East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1904-12-13

the past years. The commissioner
says:
Marked advances toward civiliZa-
tion have been made by the Indians
of the United States during the past
wear. and the number of those who
have engaged in earning self-support
has materially increased. many who'll
ly supporting themselves and fami-
lies.
The Indian population has varied
but slightly from previous years. the
number being about the same as re-
ported last year-27O.0OO. or this
number about 10000 occupy 1856
reservations in the various states and
territories. containing about 55,ls7.-
900 acres. outside Of the state OF New
York and the Indian Territory.
The Five Civilized Tribes. cOmpos-
ed of the Cherokee, Chickasaw. Choc-
taw. Greeks and Seminole. in the In
dian Territory, number about 81 4.5OO.
including freedmen. their reserva-
tions aggregating ls,4T5.614 acres
The New York Indians occupy eight
small reservations IN the northwestern
part Of the state of New York. having
an area Of about 5000 acres They
number about 5000. and receive small
annuities in money and goods under
treaty stipulations.
Ten additional agencies have been
abolished during the year. under the
authority OF law, and the duties per
tanning thereto devoived upon bonded
superintendents Of Indian training
schools located at such agencies. so
that but % agencies are provided for
in the appropriation act for the cur
rent fiscal year. as against 80 for the
past year and 4S for the previous
year. As intimated in my last annu-
al report, the policy of placing Indi-
an affairs and reservations under the
charge OF the school superintendents
thereon seems TO meet the changing
conditions Of the Indians in their ef-
forts at self-support and independ-
ence.
As in recent years so during the
past year Indians whose allotments
have been leased for their benefit
have been required 20 work portions
OF such allotments unless because OF
disability they were unable to do so.
Allotments have been made during
the year 10 asa Indians and approved.
the total area allotted amounting to
39.OS5 acres. Allotments in severalty
approximating S.s62 900 acres to "a
524 Indians have been made since the
passage OF the general allotment act
OF February 2s. 1857. GA Stat. sSSl.
And 796 patents for allotments have
been issued and delivered during the
year
The policy Of requiring able-bodied
Indians TO labor for their own sup
port. and Withholding rations from all
except the needy and INDECENT. was
put into practical operation in the
early part Of the year 1902.
Agents were then notified that the
support in idleness OF those able to
work must cease; that work would be
offered the able-bodied, for which
they would be fairly and promptly
paid. and they would then be left to
provide for themselves. as no further
rations would be issued to them.
~ AAAE IEAuCAAhA
Of ratiOns would be used to pay them
in cash for labor in building roads.
dams. reservoirs for storage Of water.
and other needed work on reserva-
tions which they were competent to
perform. which would give thenR prof
liable occupation for the present.
and by the experience thus gained
lead to their self-support in the future.
Men were to be paid s1.25 per day of
eight hours, and men with teams
t2.50 per day.
Agents were directed not only to
employ the Indians TO the fullest pos
sible extent on the reservations. but to
use all their influence 10 find employ
I nent for them in the surrounding
country. The object was to provide
an opportunity for the Indians to
work. II the government did not
have sufficient work. the agent was
TO find II for them. The Indians were
given to understand that they we're
free TO work or not as they chose. but
IL they were able To work and were
given chance to do so. and then re-
fused. they must suffer the conse-
quences. and need not expect the gov
eminent to support them.
As first result Of the practical
work of this policy. the commissioner
OF Indian affairs. in his annual re-
port for the year 1902. stated that
over 1900 Indians had been dropped
from the ration rolls as being wholly
self-supporting. many OF whom had
never worked before. This. of course,
included a large number of Indians
employed by and drawing salaries
from the government in the agency
and school service.
The effects of this new policy on
the Indian population have proven to
be greatly beneficial from the outset.
OF course, there are still many lazy,
shiftless Indians who will not work
until compelled by want to do so. but
reports from Indian agents. school
superintendents and inspecting off,
GERS indicate beyond question that the
majority of the able-bodIed on most
Of the reservations are not only will
ing but eager TO work.
Another important result has been
a very material reduction in the guam