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Show I - 102 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. Tho lnntron shall make reports of he, work monthly to the agent,' and quarterly, through him, to this office upon blank herewith. On August 15 of each Sear she ahall make an annual report, to be forwarded by the agent to this offioe for puhli- C&tlOn. ISSUE OF RATIONS. I Serionsc~m~lainhtasv e heretofore been made regirding the quality of the beef issued, especially during the winter season. The practice long obtained, grounded on the necessity of econo~nizingto the utmost degree, of purchasing beef on the hoof and receiving in the fall a suf-cient supply to last through the winter. No adequate provision, how-ever, was made for sheltering the cattle or for properly feeding them, so that, as a naturd result, when they were issued they had deterio-rated in weight and very materially in quality; and just complaint was made by the Indians on this account. Now beef is purchased at such times and in such quantities as is most advant.ageous, and as a result Indians are receiving full weight and good quality. While this necessitates a larger expenditure of money, it insures good faith to the ' Indians and promotes their contentment. I hope the day is near at hand when the entire system.of issuing rations shall be done away with, but so long as it continues it should be governed by business prillciples, dominated by strict justice. The plan has been inaugurated-among the Sioux Indians particu-larly, to whom the largest amount of supplies is furnished--of making cash pavents instead of issuing goods and subsistence. It is believed that the time has come when the issuing of supplies of various kinds should be gradually discontinued, and that at no distant day it should entirely cease. Whatever the Government owes to these people should be paid in cash wherever they have sufficient intelligence to make proper use of it, and then they should be left to the expenditure of this money in whatever way seems to them best. If they make a bad use of it they should be allowed, as other people are, to suffer the consequences. Another evil whioh has greatly hindered the progress of the Indians has been theissuanoe of rations at some sjngle central supply station, necessitating the movement of large numbers of the tribe frequently; and in some instances almost continuously, in order to receive their supplies. Recently by the judicious establishment of subissue stations at convenient places and by issuing from them the supplies needed for those living in their immediate picinity, this evil has been very,largely removed. The old pmctice of turning living cattle loose to be chased by the Indians and shot down on the prairie, in imitation of the old savage method of buffalo hunting, has b'een almost wholly discontinued. Rigid orders have been issued to stop it entirely, and I am happy to say that in most cases these orders are now faithfully carried into execution. |