OCR Text |
Show REWET OF COMMIBBIONEB OF INDIA?J AFFbIBB. XXV other statistics and statements in regard to Indian edueation are given in detail in the report of the superintendent of Indian sohools here-with, pages lix tooxlii. The above figures show that the attendauce at all of the schools has been largely increased this year over that of last year, and that the per cent. of increase is larger in t,be. boarding school^ and dag schools under agency supervision than in tbe other schools. This office has used all diligence to introduce school books among the Indian pupils in accordance with the spirit of the late act of Congress requiring the use in the public schools of such text-books as teach the baneful influences of ardent spirits and narwtiea on the human sjstem I am thoroughly satisfied of the wisdom of the measure. As an incentive to make the best use of the educational advantages sffordea those pupils of both sexes who attend industrial instit'utions, I think it would be wise for Oongres to makean appropriation from which every Indian youth who shall graduate h m school aud marry an Iudim' maiden who haa also graduated may he assisted in settling down upon a homesteadof 160 aCres, iu purchasing a team, in breaking and fencing land, and in building a house. If the homestead is not on an Indian reservation the man should also have the privilege of citi-zenship, including the right of sntfraga Such a law would greatly en-murage Indian youths and maidens in their resistance to the evil and savage inflncnces of their untutored friends, and would do much to keep them from a return to savagelife. . DEPlbEDATION OLAUdS. In the Indian appropriation act approved March 3,1885 (23 Stab, p. 376), provision was made for the investigation by this office of Indian depredation claims, embracing not only unexamined claims pending at that date, but also all others in favor of citizens.of the United States which had already been examined and approved in whole or in part and remained unpaid, and which were chargeable against any tribe of Indians by reason of treaty obligations. This necessarily involved a careful review of previous office work upon this particnlar branch of business extending back td 1850, and embraced over 4,500 claims, ag-gregating $13,900,000. A large portion of the claims were presented for adjustment prior to the act of May 29,1872, which required that rules and regulations be prepared prescribing the manner of making up and presenting such claims. Consequently a preliminary examination showed that most of these claims were not made out in proper or legal form. It was also found that a large number bad not been submitted incouncil ta the Indians concerned, & required by Iaw and Department regill&- tions, and a vast amount of correspondence wm needed to bring ssch cases within Department rules and legal reqnirements before final action thereon could be taken. |