OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISBIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XLI annuities shall be made pro mta, according to the nuuiber of the whole tribe. This act also provides that before any person shall be entitled to the benefits accruing thereunder, it shall be made to appeartl~aht e, or the head of the family of which heis a member, has take11 nit a horue-stead, with a bona-jide intention of complying with an act approved March 3, 1875. In pumuanoe of t.his just and beneficial measure, Congress further directed that a ceilsus be taken which would showthe entire number of Winnebagoes in Wisconsin auld Nebraska, separately, and also a11 the fkct,s necessary to justly decide in regard to the rights of those clainiing to participate in the benefits of the act. When the scattered conclition of these Indians in Wisconsin, and the data and proof required in the case of each, is considered, the magni-tude of the work will be understood. It was t,he purpose and is yet the hope of this office to ]lave the money due these Indiaus uuder this sct paid to t.hem doring the c u r r e ~ ~yet a r, but Congress having failed to l~roridea ny funds to pay the necessa,r~expeusesi~~cidteon tth e talc-iug of this census, and no funds being available for the purpose, noth-ing could be done in t.he ma,tter until after the begiuning of the present fiscal year. Then, in consideration of the desirability of the measure, and in -ompliance with repeated requests from me ~ ~ ~ boef rCs ongrcss and others, I c o ~ ~ s ~ nttoe hda ve the work done by a clerk from this oflice, &nd the expense paid from the contingency funds of the India11 Department for the fiscal year 1882. Consequently, on the 12t.h of August last., a clerk was detailed to proceed to Wisconsin, andhe is now there engaged in this duty. I n the mean time t,J~ree gular agent at Winnebago Ageqcy in Nebraska has bee11 iustructed in regard to taking the census of those at that' plaee, and both lists will no doullt be complet.ed at an early day. Sac mnd Fox, 1otoa.-Contiilued efforts are being made to induce the Sac and Pox Indians in Iowa to sign a pay-roll for anunities now four yews over due. They still refuse, however, notwithstanding that the last season has been a very unfavorable oue for farming and they are suffering in consequence. Dnring January last I instructed the ageut at Iowa Ageilcy to ta,ke a census and make a list of these Indians, ar-ranging them in families in the manner established by the department. This 11e succeeded in doiugafter great difficulty, aud onlg by obtaining the necessary'information from parties who were not members of the tribe, but who had lived with them long enough to become thorough1~- mqnaiutecl. The chiefs in the meam, time used all their influence to pre-vent the names of the women and children from being enrolle(1. This list shows a total ntmber of 356, viy,, 92 men, 104 women, ail& 160 children. Owing to the circu~mstauaesu uder which it was co~npleted this may not be strictly correct, hut may be useful in the division of annuities payable to the whole tribe u11~1etrh e various treaties. These Indians are inrlustrioils and temperate, but are suspicious of |