Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-11-28
HI1CHCOCK'S REPORT
The Secretary Of the Intsrier Tells
6 His Departments Wssk.
POLICY REQUIRING INDIANS 10 WORK


Washington, Nov. 2s.-The annual
report Of Secretary Hitchcock, Of the
interior department, was made public
yesterday. 1t indorses the conclu-
sions submitted by Commissioner Of
Indian Affairs Jones regarding the
present Indian education system. The
secretary says; "The management Of
the Indian service in the field and
schools, while satisfactory under ex-
listing conditions, is not deemed to
be the best for the welfare of the In
dians and different methods will here.
after be adopted. This policy con-
templates requiring the working by
Indian allottees able to do SO Of
fair portion Of lands allotted them
and the contributing by their indus
try to their own support of all not
entirely disqualified by actual disabil-
ity, physical or otherwise; the discon-
tinuance of the issue Of rations to
those able to support themselves and
the extension to the latter Of every
possible aid for their we'll being and
encouragement; the Inauguration Of
industrial training in all schools
where not now established, so that
such Indians Of both sexes may be
tought the trades or industries adapt
ed to their circumstances"
The income of the various tribes
from all sources during the year ag-
gregated $5,33s,sSO, falling off Of
$26O,952, mostly due to the expiration
Of treaty obligations. The curric-
ulum of Indian schools, the secre-
tary says, should be restricted to the
common school course and the fur
ther extension Of non-reservation
schools should not be permitted.
The Dawes commission to the five
civilized tribes in the Indian territory
reports that the rolls Of membership
Of only one nation, the Seminoles, 30
far has been approved and their
lands have not yet been entirely al
lotted. The time cannot be fixed
with certainty when the enrolment
Of the four remaining tribes will be
finished.
The time has arrived, according to
the secretary, when reservoirs must
be built and managed as a part OF q
national system Of forest and water
conservation. They cannot be sue
cessful II maintained, however, with
out a thorough system OF forest pro-
lection. The introduction of practi-
cal forestry on the forest reserves
has now begun.
The report highly indorses the
lwork and recommendation OF Com
missioner of Pensions Evans and says
that the veterans have no more sin
cere friend than their comrade, their
commissioner, "who has served as nm
enlisted man in the armies of the
limited States and he but maintains
land defends the honor of their patri-
otic service when, refusing to ignore
both the letter and spirit of the law,
| he declines to permit the impostor,
whether claimant or agent, to share
in the bounty provided for the vet
eran and those dependent upon him."
On the question of reclamation OF
the arid region, the secretary says;
"The Investigations which have been
carried on demonstrate that there is
no one question now before the peo-
| pie of the United States of greater
Importance than the conservation Of
the water supply and the reclamation
of the arid lands of the west and
their settlement by men who Will
actually build homes and create COM
munities.'
The secretary also submits the an
nual report received from the Mari
time Canal company, Of Nicaragua,
and discusses the affairs of the vari-
GUS bureaus already made public