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Show XC REPORT OF THE CCMMISSIOXER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. INDIAN POLIDE. In my ann~lal report for last ye+r I called your attention to the subject of the Indian police, urging that increased compensation be given to these men in order that they might receive something like a fair recompense for their services. I cited the fact that the general allotment act, approved February 8,1587 (24 Slats.: 390), provided that in the en~ploymenot f Indian police preference should be given to those who had availed themselres of the prorisions of said act and had taken allotments. Also the f~~r thfearc t that the Indians who had taken their lands in severalty mere generally the most energetic and progressive members of their respective tribes, and that to carry out the require-ments of the act and appoint them to positions where they mould be compelled to devote the~nselves to the Government service, to the neglect of their own business, at a pittance of $10 per month, could but work hardship and retard their adrancement in agriculture and other civilized pursuits. In the act making appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, Oongress bas increased the pay of police officers from $12 to $15 per month, but that of privates remains the same, $10 per month. I ilesire again earnestly to recommend that the pay of both officers and privates be increased, the former to $25 and the latter $20 per month, for the importance of this force to 4he service can not be over-estimated. Experience has demonstrated that its members compare favorably in fidelity, courage, loyalty, and honor with any similar body, even when composed of men of higher civilization. The question has been asked whether these policemen can be de-pended upon, especially in the endeavor to suppress the liquor traffic on reservations. The testimony of the various agents is almost uni-versal that they are proving themselves worthy of confidence and that they render val~lablese rvice in maintaining order and suppressing crime. Almost without exception they are courageous,faithful, determined men, and hesitate at no danger w h e ~ca~rr ying o11t instructions. They are not only of practical assistance to the agents in making arrests, removing intruders, seizing contraband goods, etc., but they also act as a deter-rent upon the lawless elenlent of a tribe, as the fact that the agent haar at hand s reliable police forw presents crime and disturbance which might otherwise prevail. Fnrther, there are frequent occasions when but for this force the services of the military would hare to be called in, often at great expense; and in 'some instances no doubt loss of both life and property might ensue before their arrival. These con-tingencies are avoided by the presence at the agency, ready on oall, of a reliable body of men, authorized to act for the preservation of the peace. As an evidence of the esteem in which the Indian police force is held by the agents, and of the faithful manner in which their duties are per- |
