Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1913-01-06

WASHINGTON, Jan 6-That the
American Indian should be released
as soon as possible from the pater-
nal care of the United States gov
now his guardian in virtu-
ally everything he does, was the
opinion expressed in the annual re-
port from the bureau of Indian af.
fairs submitted to Secretary of the
Interior Fisher by Robert G. Valen-
tine, until recently commissioner and
made public today.
The then commissioner voiced the
hope that the day might be near
when the United States will finally
have lifted its hands from Indian
affairs, and all Indians in all respects
will stand on an equal footing with
all their fellow Americans"
with all the expedition com
patible with the Indians welfare" he
added, they should be made sub
ject to the laws of their states and
be taught to look to their local gov
eminent instead of the national gov
eminent. My conviction is that no
possible obstacle should be placed
in the way of the transformation
of Indian affairs administered by the
United States into the affairs of nor
NAL citizens under the ordinary juris-
diction of the states,
q do not suggest further author
ity for enlarged federal jurisdiction
over minor offenses on reservations.
important questions Of marriage and
divorce illustrate difficult points, Of
trb oh Ia
pears TO be education OF Indians,
whether or not they are citizens, to
comply with the laws of their states. -
Progress during the year in teach
ing the Indian to be sober and in
dustrious, in educating him to be a
better farmer and mechanic, and in
imparting health principles, both as
they apply individually and in the
home, was reported.
Every Indian, like every white
man." declared the commissioner, "is
best fitted for some one 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 reserva-
tions, in the direction Of vocational
guidance"
The war against the sale of liquor
to Indians was "waged with continu-
Gus vigor and successful results" the
report added, "and the fight against
gambling is beginning to bear fruit.
Valentine pointed to the fact that
two convictions We're secured for the
sale of liquor to Indians in Washing
ton, under the dome of our capitol,
showing, he said, that the Indian
though hundreds of miles distant
from his home, has not lost his lust
for firewater and that the laws as
now in force are applicable any
where"
The home condition Of the Indians
is one of the most unsatisfactory
features of the Indian problem, said
the commissioner, for which reason
special attention is being given TO
the instruction of Indian girls. The
character and efficiency of the train
ing given to them must be improv-
ed. he said, because il is realized
that for the girls more than for the
boys the instruction should be of an
intensive form. Girls can be kept
in school only for a few years after
they have developed into woman
hood, it was stated
The greatest investment the In
dian service has, continues the re
port, is in the so-called returned
students who have been away at the
larger schools and have returned t.
live at or near their home reserva
| ton, There are about $4,000 o.
| these Indians, who represent al
economic investment, it is estimated
of about S50,000,000. These student:
| frequently are considered merely
trouble makers by the superintend
ents of the reservation. declares tht
commissioner The superintendent
forget entirely, he adds, that thii
class of Indians protest against tn,
order of things as they find it whel
they return to their reservations be
cause they have seen better things
/ but have not quite found their owl
way to them And l am sorry t
say he continues, chat frequent,
the greatest obstacle to their finding
their way lies in the government ma
chinery and personnel itself Ever
Indian school in the country shoul
consider it vital part of its dali
work to keep track of the student
who have attended IT, These re
turned students are the hope of tn
Indian problem. We would hardl
think of spending a similar amour
in training race horse and the
turn him loose under unfavorabl