OCR Text |
Show I REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 55 The expense involved often falls heavily npon the persons called upon to fnrnish the money, or if charged to the tribe, is an unjust tax npon those made to bear the cost of a trip in whose pleasure they have no share and from whose results they may derive little or no benefit. No small proportion of the visits of Indian delegations to this city accom-plish no other purpose than to give the delegates a pleasant trip at the expense of some one else. Not infrequently the outcome of the visit is a great disappointment to all concerned, because Indians om not understand the indirect-ness, delay, and complication of Government action. They send their representatives with the belief that a talk with the "Great Father" face to face will straightway secure what they desire, give them the information wanted, or settle the diffaences or right the wrongs com-plained of, and often they go back with little more accomplished than to be told that the matter will belooked into or that it must be submitted to Congress. The natural result is dissatisfaction and distrust. With delegations whose visits have been authorized beforehand, and who come for a well understood purpose, the case is qnite different. Instructions to agents to restrict unauthorized visits were issued July 3 last by direotion of the Department, and are as follows: DEPARTMENOTF TEE INTERIOR, Orslcr ow ImIan AFFAIRS, Washington, D. C., July 8, 1897. To United Statna Indian Agmta altd othw Ofloera in the Indian Smiea: The following letter *om the Secretary of the Interior in relation to unauthorized visits to thia city by representatives or delegations from Indian tribes is published far the information and guidance of all agents and other o6icers in the Indian service: DEPARTMENOTP TEE INTERIOR, Washington, June $9,1897. SIR: Your attention is called to the reprehensible oustom that has grown up in recent years of representetivee or delegations from Indian tribes making periodical visits to thia city on business with the Government without proper authority. This practioe has become so prevalent that the payment of the expenses of the dele-gations hears heavily upon the tribal funds, or is an iqjnstice to the public if paid from the Government moneys. Competent agents are pro~ided by the Government for the vorious tribes, whose duty i t is to transsot alltrib~lhusinesswitht he Department inthis city. There are few instanoes arising where the presence here of delegations is necesskaIy, sncl even in those instances your offioe and the Department should be apprised, in advance, of thenature of the business and offioial ssnotion obtained to the proposedvisit before it is made. The Depsrtment should he the judge whether the matters to he laid before it are of such a, character as to warrant the presence of a representative or delegation in every case. Desiring to limit these visits to the actual needs of the service, you are reqnested to oommunioste with all Indian agents and direct them to notify the Indians of their severalqenoies that it isexpected thst all business requiring depsrtmentalaction will he transaoted a t the agency; hut in cases where it seems important that theIndians , shall he personally represented before the Department a full statement of the case shallbe submitted for its informatiam and action, when, if the fsots warrant such a oonclusion, the neoeasary authority therefor will he given; and that the expenses of |