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Show / REPORT OF THE COMMISBION~B OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XLIII I hagoes, notwithstanding their declarations that the money provided f6r them by the act of January 18,1881, would he used by them for the im- ' provement of the homest,ea,ds they have entered, are not generally so using it. The reports which reach me give little assurance that under present conditions they will derive much benefit from such cash pay-ments, made as they are by special agents who are without authority over them, and are not wit,h them long enough to gain their confidence. A majority of themneglect all work for weeks betore a payment is to be made, and as soon as the money is placed in their hands the special agent must leave them to doas they please with it; consequently very little of it goes to ((aid them in obtaining subsistence by agricultnritl pursuits or to promote their civilization," and thriftlessness and vice are encouraged. They need the constant advice, encouragement, and restraint of a good permanent agent, agsisted by an intelligent and reliable interpreter, and none others would be needed. Many of the better class know this, and are anxious that some R U C a~r rangement be made, which 1 earnestlj recommend. The expense would be but little ,greater than that which will be necessary to make periodical payments of their permanent innuities uu~ler the present plan; and even if de-frayed from their own funds, to which I understand they would readily oonsent, the great& benefit they would derive fkom their moneys, if the . right sort of man was placed in charge of them, cannot be oadculated. The members of Big Hawk7# baud of these Wisconsin Winnebagoes, to whom reference was made in the last annual report from this office, hare continued, nuder advice from evil-disposed persons, to refuse their shares in t h e ~ pea yments. The atteution of the Department was called to t l ~ i qa nd to the extra expense their stubbornness eutailed on the other members of the tribe and on the Government, and the suggestion was made that, in view of their repeated refusals to comply with thelaw or to receipt for their shares, the same might properly be returned to the general funds of the tribe for distribution amongst those who do comply with the law. But, although it was heliered that this would be only just to all, it was thought best, in view of legal complications which might arise, to hold their shares to their credit for a time, and I have just been informed by a special agent on the ground that a ma-jority of them will now comply with the law. In that case their mouey will be paid to them. I am glad to be able to report that the cause for dissatisfaction which has existed for several years between that branch of the Sac and Fox Indians residing in Iowa and the branch residing in the Indian 'Perri-. tory as to the correct division of their annuity .moneys between the two hands has been finally removed, to the satisfaction of all. Under the provisions of the last two acrs making appropriations for the yearly interest due to them it was necessary to ascertain who the original Sac and Fox Indians were, at both points, and to divide their monejs ac-cordingly. As this was a matter of great pecnniary interest to these people,' every possible care was exercised to obtain a correct census. |