OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XI The agent of the Santee and Flaudreau Agency says that his court of Indian offenses has tried thirty-three cases during the past year, and the fines collected have aggregated $56. He thinks the court is doing good service and is of much benefit to the agency in preventing and punishing crime. The agent of the Omaha and Winnebago Agency, Nebraska, says: The Indian oourt of offenses has proven etEeient sndeffeotive in dealing with the class of disorders which come nnder its control. It is, however, daily more apparent that the three judges of this court ~hould be oompensated for their services, as they are frequeutly called upon to do uupopn1a.r things, and, if true to tho duties of their office, often risk personal friendship and help. This is a just reason why they should be mado independent and secure against loss. Another resson is found in the faat that the judges must be of necessity taken from the more advauced and progressive people, and such have fanus thst osnuot be left without loss while they are giving their time to trials. Each convening of the judges oosts tbem a day's time, whioh cannot be given without loss. With proper compensation snd nnder proper provis-ions the dutisa of the judges oould be enlarged and the order and disoipline of the people enhanced. The three judges of this agency have also joined in a strong appeal for compensation for their services. They say that they have patiently investigated every case brought before them, that their authority has been fully recognized by the whole tribe, and every penalty ordered by the court has been executed, and that, among other things, polygamy hafi been entirely abolished nnder their administration. As appears from the above, one great drawback to thesuccessful organ-ization- of this court is the lack of money to pay the judges and other officers of the court aoompensationfor their services. Bence many of the agents have been unable to organize the court, because their best Indians are unwilliug to leave their farms and business occupations when they know that their only reward ma,y perhaps be a loss of influence and pop-ularity among the tribe. It is a rare case of unselfish devotion to the public welfare for a white man to accept an office with responsible duties attached, unless it is also accompanied with a commensurate salary. It is not reasonable to expect the Indian to be more unselfish than his white brother, and hence if it is desired that this court should be con-tinued, and carried into successful operation, it is absolutely necessary that some provision be made to pay the officers of the court a reasona-ble oompensation. The judges, in my opinion, should not be asked to 1 serve for less than $20 per mouth, and for tM payment of this sala~y and other necessary expenses an appropriation of $50,000 would be sufiicient. If this amount was appropriated the court could be suc-cessfully established at every agency where it was found necessary. , The agents would be relieved of a large amount of unnecessqq labor and annoyance, and it would be a matter of economy to the Government in saving the expense heretofore incurred of suppressing crimes whioh are now included in the jurisdiction of the court of Indian offenses. I there-fore re.spectfully recommend that Congress be asked for an appropria-tion of $50,000 for the purpose above mentioned. |