| OCR Text |
Show Each band was notified in time, and allowed to be represented by a dele. gation of its headmen, accompanied by their attorney, at the taking of the census of the other band; and by this means, and by a careful scrutiny of the returns in this office, a true census and a fair and honest division of the interest of vdch baud in their general tribal fund8 was 'obtained, to which both bands assent. The change will he very bene6cial to the band in Iowa, since, instead of receiving, as heretofore, but about one-fourth, it will in futnre receive nearly t.hree-sevenths of the money of the tribe; and the Dcpartment has decided that under the new arrangement those in Iowa are entitled to a share (about $1,100 per annum) of certain interest on proceeds of sales of land formerly paid altogether to those in the Indian Territory. ,, These Indians are not progressing towards civilization, and it ia to be regretted that some means cannot be found to iudube them to join their friends in the Indian Territory, who are prosperous and happy, and where they would derive much more benefit from their cash pay-ments. The expenfie of the agency in Iowa wonld thus be saved. The system of keeping a correct census, aud of making cash pay-ments to Indians, is now so perfect that even newly-appoi~~teadg ents have no difficulty iu fully satisfying the Indians, and in rendering their accounts so that they are easy of settlement. I consider it my duty to repeat the saggestion of my .predecessor,'ns I believe it to be in the direction of economy, that such stcps be tnken as may he vecessary to arrive at a final settlement and payment at once of such principal fund as will be a fair equivalent for tlie $1,100 annually due to theEel River band of Miami Indiansiu Indiana, and for the $400 annually due to the Pottawatomies of Huron. These amounta are so small that they do not warrant the expense of paying,them per eapifa to these Indians every year. It wonld be well also, as was suggested before, if it could be decided by legislation, what degree of white blood shonld debar a person From sharing in annuities due to Indians, and whether persons once adopted, according to the rules of a tribe, can afterdarda be dropped and ex-cluded from any or all the benefits c~jmingto the tribe. In tbis connection 1 may add that cases often arise where annuities due to minor orphans who are at school or cared for by strangers are claimed by and paid to irresponsible Indian guardians, who put the money totheir own use, the children receiving no benefit from it. I would recommend that such moneys be held in trust ut~tilth e children become of age, and that such steps aa may be necessary to tbis end be taken by the Department. DLAIKS OF OLD LIOENSED TRADERS AGAINST THE SIOUX. Congress, at its last session, appropriated the sum of $100:000 to ena-ble Lbe Secretary of the Interior- To investigate sod determine the amallnta due licensed traders, citizwos of the United Stlttee, for supplies furnished, in the oourse of traae and busiuesa, to the Sioux |
