education of
Indian Children Believed to be
.,. Necessary.
Some Interesting Figures and Statistics
From the Report, of the Com
SssH:5 missioner.

Washington, Nov. 13S.-The most in
teresting part of Indian Commissioner
jones' annual report is the recommen-
dation that congress enact a law MAX
ing it compulsory for Indian children
to attend school. It was mentioned
some time ago that such recommen-
dation would be made, and also that
the commissioner would recommend
that the department be given facilities
for the. he.development, of the industrial
training branch of the service.
VI Both these recommendations are
contained in the report, along with. the
further recommendation that some
means be found to do away with the
ration system, which the commits
sioner says encourages idleness and
destroys labor, promotes beggary and
suppresses Independence. Referring
to the compulsory education recon-
mendation, he says:
''The passage of the law would mate.
rally simplify the situation and not
conflict with the natural desires of q
parent who was sufficiently educated
to understand the needs of the rising
generation. On. the other hand, it
will enable the commissioner of In.
n aofF oi,,c,t no M Of Hr, -
education to those Indian boys that
they should depart from ancestral
ways. The law would be broadly con-
strued taking into consideration the
idiosyncracies of the particular tribe
and the desire of the parents, but ever
keeping in view the ultimate end of
the policy-the civilization of the ris-
ing and future generations" @
Touching on the ration system, he
says: %
The gratuitous issue of rations, ex-
cept to the old and helpless, is detri-
mental to the Indian. 1t encourages
idleness and destroys labor. It pro-
notes beggary and suppresses inde-
pendence. 1t perpetuates pauperism
and STILES industry. It is an effectual
barrier to the progress of the Indian
toward civilization. Yet, objection
able as it is, the system must continue
as long as the present reservation sys-
,+nr,, no, 10 T,,J
placed in a position where the way is
open before them to support them
selves, they must be assisted.
As a method Of aiding the deserv-
ing while they are learning the art OF
self-supp the ration system is com
mendable. That is it's aim and object.
The great evil lies in the gratuitous
distribution to all alike. With the
necessities of life assured with effort,
the incentive to labor disappears and
Incidence, with its baleful influences
reigns supreme. 1t is difficult to point
out a complete remedy for the evils
described, but as a beginning the in
discriminate. issue of rations should
stop at oncea somewhat difficult
thing to accomplish as long as tribes
are herded On reservations having
everything in common. The old and
helpless should be provided for, but
With respect to the able-bodied, the
policy Of reducing rations and issuing
them cnly for labor should be strictly
enforced. while those who have been
edueat in Indian schools should be
made to depend entirely upon thsl,
own esonl ces. II 81.
NJ The ratien system extends mostly
| to tac Indians ii. the far western
states: but outside Of the Sioux tribe
OF North and South Dakota, daily ra-
tions are issued to the Arikaree, Gros
Ventre and Mandan tribe at Fort Ber-
thold, Nortn Dakota, and to the Sioux
at Yankton, s. D. Altogether As, 5,27o
Indians receive daily rations from the
government and of this number II SIG
belong to the great Sioux nation
known as the Sioux of different tribes
located In North and South Dakota
These Indians are not included in the
list OF IEdians receiving daily rations
as their case is different from the
others in that the rations and the con-
ditions under which they are to be
given are specifically named in an
agreement that obligates the United
States TO provide the Indians with sub
sistence.
Referring 20 Indian schools, the re.
port shows that in Minnesota there