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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XXV ng season at some extra cost for changes thereby necessitated. Either method pursued in private business would be considered inexcusably shiftleas. CASH PAYMENTS TO INDIANS. ~ u k u gth e past year the cash payments per capitwto Indians, be-ing yearly installments of specific amounts and of interest 011 the in-debtedness of the Government to them under treaty stipulations, &c., amounted in round numbers to $443,000. A great part of such pay-ments are distributed in small sums semi-annually, eaoh inember of a trihe receiving an equal share, so that the whole number of men, women, and children who directly enjoy the benefits of these payments is very large. All appear to be satisfied that justice has been done to them except the Sacs and Poxes of the Mississippi, who are jointly interested in certain treaties with the Gorernluent, but who are divided into two bands, one residing in the Indian Territory and the other in Iowa. The latter band has been dissatisfied for some time back wit11 the re-spective uuiubers held by &he Government as comprising each band, and upon which nunibers is based the division made yearly of their joint treaty funds. This cause of complaint, however, is now in pro-cess of removal by steps which are being taken in 1)ursuance of reuent legislati<~nth, e result of a petition of the chiefs and headmen and the, recon~meudation of the Department, whereby a new and correct cen-sus of all the original Sacs and Foxes and their descendnnts at both places will be taken, and an even per capita share of ft~turep ayments will be made to eaoh person found entitled witllout regard to their place .of residence. Notwithstanding the fact that the completior~ of the census of the Winuebagoes in Wisconsin required by the act of January 18, 1881, was in charge of a tboronghly competent agent, the work was delayed owing to the dificulties in the way of obtaining the necessary ibata in refereuce to them on account of their unsett,led habits and homeless condition, a ~ i dbe caose inany of them refused for a long time to give their own nalnes or the names of the members of their families for eu-rollment, and because it was also found dificult to prevail on many of them to oomply with the reqnirelnents of the act by takiug up home-steads or by declaring their intention to do so as soon as they should receive the money. Therefore it was not nntil the 20th of October last tknt the list could be sent. to the Department for approval, and steps taken toward applying to the Indians the beneEts provided for them by the act. On the 7t.h of the following Novetuhert an installment of one,- fifth of the total amount applicable was placed to the credit of a dis-bursiag agent, to be paid to them as the act provided, and those only were allowed to draw who had eo~npliedw ith a11 its requirements. The wisdom of paying this money in installments, as suggested in my report. |
