The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-08-12

fixed by law at 5000 year. for the
past 20 years congress has appropri-
ated but $500 for his yearly salary.
with the exception nf the last fiscal
year. when 5000 was appropriated for
the current fiscal year.
In recommending to congress an APP
preparation of $4,000 for the relief of
Indians distressed by suffering. dcsti-
tuition and want. Commissioner OF In
dian Affairs Valentine pointed 10 the
troubles of the Rocky Boy tribe in
Montana. He said:
In the care of Indians Unforeseen
emert enClcS. such as floods. nestilence
and disaster. are prone to arise. Last
January. for instance. a band of In
dams near Helara. Mont. under the
leadership of Chief Rocky Boy. would
have frozen and starved to death ex-
cept for the exertionS Of good citizens
of. Helena and timely aid rendered by
the war department in the shape of
food and clothing for the Indians and
forage for the animals. The depart
r'ent was pOwerl.sS to afford more
t'Iau temporary relief through lack of
"rv appropriation available for the
purpose. Again. Indians are especially
fah'" to endemic, Of contagious and
infectious diseases. such as trachoma.
SMALLPOX. ConSumntinn. etc, and the
present force ard APPROXIMATION are
entirely inadequate to handle such
outbreak
There should he established o medi-
n h. bn
S'!anre ssion Of liouor traffic with a
chief medical officer located at Sc:
Ike City. Utah. and district physi-
"tans located al strategic points in the
field. The chief of this corps should
DE an expert in sanitation and treat
mcnt Of epidemics generally. ana his
force. cooperating with the existing
but scattered and undirected reserva-
ton physicians. should be able to es-
tablish and enforce the most modern
and effective rules and regulations for
the prevention and treatment of sucis
diseases, to the lasting benefit of the
Indians and their white neighbors
An instance Of such an emergency
epidemic is that which occurred in the
Indian Territory in 1901. which made
ii necessary for congress to appropriate
$4,000 To pay the Indebtedness in
CURED and for reimbursement of money
expended in suppressing the spread al
smallpox in the Indian Territory. An
other such epidemic broke out at tho
Blue Canyon school. on the border ot
Hopi reservation. Arizona. where tn,
equipment for isolation and treatment
of the disease was found Inadequate I,
keep down a general epidemic.
Within the week Bad river, near Ash
land. Wis. has flooded the SURROUNDING
country and destroyed the homes an,
farms of the Indians at Odanah, OF
the Bad River reservation. Many In
: dian families have lost all their pos
sessions and have been temporaril,
deprived of all means of earning "a live
lihood. The Indians from Odanah hav
been brought into Ashland during tn
/ last four or five days and have moth
| ing to eat and no place to sleep. The
have been importuning the agent 70
| relief. in the interests OF humanity. t
| issue orders on LOCAL stores and board
| ing houses for food and shelter imme
diately required. 4 number of the In
dams have no moneys to their credi
. Eand there are not sufficient fund
, available to relieve the suffering am
restitution. II may be necessary 70
:. the government to rebuild several u
the houses. and Il considerable bill vii
be incurred for clothing and subsist
ence supplies.
At Myton, Utah. on account of floods
etc, a number of the Indians wer
. cut off from the source of supple!
and flour. meats and other staple sup
i plies became very scarce Temporar
relief was afforded.
To meet such cases as these-of sick
ness. suffering and destitution in time
-. of emergency-there should be an ap
q preparation of $4,000 made immediate
~ available