Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-08-22
INDIAN CHILDRENiS WAGES.
How They Learn Industry at the
Government Schools

How are the Indian pupils hired out,
and what is dor with their wages
The Indian pills are sent out from
the government school at Phoenix To-
work in good families as helpers, re-
ports the Arizona Republican The
girls and some OF the boys are employ
ed as house servants, The large boys
are employed in various capacities on
farms. The girls are employed through
the chief matron the boys through the
disciplinarian- under rules issued
by the superintendent There arc con
stantly from 100 10 200 girls enjoying
outing system is controlled ahso-
is not so great The wages the pupils
receive vary from 81 per month for
small boys or girls Go $25 per month
for the large and more capable The
outing system is controlled ahso-
lutely by the superintendent, who can
call every pupil IN at any time desired.
What howl would 30 up from the res
idents of this valley II the superintend-
ent should exercise this authority.
The highest wages ever paid to any
Indian pupils are paid by the superin-
tendent lie now has two boys work
ing for him AT $40 a month Besides
this $50 in cash a month. he pays for
their board and lodging, He has at
various times employed boys at from
so cents day and earns 81 day he
pays his laborers always according TO
their worth, and II a boy Is employed nj
so cents day an dearns 81 O day he
is paid ST day The superintendent
has always employed housemaid,
though he might have had all his.
housework done for nothing. He has
paid as high as SIS a month for such
service, and boarded the girl besides,
although he could with perfect pro-
priety have sent the girl IL the school
dining room,
Not every applicant can secure q
pupil from this school, IL ~ a keen
pleasure to accommodate the worthy.
But when a girl Is sent out compelled
to do all the dirty work OF the house.
kept toiline from early until late. new
er gwen a word OF encouragement nev-
or permitted to enter the living rooma
of the home, compelled 10 always eat
her meals from a plate Ia The Kitchen
alone. permitted 10 leave tlie house
unattended at night and return when
she plcases If she Is there to begin the
drudgcry OF the next day and then Of
ferci payment in eaSt-on clothing
the superintendent when he discovers
the slavish condition OF the child, ut.
tiers some pretty strong anathemas n
the invisible spirits OF the air and
brings that girl back to the school
There are not many such.
At the end of each month the matron
and disciplnariap collect the pupils
IN, s,It 10
to clerk In the Office. who receipts
for same. The money mother" dcpos-
It's the money In the bank, entering the
same IN the child's bank book This
bank book is kept eSacrly like similar
books Of any other person a child II
compelled to save at least one half Of
his earnings. When his savings have
amounted TO 81 interest liz paid at the
rate Of per cent When a child takes
final leave Of the school his money Is
paid In full These accounts are kept
in proper iedgers In proper form, and
are inspected at the same time and in
the same manner as other school ac-
counts. BY the system OF checks--by
pupils matrons, disciplinaran cash
clerk and superintendent-al of whom
are inspected by government supervis-
ors special agents and inspectors. mis-
takes and errors are practically impos-
sible and detection is certain.
The government does not authorize
the admission OF white children into
Indian schools, except the children OF
school employees Every Indian school,
however. has enrolled some children
as fair as any child born Of white par
ents These are the children OF mixed
blood Children possessing q one-thir-
ty-second part Indian bIo0;! are entitled
10 school privileges. Until recently,
since the development of the school in
10 an institution Of the first rank there
were few light colored Indians I'm the
Phoenix school. now, however, there
are about 100 OF the 700 who are OF
mixed blood Nearly every child OF
mixed blood now attending the Phoe-
nix school has been transferred hIthor
from Indian schools IN other states and
territories,