The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1901-01-23
INDIANS INCREASING.
Red Men as Numerous Now as in
Time of Columbus.
Surprising Statement in Annual Re-
port of Indian Commissioner
Jones = Expense to the
Government.

The remarkable statement that the
Indian population of the United States
to-day is little diminished from what it
was in the time of Columbus, Coronado,
| Raleigh, Capt. Smith and other early
explorers is the chief feature of the
annual report of Commissioner Of In
dian Affairs William A. Jones.
The report disputes positively the
commonly accepted theory that, by
constant contact with the whites, the
extinction of the Indian is only a mat
ter of time. The commissioner de-
clares with emphasis that his research
from the most reliable data obtain
able proves that the red men are not
decreasing i'm numbers Since 1870,
the time of the first reliable Indian
census, the population has been sta
tionary, the only decrease being at
tributable to Indians becoming citi-
zens of the United States, says Wash
ington report.
The total expenditure by the govern
ment on account of the Indian service
from March 4, 1889, up to and including
July 80, 1900, was $36S, ,35s, PIT. The ex-
penditures for the fiscal year ended
Last July amounted to S1O,175,1O7. OF
this amount at least S3,330,O00 was de-
voted to the cause of Indian educa-
tion.
Under the head of obstacles to self
support of the Indians the report dep
recates the ration system, annuity pay
ments and the leasing of allotments. !
The ration system, says the report, is
the corollary of the reservation sys-
tem. The Indian population of the |
United States is about $1,000, of which
1920 receive daily ration. The ra-
tion issued and its value vary according
to the trfoe. Nearly two-ffths of the
number receiving rations belong to the
great Sioux nation. The ration has
been reduced gradually in the last
few years, in accordance with the pol
icy of the Indian bureau. If the In
aians' claim for full rations as a right
IS conceded the commissioner predicts
that the time when they viii be self
lies in the distant future.
I il comes at all.
Altogether. there are $3.50 Indians
subsistence in some degree,
exclusive of Indian children in. board
ng schools. The commissioner urges
hat the indiscriminate issue Of ra-
ions should stop at once. The old
md helpless. he says. should be pro-
-ided FOR. but rations should be issued
o the able-bo only for labor. while
hose who have been educated in In.
Ian schools should depend entirely
lpon their own resources.
There is now in the treasury 10 the
redit OF Indian tribes $50. 90.
rawing interest at the rate Of four and
I've per cent. the annual interest
mounting TO Sl.646.sS5.o6. Besides
his, several Of the tribes have large
Incomes from leasing and other
ources.
Two suggestions are made regarding
he trust fund. They are: First. the
radual extinction Of these funds. set
ing aside n sufficient sum to maintain I
h. reservation schools a definite pc &
iod of years. say 2l. and then dividing I
he balance per capita and paving an
iernbers Of the tribe at certain agus
heir share. Second. division Of the
md belonging 10 TIE tribe rer capita.
be subject Of Indian schools also Is
Iscussed az some length.