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Show COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XX~X :hdiann enlisted a8 8oouts. To these sttout8 the Government pays $16 a, mouth and givesfizll soldier ratition snd clothing allowances and then add. $25 a month for the one of horse and equipment, which the Indian provides for himaelf. The Indian po-lioemau, serving his agent; performing a muoh pester sbareof Lhe same kind of duty, reoelvea nothing for the nse of his horse end equipment, although he provides it joat the same as the Iodiao mont who 8ervee the milibry. It Reams to me that these men have a dnim ~ h i c cha nnot be presented too stmngly, whioh if presented must receive mogoitiou, sod goo may use my name in connection therewith if you ahoose. As settlements close around and encroach upon Iudian reservations the need for the services of Indian police becomes greater, and the du-ties of the force, which are not infrequently dangerous, become more arduous and complicated. In thereports of the Indian agents, which are attached hereto, it will he seen that the agents coincide, as hitherto, in acknowledging their dependence upon the police for the preservation of order upon the reserves, and that at the same time they point out the difficulty which they experience in securing as policemen the best quali-fied members of the tribe, when the pay allowed is so small that it offers no iuducemeut to accept the position, e8pecially after the uovelty has worn off. They reiterate, with even greater urgency than ever, their previous requests that the police shoilld receive larger salaries. No argument is needed to show that $10 a month for officers and $8 a mouth for privates is meager compensation to ofer men who, beside giving their own services, must furnish horses, forage, and equipments, and1 desire to add my plea to that made by Indians, Iudian agents, and my predecessors in office, that Congress so iucrease the appropriation for Indian police that just compensation may be given for the services required. COURTS OF INDIAN OFFENSES. On December 2,1882, the Secretary called the attention of the Com-missioner to what he regarded as a great hinderance to the civilization of the Indians, riz: (1) &'The eontinuance of the old heathenish dances, such as the sun dance," etc, ; (2) marriages during pleasure, and plural marriages; (3) the influence of the medicine men, who are always found with the anti-progressive party; (4) the custom of destroying or distrih-uting property on the death of an Indian. In conclnding his eommn-nication the Secretary said: &'sIu ggest whether it is not practicable to formulate certain rules for the government of the Indians on the reser-vations that shall restfict, and ultimately abolish, the praotices I have mentioned." Acting upon this suggestion the Commissioner prepared certain rules for the guidance and direction of Indian agents, and they were a p proved by the Secretary on April 10,1883. By these rules authority was given for the establishment at each Iudian agency, except at that of the Five Civilized Tribes in the Indian Territory, of a tribunal, con-sisting of three Indians, to be known a&I' The oourt of Indiau offenses." The first rule provides that &if' they are fit and competent persons to perform the duties," the first three officers in rank on the police force |