| OCR Text |
Show For a number of years past provision has been made for the emptuy-ment of Indians as policemen to suppress traffic with Indians in intox- . icating liquors, to put down other forms of lawlessness, and to pre-serve order generally upon Indian reservations. The position is one requiring intelligence, discretion, and courage, and in the selection of policemen care has always been exercised to secure the best men pos-sible. .Owing to the meager compensation allowed this is no easy matter. A policeman whose entire time i8 taken up by hisofficial duties can not support a family upon his salary, $8 a month, and this is the highest salary that up to this time has been paid police privates. I I INDIAN POLICE. of fine; imposed by them. Such anomalies have, of course, lessened the efficiency of the courts. The appropriatiouact of June 29,1888, con- 4 hins the following item : 1 For compensation of judges of Indian courts, at anch rate ils may be fixed from time to erne by the Seoretary of the Iotenor, fire thonsand dollar~rs, or NO much,thereof . as may be neoessary. underthis legislation it is practicable to make important changes,and improvements in the organization of the "courts of Indian offensesn and the methods adopted therein, and it is my purpose to revise the d e s and regulations now in force regarding them. In order to acquaint the Indians with the jury system, it should be applied in these courts in a manner conforming as nearly as possible to the law of the land on the subject, in all cases of sufficient importance which do not fall within the provisions of the ninth section of the act of March 3,1885 (23 Stat., 385), and especially when a jury is demanded by aither party. An appeal should lie to this office in a11 cases. ' Each court should have a marshal, who shonld be an Indian, whose duties should be clearly defined, and who shonld have reasonable com- . pensation for his time and services. The judges of these courts shoold have increased compensation com-inensorate with the duties, responsibility, and dignity of their positions, and Congress should appropriate funds td pay the sa,laries of judges and other proper and necessary expenses. The fines collected should be used for improvements on the reserva- . . tions, snch as repair of roads, building bridges, the maintenance of hospitals, 'etc. No officer of the police force should be allowed to sit as a juryman, or to act in the capacity of a judge or marshal. It will be my aim to. establish these courts at, agencies where uone have yet been put in'operation, and to increase the usefctlncss of those already established. To do this an increased appropriation will be necessary, and I have estimated for the sum of $28,000 for the ensuing fiscal year. 1 |
