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Show REPORT THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. DEPARTMENTO F THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAANFF AIRS, Washington, 8eptmber 5,1390. The SECRETARYO F THE INTERIOR: SIR: I ham the honor to submit the fifty-ninth annual report ~f the Oornrnissioner of Indian Affairs. IN GENERAL. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER. The law prescribes that the Commissioner 't shall, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, and agreeably to such' regulations as ., the President may prescribe, have the managemeut of allIndian affairs, , aud of all matters arising out of Indian relations?' He is charged with :, the annual disbursement of more than $7,000,000 and with the purchase and distribution of great quantities of subsistence, clothing, agricultural, B medical, and other supplies. He gives instructions to more than sixty ' * . agents, supervises t.heir work, examines their accounts, decides perplex- . . ' . . ingquestions arising constantly in the course of administration of agency . r affairs, and through them oversees in detail the various lines of civil-ization inaugurated among the tribes, farming, stock-raising, building of honses, Indian police and courts, social aud sanitary regulations, etc. I He determines upon the appointment and removal of over twenty-five i hundred agency and school eaployes, and appoints traders and physi-cians. Licensed trade among Indians is under his exclus~vec ontrol. Re considers and determines all questions of law arising in ref.e renee to Indian lands; the legal status of Indians with reference to each other and to white people ; the conflicts between local or State laws and tribal cnstoms, and between State and Federal laws ; also questions of citi- , zenship, guardianship, crimes, misdemeanors; the prosecution of persons for the sale of whisky to Indians j taxation; water rights; right of way |
