OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMIFISIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 1X tribe of Indians. If this 3,000,000 acres are so disposed of as to give the Crows some benefit of the proceeds thereof, they will no longer re-quire any aid from the Governmenb, and thus one fraction of the Indian problem will have been solved, and an example and incentive giren to other tribes of Indians to do likewise. Tonkawas.-A small tribe of Tonkawa Indians has for many years been living in the State of Texas without any reservation or right to any particular location. Congress for several years has made a small appropriation for their relief, and in the absence of any authority to ap-point, or funds to pay an agent, an officer of the Army has been detailed tolook after their interests. The condition of these Iudians has not im-prored, but, on the contrary, has become worse eaoh year. At the last session of Congress an appropriation of $10,000 was made for the '6 sup-port., civilization, and instruction of the Tonkawa Indians, and for their removal to a reservation in the Indian Territory." Arrangements have now been made for removing these Iudians from Texas to the Iowa reservation in the Indian Territory, where by treaty tytipulations the Government has the right to place other Indians than the Iowas. This will place these Indians nuder a regular agent, and on land where they oan legally remain, with an opportunity to make homes for their fami-lies, and engage in agricultural pursuits, and a chance to avail them-selves of the advantages of the Government schools in that region. COURT OF INDIAR OFFENSES. In my last annual report I had the honor to call your attention to the "Court of Indian Offenses1' which had been established at a few of the agencies; and, believing that the organization of this court would be a practical benefit to the Indian service, and tend materially to the advancement and civilization of the Indians, I recommended that a sufficient appropriation he made for the purpose of paying the judges a reasonable compensation for their services. At every agency where the court has been established it has been well received, and the decis-ions of t,he judges respectfully acquiesced in and quietly and peaceably enforced. At some of the agencies this court has been instrumental in abolishing many of the most barbarous and pernicious customs that have existed among the Indians from time immemorial; andif properly encouraged, and the Indians are made to believe that the Government is honest in its eudeavors to promote their welfare and intellectual and moral advancement, I believe that in a few years polygamy and the heathenish customs of the sun dance, scalp dance, and war dance will be entirely abolished. The reports of the agents of the agencies where this court ikorgan-ized indicate very conclusively the beneficial results already accom-plished. The agent of the Umatilla Agency, Oregon, says that this court- Has worked admirably and made a radical chsnze, especially among the yoong men of the tribe, for the better, as all disorders or offenses that come before the judgea here are inexorably ptmished. |