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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XXXV the Government and urging it on and snbstantially assisting it in the work of Indian civilization. The President of the United States, who haws constitnenoy of sixty millions, never uttered a sentiment more refleetive of the will of the people than when he said : The coneoienoe of the people demands that the Indians within onr boundaries shall he fairly and honest.ly treated, as wards of the Government, and their edocation and civilization promoted with a view to their ultimate citizenship. The justice and humanity of the Government have called out even from that wildest of tribes, the Apaches, expressions of appreciat.ion and approval of the course pnrsued by the anthorities in removing to a re- - mote place in the States, the small warlike band nuder Natchez and Geronimo. If we except the lawlessness, rapine, and murder among the five civ-ilized tribes, I do not hesitate to say that statistics will attest the fact that, in proportion to population, not half as many mnrders are com-mitted among Indians as among white people, taking any State of this Union for eomparison. It is true that under strict police surveillance the Indians are kept, so far as possible, from the influence of intoxicat-ing liquors. Possibly this may account for the comparatively few mnr-ders committed. Be that as it may, the fact remains that in thematter of crime and lawlessness the Indian does not suffer by comparison with his white brother. . CLERICAL POROE OX TEE INDXAX BUIUEAU; The business coming before the Indian Office is eonstantly inereas-ing. Statistics earefnlly prepared for the Senate sobcommittee ap-pointed to investigate the methods of doing business in the Depart-ments, show that the increase of work in some of the divisions of this Bnread during the past three years has exceeded 50 per cent. Civili-zation is complicated, barbarism is comparatively simple. As the In. dian puts on eivilization, the duties of the Burean, to whose charge hi8 interests are confided, become more complex, and asthe poiuts of con-tact between the Indian and his civilized neighbor become more numer. 011s there is a corresponding increase in the number of difficult qnes-tions as to relations and adjustments coming before the Indian Bureau for investigation and settlement. The running of railroads through Indian reservations, the allotting of lands on reserves and the locating of scattered Indians npon homesteads, the negotiations for cessions of t,ribtll lands, the establishing of Indian courts, the recent law extending *he jurisdiction of United States courts over erimes committed by TI-dians, in short, every application to Indian life of the int,ricate pro-cesses which belong to a high civilization, brings new labor5 and duties to this Bureau. During the fiscal year 1886 the clerical force in the office was re-duced to the lowest number consistent with efficient transaction of the public business, In jnstjee ts the service, I must urge the need of the |
