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Show 4 XL REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. and the number of trading licenses to be granted at each agency is de. termined by the amount of trade reported by the agent. . Traders are required to forward monthly, through the Indian agents, invoiaes of all goods received. The maximum amount of profit which may be re. alized on each article of merchandise is fixed by this office; the aver-age of profits allowed will not exceed 25 per cent, of the original cost of the goods ahd the freight. A schedule of the prices charged by the trader most be conspicnonsly posted in each store. ' If agents will co-operate conscientiously with this office in executing the above rules and regulations it oannot but effect the desirable end of providing the Indians with such articles as they need at prices which return only a fair profit upon the capital and labor invested by the trader, and of preventing extortion upon the helpless Indian, who, by reason of the remoteness of other Btores, ia often compelled to deal with the licensed trader. Some of the traders apparently have failed to understand the re-strictions imposed, and thereby have made the office considerable tron-ble. In some instances non-observance of the restrictions has resulted in a revocation of the license. On the w?ole, however, the present status of licensed trade among Indians is creditable and gratifyinn. But it is earn~stlyh oped that the necessity for white traders upon the reservations will soon be superseded. Under the law the full-blood Indian is guaranteed the right to trade with the Indians of his tribe, without the restrictions imposed upon half-breeds and white traders. It is the constant aim and effort of the Indian Office to make the Indian self-reliant and self-sustaining, and if this policy is persevered in, with the aid of the educational advant.ages available at almost every agency, I cannot hut believe that the Indians will at an early day acquire sufficient ability to manage the trading posts themselves and supply their people with such goods as they may need. SANITARY CONDITION OF THE IN~IANs. During the year a corps of aixtyaeven physicians has been active-ly engaged in caring for the sick a t the d~ffereuatg encies and training schools, and as a rule the men so employed have rendered very effi-cient service. As has been stated, physicians in the Indian service are. appointed directly by the office, upou 8atisfactorx testimonials as u, Qbaracter, ability, and experience. When it is shown that any one so appointed is incompetent or is careless in the discharge of his dutles, a change is made at once. They are instructed to use every effort to overcome the influence of the native "medicine men," and to educate and enlighten the Indians in regard to the proper care and treatment of the siek. The good etfmts of this policy are already quite apparent, for although many of the older Indians cling tena&iously to their time-honored rites and oeremonies, the younger members of the tribes have, to a great extent, abandoned them, and rely upon the agenoy J |