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Show -- . . . . . , .~. .A~ . ~ .- p. ~ . . . REPORT OF THE CO~MISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS: CXI As sodn as the scale of the logs was completed Mr. Reynolds depns-ited to the credit of the United States, nuder instructions from this Office- The gross amount of .................................................. $218,%78.30 And one-hnlfthe cost of scaling ........................................ T39.14 219,117.44 The net amount to be paid to the Indians who own the logs. is found as follows: Dedoct total smoont of scaling ............................ $1,478.42 And stumpage, 10 per cent ................................. 21, e37.83 -- 23,316.25 -- Net prooeeds .................................................... 195,801.19 This sale seems to have given entire satisfaction both to Indians and bidders, as no objection or claim of favoritism or irregularity has reached the Office. A special agent of this Office was present at the opeuing of the bids, who filed a certificate with the bids forwarded by the agent, to the effect thak he was present at the time of opening and that the sale was properly coudocted and satisfactory. I have considered it advisable to report these transactions thus fully, in order to have on record, easy of access, a conuected history of just what has been done during the past season. This exhaustive report will, I believe, prove to all who are interested that these sales were con-ducted with the utmost fairness, and with strict adherence to accepted business principles. I may add in this connection, that owing to complair~tsm ade to me that the Menomouees were not profitingmuch by this logging business; that they were deeply in debt to merchants for supplies, which debts they either neglected or refused to pay ; that they spent their money foolishly; that they did cut some green timber; that, under pretense' of cultivating land but in order to get the timber on it, they cleared much larger tracts than they did or conld cultivate, I direoted an invaa-tigatior~ o f these matters by a special agent. I regret to say that his report coufirms these charges to a considerable extent; but I am glad to refer to recent legislation, which will change the whole plan of log-giug by the Menomonees. The act of June 12, 1890, [26 Stat. 146 and page 387 of this report] removes all incentive to injure growing timber by giving each member of the tribe an equal share of the net proceeds of its sale by funding the greater part of said proceeds, so tl~akt~hey will remain in the United States Treasury, the interest only to bQnsed for their benefit, and by giving steady employment everj winter at good wages to all who are physically able to labor. Some merchants have expressed dissatisfaction with this office, be. cause it has steadily refused to guaranty the debts incurred by the Muuomonees, or has not in some manner forced them to pay such bills |