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Show I REPORT OF THE COMJIISSIOSEB OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 59 in making their contracts and to see that the prices agreed upon were reasonable and fair. March 9,1894, the President approved a list of 38 new allotments to the Indians of the Bad River Reservation, and March 22,1894, theoffice recommended that the President authorize the sale to Mr. Stearns of the timber on these 38 new allotn~euta upder the regulations, and at the prices named in the authority of December 6,1893. April 4,1894, the President granted the authority requested, and Mr. Stearns has filed a stipulation executed by himself and the City Trust Safe Deposit and Surety Company of Philadelphia (his surety on his ori-ginal bond) extending the stipulations of that bond to cover his opera-tions under the new authority. * One hundred and sixty-eight contracts have been entered into i between Mr. Stearns and the Indian allottees, and it is understood that he is actively engaged in the erection of his plant for logging and for the manufactare of lumber. So far as this office has been advised his operations on the Bad River Reservation have been to the entire satisfaction of the agent and for the benefit of the Indians. I I EXHIBITION OF INDIANS. During the past year nulnerous applications have been received ask-ing for authority to take Indians from reservations for exhibition pur-poses. In most cases I have refused to grant the requests. Many applicants for such authority have shown their untrustworthiness by being unwilling to file with this office the bond required to insute the proper payment and treatment of the Indiaus while away from their reservations and their safe return home. In all cases where engagements with Indians for exhibition purposes have been made, their employers have been required to enter into written contracts with the individual Indiaus, obligating themselves ta pay such Indians fair stipulated salaries for their services; t.o supply them with proper food and clothing; to meet their traveling and need-ful incidental expenses, including medical attendance, etc., from the date of leaving their homes until their return thither; to protect them from immoral influences and surroundings; to employ a white man of good character to look after their welfare; and to return them without + cost to themselves to their reservation within a certain specified time. They have also been required to execute bonds for the faithful ful6ll-ment of such contracts. Authorities of thiv sort granted during the past year by the Department are as follows: March 20, 1894, to Gordon W. Lillie ("Pawnee Bill") to take 35 Indians from Rosebud Reservation, S. Dak., to the Antwerp Exposition,. Belgium. The bond given by Mr. Lillie was for $10,000. March 23, 1894, toMessrs. Uody ('<BuffaloB illn)a nd Salsbury to take 125 Indians from reservations in North and South Dakota and Okla- |