OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIOXER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XLV manent homes. Hitherto they have been homeless wanderers $hrough Nevada, without incentive to industry, although some of the most enter-prising have cultivated lands owned by whites. If they lire up to their protestations, that all they want is a fair chance to support themselres, they will soon be able to report progress in civilization. Houses, schools, farming implements, seeds, md partial subsistence until crops can be raised, sl~onl(bl e f~u?~ishbedy the government. BOARD OF INDIAN OO'M~MISSIONERS. This organization, composed of g.entlemen of high standing and large b~~sineesxsp erience, renders valuable aid to the government by its con-stant oversight of the business of the burean. All bids received for furnishing supplies ancl annuity goods undergo careful examination by the board, and no contracts are awarded withont first receiving its ap-proval. At the New York warehouse, the boa.rcl employsits own clerks, who keep a complete and independent record of all goods received, in-spected, and shipped, and have access to all books and papers kept by the department clerks. This double snpervision affords the best possi-ble protection against fraud, as well as against loose and irregular meth-ods of doing bnsine~s. The 111e111be.ro~f the board also acqnire a practical knowledge of the ants of 111~1inns by T-iaiting the various agencies in person; at the same time tlley eza~l~inthee supplies on haad, and &e thus enabled to certifj- positively tlmt the articles pnrcl~ascdf or Indians are received by them. Such close and extensive superrision obliges a large majority of the co~nmissionersto derote mnoh valnable time to the Indian sewice, and when it is remembered that these services are rendered by them gratui-tously, their opinions on questions of In(1ian management shonld be re. ceived with full confidence. I hare the honor to be, sir, ve~r e spe c t f~~ylolynr, obeclient ser~~ant , E. A. EAYT, Commissioner. The Hon. SECRETAROYF THE INTERIOR. |