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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 7 Inasmuch as onr beat hopes of the welfare of the Indian tribes depend upon the influenee which we can exert upon the rising generation, the question of their education bemmea a very important one, and the experience of many years has furnished an ample teat of the different methods of education as ap-plied to the youth of both sexes. I have had occasion to urge the establish-ment and liberal support of manna1 labor scliools in all cases where practicable, as distinguiehed from the ordinary day schools. Oar reports this year from the ~a r iousa gencies fully confirm my opinion on this subject as heretofore ex-pressed. The attendance upon the day schools is generally irregular, and the pupils are so frequently kept away by tbeir parents,sometimesforalongperiodof time, as to lose the little knowledge that they have gained in the elementary branches of education, while no influence has been exerted upon them to make them appreciate the dignity and real independence of labor. On the contrary, the children, male and female, who are taken to the boardine schools, and re-side there permanently, prop&ly fed and clothed, taught at regulated hours to .read and write and to understand such of the simple branches of education as. are necessary for their condition in life, and at otKer hours to labor in the gar-den and fields, or, as to the girls, in the various branches of household duties, are found to make real and valuable progress. Regarding these schools, then, under nroner conduct. as the main hone for Dermanent eood to the Indians. I I . a - can hut repeat nly former recomlnend~tionsih nt a liberal policy bc pursued by Cmgrees in regdnl to appropriations for their support, wherever the opportunity i. nreaented fur establinlline them on a safe nnd nerrnanent basis. i'he other suggestions ~Idesireto submit are, krst, as to the necessity of an appropriation of funds, in addition to the appropriations usually made, to be used in cases of emergency; and second, the necessity of an increase in the clerical force employed in this bureau. In the course of our military operations against the Indians, it is oftentimes the case that many hundreds of Indians are taken captives or otherwise assem-bled at militaiy posta established upon the remote fri~ntier, where no adequate provision has been mdde for furnishing them with the ordinary necessaries of life. The accompanying papers, relating to the California and New Mexico superintendencies, will illustrate this subject, and show the e m b a r r a s s m e n t s A whieh not only this department, but also the military authorities are subjected. It is likewise not nufrequently the case that the crops planted by or for In-dlans upon their reserves, and the esculent roots upon wliich they so largely rely, are cut off by drought, or fail from other caiises; and when, in connexion with this misfortune, the Indians are unsuccessful in their hunts, the utmost sufferin-e necessarilv ensues. unless orovision is made bv this deoartment to supply tlteirwants." Annuity goodn, eh route forthe 1 ~ ~ d i i i n ~ . a r e s o m ~ t i m ~ s 1 1 ~ s t b tlir bur~~i~~oorsi~~kinpof~teamtt.hrea wuepsotner n rivers. Whenanp ot'tl~esec ir-cumatancG occur, must be made to supply the wants of (he Indians, or they mnst be left to suffer. As the necessity has not been anticipated, thereis, of course, no appropriation applicable to the emergency, and whatever may be done must be upon the faith that Congress will thereafter appropriate the amount necessary to pay for the needed siipplies, which in the mean time mnst be bought upon credit and from parties who are not only willing to wait for the action of Congress, but are also willing to take upon themselves the risk that no action will he had. Of course supplies eannot be bought upon these terms upon as favorable rates as would be the case if the government was prepared to make immediate D. a.v ment: and i t would therefore freuuentlv relieve this de- L . partmcnr from great embarrnssments, and ar the same time be more eronomical. if a fund were appropriated for these purpopes, to be used only in canes of nreent neeessitr. and at the discretion of the Secretary of the Inrrrinr, with the 1 a P ~ r o v dof the President; and in case of the expendi"ture of the whole, or any |
