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Show - 4 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAZRS. competent men who now perform the service with discredit to them-selves and detriment tothe Indians. In order to carry out the policy which I have briefls outlined, I have recommended an appropriation of fifty thousanddollars, as a special fund, for the establishment and support of additional schools wherever, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Interior, they may be most needed. In addition to the ordinary schools, I particularly recommend the establishment of industrial schools, in which those over fourteen Fears of age may be taught the various trades and thus be qualified to become self-aupporting. Iucreased expenditure on civilization account is called for by the additional number of Indians who are aotively aeeKiug for the means 07 civilization. The recent visit of the Sioux chiefs at Washington was remarkable for the earnest unanimity with which. they besought the government for implemeilts of agriculture, for cattle, and for schools for their children. The expenditure of one hundred thousand dollars during the next year, in addition to the agricultural fund, would be a wise ecou-omy, and tend materially to lessen the'demand for supplies in the early future. There is no good reason why .the Sioux Indiana, for example, b might not, in the course of time, become extensive breeders of cattle. The business would not be laborioos in itself, and is one for which they have exhibited considerable antitude. Besides. it wonld tend directlv I to interest them in the accnmklation of propeitY, which is one of thi most important steps in civilization. IEDIAN LABOR. Tbe Indi:la, in hia savagc state, is tho only born arish~crat on Amer-i c a ~so~d. He deapisca 13l~1arn 11 looks ul~oni t as no indiy11i1.v. Ile will hunt or make war at an immense ex~enditureo f strenith, -and in the proaeentioa of thoso ~~ursuitLnr \!,ill Gxhiblt great telvaciiy of purpose; but wbeu be is talked tu about tho ncce8sir.y of toil as n meally to earn his bread legitimately, he turns a deaf ear, and imposes on his squaw 7 the burden and drudgery of work. To overcome the natural repug. nance of the Indian to work, it is needful to adopt a system of training that will gradually incite him to labor by appeals to his self-interest. To that end ageuts must use care in the distribution of supplieb, and should demand from the Indian some work for the rations furnished him. Again, instead of giving out contracts to dissolute or idle white men, who are hanging arouud the agencies, for cutting fire-wood and splitting and hauling rails for fencing, or for getting hay, the Indians should be made to perform all these offices. Some agents are eminently success-ful in utilizing Indian labor-Agent Wilbur, of the Pakama agency, for example, who not only has all this work done by his Indians, but has trained them to manufacture saddles and harness, as well as make wagons and do carpenter's work. This office has recently refused to ap-prove contracts made by agents for cutting fire-wood and fencing, on the old plan, and has insisted that agents shall secure this work to be done by Indians, by holding out to them the inducement of extra rations or some other compensation. FOOD FOR THE INDIAN. • Beef is the staple food for the Indian, and great care should be taken to furnish a good quality of it.. The want is mostly supplied by Texas cattle, which are driven north by easy stages, and are allowed |