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Show , 2 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. ' tnitous supplies, hut to minister to their self-help by insisting on their contributing their labor in return for the supplies given them. 7. A steady concentration of the smaller bands of Indians upon the larger reservations, and a discontinuance of the removal of the north-ern Indians to the Indian Territory. This last is essential to the well-being of the Indians, since the effect of the change of climate to which they are subjected by such removals tells with fatal effect upon their health and longevity. Southern Indians, however, who are in Colo-rado. Arizona. and New Mexico, should be settled in the Indian Terri-tov,' the vliw~ceb eing faror;~l;lc to tl~etn,~ I IthJe re being suRicieut arable laud tbv their n~ai~~rena~~ea. LAW FOE THE INDIANS. There is no act of Congress wh~chd eals with the puni~l~meonft c rimes against person or property (within the meaning of the oommon law, as distinguished from statutory crimes against the Uuited States) com-mitted bv or aeamst Indtans within the boundaries of an Indian reser- ~ ~ ,, vatinn. It in &xt drsira1,le that a judlcinl 8ysteu1 or code of lii\\.?i for 1111li;tussh ould he e8tablisllecl, ul~dere l ~ i cel r~i n~cal ~ oyr against lndians may he proseonted and successfully punished. The machinery of the United States judicial system in the States and Territories in which there are Indian reservations could be utilized to this end b ~p.r oper congreesional legislation. Tbe enactment of a code, based upon the result of the experience of those familiar with Indian life and manners, as a supplement to the adantation of existins laws. would cover the defects in the svstem hv whioh the civilizationof th6 Indian is now being attempted. 'These ark merely suaaestions, which can be elaborated by those whose duty it is to make I&s. The evils resulting from the absence of law are foroibly described by Bishop Hare in his fifth annual report, dated September 11,1877 : Cirilization has loosened, in some places broken, the bands which regolate and hold \, toget,her Indian society in its wild state and has failed to give the people law ant1 oficere of justice in their rlece. This &il atill continoes onshted. Women are brutally hesteten and ont,rsged; men are murdered in cold blood; the Indians who are friendly to aehools and churches are intimidated and preyed upon by the evil-disposed; children are molested on their way tb school, and sohoola are dispersed by bands of vagabonds; but there is no redress. This aoenrsed condition of things ia an oatrage upon the One Lawgiver. It is a disgrace to our land. It should make every man who sits in the national halls of legislation blush. Acd wish well to the Indians as we may, and do for them what we will the efforts of cidil agents, tesche1.8, and mission-aries are like the struggles of drowhingmen weighted with lead, as long as by the ah-sence of law Iudisn society is left without a, baae. INDIAN POLICE.' The preservation of order is as necessary to the promotion of civiliza-tion as is the enactment of wise laws. Both are essential to the peace and happiness of any people. As a means of preserving order upon an Indian reservation, an Indian police has been found to be of prime importance. I have redommended an additional outlay of money to enable the government to extend the usefulness of a police system now in its lnfancy w~th us. In, Canada, the entire body of Ind~aus are kept in order by such force. In this country, as far as it bas been tried, it works admirably. I would recomntend that the force be conlposed of Indians, properly officered aod drilled by white men, and where capableIndians can be found, that they be promoted to command, |