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Show COMMIBBIONER 'O-F INDIAN AFFAIR8. 15 the protection of healthy children from perilous contact with those who have been stricken are bound to be only partly effective; for, though we may weed every sign of the scourge out of the schools by excluding all children pronounced by the examining physician un-sound, we,are only segregating these in order to make them grow up-if they do grow up-in ignorance. The establishment of such a sanitarium as I have here suggested would insure to the unfortu-nates the special care and the chance for recuperation which is their due, as well as the schooling needed to fit them for the serious busi-ness of life, instead of being sent home to serve as centers of infection for both their own people and the whites of the neighborhood. PAYMENT OF INDIAN IRBEQULAR EMPIIOYEES. A circular bearing date March 29, 1905, directed all agents and superintendents tb make the necessary arrangements to pay thereafter their duly authorized Indian irregular employee+that is, Indian laborersthe wages due them at the close of each week, instead of monthly as heretofore, taking their receipts therefor in the usual manner. The reasons for the change of practice may be summed up in the statement that it is the policy of this Office to assimilate in every practicable way the status and treatment of the Indian with the status and treatment of the white man. The frequency and reg-ularity of his compensation enables him to pay as he goes, encourages thrift, and discourages the habit of heedless spending which runs the poor man of any race heavily into debt before he realizes it. Moreover, the delays in payments that have so generally obtained heretofore have had the effect of disheartening the Indian, who is not trained to look far ahead like the white man, and who is only too disposed to yield to the temptations of an idle life if he can see no speedy return from his labor. The in'auguration of the new system has caused some little friction, but its continuance has fully demonstrated its 'utility and benefit to the Indians and to the Service, and has obviated many of the errors, misunderstandings, and controversies that formerly prevailed. In only a very few instances have peculiar local condition. made neces-sary an exception to the general rnle. INDIAN POLICE. The Indian police constitute a force which, with proper organiza-tion and pay, can be made to render very useful service to the agent or superintendent in his efforts to manage the affairs of the reserva-tion in the best interest of the Indians. The present force is not, as a whole, a very efficient body. It is too poorly paid, the privates receiv-ing only $10 a month and the officers $15 a month, with rations while |
