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Show ~ ~ ~ ~~ REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XXIII collected used for this purpose, it mould be much better to.nse the money for the benefit of. tlie tribe generally, building bridges, improving roads, or for general educational purposes. In most cases the judges are also members of the police force. This should not be so; the court should be entirely independent of the police, and its members should receive a salary from the Govern~uenst uffi-' cient to induce the best and most intelligent of the Indians to serve in that capacity. In this cohuectiou I beg to say ttha,t I fully agree with my predecessor that the judges should have at least $20 per month for the services required of them, and as the court is no longer an experi ment, but a success, I trust that Clongress will appropriate an amount sufficient to pay this salary to each of the judges, and to defray other necessary court expenses. INDIAN POLICE. The rapidity with which the entire area of the western part of the country is being opened up and settled, brings settlers to the very doors of the Indian reservations, oftent,imes introducing a class of men none too scrupi~lous regarding the rights of others; men who regard the property of the Indian as lawful prey, and the life of the Indian as no obstacle to the possession of it; 'men who are without many of the news-saries of life, needing fuel, needing horses or ponies, needing beef, need-ing grazing ground, and a thousand other things, many of which are possessed by the Indians through issues made by the United States. This has made some kiud of a constabulary force on Indian ieservations an actual necessity, and the necessity has been increasing every year in a ratio far exceeding themlief grauted. Agencies, which a year ago few white men had ever crossed, mas be almost surrounded this year with settlers and invaders. Miues, real or prospecti~e, have tempted thousands of men into localitiea heretofore occupied only by Indians. Without regard to the rights, of the Iudians, they are cor~stantlyt res-passing, harassing the Indians, provoking quarrels, thieving, and mag. ing the life of the agent one of constant anxiety and vigilance. Agency employ6s are rery few, and cannot be spared for pdlice duty. Under t,hese circnmstances, relief has come through and by the In-dians themselves; for, fully realizing the situation, Congrevs has, for the past few years, provided for the appointment and equipment of In-dian police. To a great extent they have met the uecessitie,~o f the situation, aud have proved valuable aids to the Indian agents in pre-venting trespassing and robbery by lawless whites, and in suppressing disorder, violence, atid incipient revoIt amollg the more restless of their own people. Many instances of surprising fidelity to the trust imposed npon them, undercircnmstances which woold swerve many a white man from his duty, might he related of these Indian policemen. Commencing with the present fiscal year, the salary was increased for the officers from $8 to $10 per month, and for t,he privates from $5 ' |
