The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-01-10
Release Indian From Paternal
Care OF u. S.. Says Valentine

Washington. Jan. 6.~-1hat the
American Indian should I've released
as soon AS possible from the paternal
now his guardian in virtually every
thing he does. was the opinion eX-
pressed in the annual report from the
bureau of Indian affairs submitted to
Secretary of the Interior Fisher by
Robert 4. Valentine. until recently
commissioner n made public today.
The then commissioner voiced the
hope that the day might be near
when the United States will finally
fairs. and all Indians in all respects
will stand on an equal footing With
all their fellow Americans"
with all the expedition compati-
BILE with the Indians welfare" he adj
ded. they should hc made subiec,
to the laws Of their states and I've
laugh, To look to their local govern
ment instead Of the national govern
meni. My conviction is that no pos
siblc obstacle should be placed in thc
way Vt the transformation OF Indian
affairs administered Ivy the United
States into the affairs of normal citi-
Gems under the ordinary jurisdiction
Of the states.
IL do not suggest authority for en-
larged federal jurisdiction over minor
%ofenses on reservations. Important
Questions of marriage and divorce IL
Illustrate difficult points. of which the
education of Indians. whether or NJ
they are citizens. tn comply with the
laws Of their states"
Progress During Year.
l Progress during the year in teach
ing the indian to be sober and indus
I~trious. in educating him to he a bet
tier farmer and mechanic. and in inn
parting health principles. both as they
apply individually and in the home
was reported
Every Indian. like every white
IMAM" declared the commissioner. sis
best fitted for some II thing. We
are trying to find that thing. One OF
our newest activities is to make every
effort. both in the schools and among
the adults on the reservations. in the
direction Of vocational guidance"
The Indian service in all its parts
showed increased activity during the
year. the report stated. not i'll extern
sion of jurisdiction. but in graphing
more deeply. n more intimately with
the problems it has TO solve" The
campaign for good health and ply,
steal efficiency among the Indians
continued with Increased momentum,
the need for this work being shown
by the fact that the death rata among
the Indians is sixty per cent greater
than that among other classes Of peo-
pie in the registration area Of the Uni
ted Stotes. while the mortality from,
tuberculosis is three and a half times
as great
The war against the sale of liquor
to Indians was s''waged With contin-
uous vigor and successful results"
the report added. land the fight
against gambling is beginning to bear
fruit" Mr.. Valentino pointed. to the
fact that two convictions were secur-
ed for the sale of liquor to Indians in
Washington. under the dome of our
CAPITOL" showing. he said. that the
Indian though hundreds Of miles
distant from his home. has no lost
his lust for farewater. and that the
anywhere"
Homo Conditions Unsatisfactory.
The home condition Of the Indians
is n Of the most unsatisfactory fea-
lures Of the indian problem, said the
commissioner, for which reason spe-
cial attention isa being given to the
instruction Of Indian girls. The char
acter and efficiency of the training
given to them muet he improved. he
said. becausestf is fealixed that for the
girls more thon fof the boys the in.
%struction should be of an intensive
form. Girls a be kept in school