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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIOXER OF INDIAN AFFAIR8. 3. wmmonly received idea of the outside profit of the hnsiness. As we propose to cut off this profit, it is hut just that we give to the thoronghly qualified and honest guardian of the interests of the Indians, who is willing to leave the com-forts of civilized society and devote himself epnscientiously to his work, a com-pensation which shall be adequate to the service which we expect from him. For similar reasons, I make the eame recommendation as to increase of pay of superintendents, with gradaskus, kc. There might reasonably be a gradation in the salaries of the agents, those who have the greaterresponsibility and lahor receiving the greater compensation. I submit the subject for your considera-tion. I also take this opportunity to suggest that the labor and responsibility necessarily devolved upon the office of Commissioner of Indian Affairs are, in extent and importance, second to thoswof no other bureau in the several departments of the government; and while several of the heads of bureaus organized since that of Indian Affairs have been provided with salaries in some degree commensurate with their responsibilities and with the enomons cost of living at the seat of government, the salary attached to this bureau rc-mains still inadequate to what I can bnt deem its just demands. Should vou concur with me in this view of the subject, I recommend that application"he made to Congress for such increase of the salary of this office as will at least plxe it upon an eq-u alit-y with other bureaus requiring no more re-sponsihility or labor. - - The question of the reorganization of the working force of this o6ce was brought to the attention of the'department in the last annualreport, andaspecial report, with a rough draught of a bill containing the proposed changes and addi-tions, was subsequently prepared, and, with some modifications, submitted by your predecessor to the financecommittee of the Senate, but no action was taken upon the proposition. I beg leave to renew the recommendation referred to, deeming it of essential importance to the efficiency of the bureau, and will sub-mita special report, with my views of the changes and additions required. .Questions of much importance to some of the tribes in Kansas have arisen, and are likely to arise in the case of others, as to the right of the State anthori-ties to tax the lands of such Indians as have taken their lands in severalty and hold them by patent from the United States. A case in relation to the Miami Indians of Kansas has recently been decidkd by the supremecourt of that State i n favor of the right of the State to tax the lands, although the Indians'still reside upon lands reserved to them by treaty. Measures have been taken to obtain the opinionof the Attorney General upon the snbject, and it is confident1 assume the duties and privileges of citizens will he vindicated. r expected that the right of the Indians to he exempt from taxation until they aha 1 The snpply of copies of the laws and regulations governing the Indian senrice is exhausted. and as the lapse of time has developed the necessity of some changes in these matters, and as there is a sufficient fund appropriated by Oon-gress for the p me, I propose to have the Code' of regnlations revisrd for pub-lication, so tha"t% t e new appointees of the department may he supplied. In regard to the snbject of education, inasmuch an experience has developed thefact that, in the majority of cases, manual labor schools for the Indians are productive of greater benefit to them than day schools, for the reason that in the former a more constant and thorough controlof the pupils can be obtained, and they can he instructed and practiced in habits of industry useful to both males and females, I propose to aid in the establishment and support of these schools so far as the funds appropriated, nnder treaty stipulations or otherwise. at the disposal of the department, will allow. Some years since an application was made to Congress for an appropriation, to be placed at the disposal of the Department of the Interior, to provide for such expenditures as might he necessary to obtain and preserve in the depart-ment such memorials of the 1ndians;whether portraits, implements of industr~r |
