The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-01-03
AMERICAN INDIANS.
as They Were in the Time of
Columbus.

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 \. Jones.
The report disputes positively the
commonly accepted theory that, by
constant contact with the whites, the
extinction of the Indian is only 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 in 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 a 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 30, 1900. vas $36S .35S.217. The eX-
penditures for the fiscal year ended
last July amounted to $1O.175, JOY. OF
this amount at least $3.33O,OOO was de-
voted to the cause of Indian educa-
ton.
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-
TEN. The Indian population of the
United States is about 267.9OO, of which
1920 receive daily ration. The ra-
| ton 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 reduced gradually in the last
| few years, in accordance with the pol
| icy of the Indian bureau. If the In
dams claim for full rations as a right
is conceded the commissioner predicts
that the time when they viii be self
supporting lies in the distant future.
| if it comes at all
| Altogether, there are $3.50 Indians
| receiving subsistence in some degree,
exclusive of Indian children in board
ing schools. The commissioner urges
that the indiscriminate issue of ra-
tions should stop at once. The old
and helpless, he says, should be pro-
vided for, but rations should be issued
to the able-bodied only for labor while
| those who have been educated in In.
dian schools should depend entirely
| upon their own resources.
There is now in the treasury to the
credit of Indian tribes S33.315. 955 90.
drawing interest at the rate of four and
five per cent, the annual interest
amounting to S1,646, 1896. Besides
this, several of the tribes have large
incomes from leasing and other
| sources.
Two suggestions are made regarding
the trust fund. They are: First, the
| gradual extinction of these funds. set
ting aside sufficient sum to maintain
| the reservation schools a definite pc
| riod of years, say 81. and then dividing
the balance per capita and paying all
members of the tribe at certain ages
| their share. Second. division of the
| land belonging to the tribe per capita.
The subject of Indian schools also is
discussed at some length.
/