Evening star., 1909-02-19
Consumption Fast Spreading
Among Indians.
PRESIDENTS HELP ASKED
Commissioners Make Annual Visit to
the White House.
NO BAR TO AFRICAN TRIP
Panama Canal Libel Prosecutions
Not Expected to Require Presi-
dents Presence as Witness.

Not until the white man came 10 this
the 1ndians. Now they arc dying off at
an alarmngly rapid rate from the
disease. and the board of Indian com
missioners appeals to Congress and the
President for more extensive measures
of relief
The annual visit of the board TO the
White House was paid today. the board
having been in session for three day,
and having completed its annual re-
port to the Secretary of. the Interior The
board consists of Andrew 8. Draper. New
York. chairman: Merrill f. Gates. secre-
tary; Bishop Walker. Archbishop Ryan.
NJ. L. Bannon of Brooklyn. George Naux.
Philadelphia. and Warren *. Moorehead,
Massachusetts.
The members discussed with the Presi-
dent some Of the work they have been
doing and conditions among the Indians
as aScertained by them. The ravaSes OF
consumption are great among many
tribes of red men that the government u
urged to increase hospital service. furnish
more physicians. better isolation. outdoor
tents. etc. and check the sale of liquor
wherever il is still obtanable among the
! Indians. The board asserts that its
perts have discovered that i'm some tribes
there are indications of "a per cent OF the
natives being affected with tuberculosis
i'm some form The percentage is greater
than that among any known race of peU-
pie in the world.
Sioux Greatest Sufferers.
The Sioux Indians. once the most war
like, hardy and fierce tribe i'm America are
subject to the disease to a worse extent
than others. The theory is that the dis
ease makes greater headway among a
people unusued to 1t for centuries than
among people where it has existed for
thousands OF years. Examinations of the
bones of Indians who died several hun
dred years ago show no LESSONS of tuber-
culosis and it is believed that the disease
was unknown in the original lives of the
native Americans.
The board has considered and reported
upon other important phases of Indian
life. The board desires laws that will
break up the tribal funds of the Indians
and divide them into individual holdings.
to be held by the Treasury.
1t is claimed that so long as the gov
ernment is trustee for large tribal funds
big fees will be paid to lawyers for all
sorts of legal work. while the individual
plan will encourage each Indian. 1t is
proposed that Congress fix a date in tho
future at which each Indian baby Will
come into possession of its share of the
funds of the tribe, afterward passing
along is an inheritance the same as the
property of the white man.
The board urges greater caution in re-
moving the restrictions surrounding the
allotment of Indian lands believing that
there is too much carelessness in doing
this. affording an easy path to secure the
lands of the Indian
There still about 300,00O Indians in
this country. 1t is believed that the num-
Der of red men never exceeded this at
any time in the history of the country.
Originally, though, there was no inter
mixture of blood. while now larse pro-
portion of those put down IS Indians arc
halfbrceds.
Obnoxious Arizona Laws.
Members of the board say that Arizona
should not be admitted to statehood un-
til there is some kind of understanding
that one of the laws OF the territory for
bidding white men to marry Indians shall
not become part of the laws of The new
state. Not so much objection is made Ia
law prohibiting intermarriage as t"
features of the law that prohibit recoC
milton of marriages of Indian girls a:d
white men that have lawfully taken place
in other states. AS result of this. il is
claimed. many Indian women become tho
prey of INSCRIPTIONS white men.
The Presidents visitors before the cahi-
net meeting today consisted of eN-Secre-
tary Paul Morton. Senators Page. Curtis
and Warren, with visitors; Senator Milton
of Florida. with eXGov. Broward of Flor
ida. and Representatives Law and Mar
shall
George s. Terry. whose nomination
as assistant treasurer of the United
States at New York has been pending
in the Senate some time without COLI
firmation. called on President Rooac-
welt today. The Senate committee on
finance does not show any disposition
to recommend the confirmation and the
President shows no disposition to with
draw the nomination and submit an
other.
Representative Fassett Lieut.. Gov.
Horace White and Charles a. Stadier
all of New York. called on Secretary
Loeb concerning New York affairs.
Consul at Dublin.
The President today nominated Ed
ward l.. Adams of New York to be con-
sui at Dublin. Ireland.
President Roosevelt'S : hunting trip to
Africa will not be interfered with, il is
said at the White House. on account of
the Panama canal libel prosecutions
After the President goes out Of office he
could be summoned by counsel for the
defense as a witness, IL they desired, and
he might have to stay in this country.
but this is not expected. The government
contends that it will be able to proceed
with the prosecutions without the aid of
the Presidents testimony.