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Show REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. 21 on ami the. fact fully ascertained, and their labors extended to avert trouble if necessary. There are also two subjects relative to Indian affairs in California, which I deem it proper should receive the attention of the commission, vi/ : The Mission Indians in Southern California, who are without a reserve and without an agent also. Tulare River farm, rented for an agency, where there has been much trouble between the Indians and surrounding whites, and where it is questionable whether the renting of said farm should be continued. With reference to the act of July 15, 1870, making it the duty of the Board of Indian Commissioners to supervise the expenditure of money appropriated for the Indian service, I would state that the custom of this office in regard to placing funds at the disposal of superintendents and agents is as follows : The officers referred to submit itemized estimates of the funds required by them each quarter or half year, and this Bureau remits to them what is deemed necessary and advisable, due regard being had to the amount appropriated and applicable for the objects for which the funds are required, I respectfully submit whether it is desired to make any change in this custom, and if so, shall this office advise the Board of In-dian Commissioners when remittances are made, that some member or members thereof niay supervise the expenditure of the money. Referring to the provision in the last Indian appropriation act, relative to submitting vouchers for goods and supplies furnished to the Indians, or for the tranportation thereof, or of machinery, buildings, & c., under and by virtue of any contract, to the executive committee of the Board of Indian Commissioners for examination and ap-proval, it is respectfully submitted for your decision whether any vouchers except those given for goods and supplies, & c., furnished under written contract are to be so submitted, or does the law require all vouchers of whatever description, including the accounts of superintendents and agents, to be referred to said committee for the objects stated. To avoid making this report of too great a length, as brief statements as possible have been made. Full information in detail will be furnished said commission upon any of the subjects mentioned by this office, if the same is required. I will also add that, in addition to the foregoing, I deem it of great importance that the attention of the commissioners should be called to the proposed council to be held between the civilized tribes of Indian territory and the wild tribes west, to take place in the ceded Creek country about the 1st of April next, as it is important that said commission should be represented there. Also to the condition of the freedinen residing in the Choctaw and Chickasaw countries, provision having been made in regard to them in the Choctaw and Chicka-saw treaty of April 28, 1866. ( Stats, at Large, vol. 14, page 769.) The condition of these people is entirely unsettled, and demands attention and action. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. S. PARKER, Commissioner. Hon. C. DELANO, Secretary of Hie Interior. A No. 1. Visit of the Cheyenne, Arapahoes, and Wichita Indian chiefs, to New Yor/ v and Boston, June, 1871. RECEPTION AT COOPER UNION SPEECHES BY PETER COOPER. LITTLE HAVEN, BUFFALO GOOD, PROCESSOR. MARTIN, AND OTHERS. The ever- recurring and never- settled Indian question was forcibly and pathetically pressed upon public attention last night at Cooper Institute, on the occasion of the public reception of the Indian chiefs who have been visiting Washington under the auspices of the United States Indian Commission, to confer with the Government con-cerning the settling of their boundaries. The rear of the platform was decorated with national rlags, and festoons of red, white, and blue hung from the ceiling over it. The hall was completely rilled by an intelligent audience. At 8 o'clock the chiefs and their friends appeared upon the platform, the Indians seating themselves in chairs behind the speaker's desk. They were dressed partly in their native style, wearing moccasins' and ear- rings, and having their long black hair braided. One wore a gaudy red robe. Of Arapahoe chiefs there were Little Raven. Powder Face, and Bird Chief ; of Chey-ennes, Little, Robe and Stone Calf; and of the Wichita, Buffalo Good. The latter, the most eloquent speaker among them, was dressed in a plain black pale- face suit. Their prevailing type of face is that usually seen in the warlike Sioux race that is, a coarse, broad lower tace, Hebrew nose, and retreating forehead. |