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Show COMMISSIONER OW INDIAN AFFAIRS. 55 them, and from present indications they will produce a fair supply of vegetables. Congress should make provision for land on which these Indians may establish permanent homes and give them an opportunity to become self-supporting. GAMBLING. Gambling is one of the most pernicious evils in which the Indians indulge. On some reservations the Indians have been persuaded to give up this vicious practice, and on others they have been required to do so. Substantial progress in the elimination of this practice is being made throughout the entire Indian country. MARITAL RELATIONS. The legislature of Ariiona has passed an act empowering all bonded superintendents or agents of Indian schools or agencies to issue marriage licenses, under the direction of the clerk of the su-perior court of the county in which the school or agency is located, and to perform marriage ceremonies. A similar law in all States in which there are' Indinn reservations would help materially to break up the loose marital customs of many tribes and improve the moral standard of individuals, as well as be of assistance in the determination of heirs and the settlement of estates. It is proper to say in this connection that there is a general tendency ta comply with the statutory marriage requirements in the States where Indians live, and the increase of lawful marriages is apparent. Unquestion-ably the heirship work now being carried on has been a materinl factor in impressing ugon the minds of Indians the importance of lawful marriages nnd the certain relationship of parents and children. DANCES. A distinction is recognized between the barbarous dances of the Indian's wild days and those indulged in at the present t i e . The influence of the surrounding whites, of returned students, and a more enlightened spirit among the younger Indians has strongly tended to breakup the ancient rites with their brutality and degrading features. TWO CRIMINAL CASES OF IMPORTANCE. Two cases of a criminal nature which were exploited largely in the public press were tried during the year. John Ashley, a white man, murdered De Soto Tiger, a Seminole Indian, to obtain valuable otter hides. The murderer successfully eluded the State officers, but on April 27, 1914, he was captured by |