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Show 1 REPORT OF TEE COMKISEIIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 45 who are duly authorized by the office, shall have the same authority and ahall per-form the w e du ties in regard to marriage records and licenses and the registration of Indians as are herein ~rovidedfo r dulv. a.~.a ointedIn dian aeents. It in the intention of this ollire toendeaver toobtain legirlation which shall extend ,,vrri~,dianrc -aervnti<mt~h e mar r im lirwsof the StsteurTerrirnrv within which the I reservation is located; hut whethersuch legislation shall be immediately secured or 1 not, the records, etc., above provided for should he opened at once and kept up to date with thk greatest care, mnce they will he most valuable if only for the purpoee i of determininz the. heirs to allotted lands. Agents should familiarize themselves with the marriage laws of the State or Territory and should endeavor to make the Indian familiar with these laws by conforming to them as nearly as practicable in carrying out these instructions. As soon as they can be prepared, the following books and blanks will be sent to agencies: 1. Registers of licenses and marriages after June 1, 1901. 2. A register of &I1 families. 3. Blanks for marriage licenses isaued by the agent. i 4. Blanks far certificates of marrhge returnable to agent. 5. Blanks for certificates of marriage to be given to persons married. 6. Blanks for certificates of marriage to frame and bang in the home. Any suggestions which you may wish to offer 8s to putting into operation the I above-described system of regiatmtion of Indians and of issuing licenses and record-ing marriages will be welcomed by the ofice, if submitted immediately, and will be i carefully considered. Respectfully, W. A. Jonm, i Cwnmissaow. , Approved: E. A. HlTCEcorn, Semdary. It will be noticed that the main points are the recording of mar-riages, registration of families, requiring that a license from some source shall precede a marriage, and providing that the marriage 1 forms and requirements of the State or Territory in which the Indians live shall be adhered to as closely as possible, and the Indians made familiar with them. Indian agents are authorized to issue marriage licenses, for the reason that without such autbority most agents would be practically unable to put these regulations in-force. 1 It is folly to insist or expect that poor, partly civilized people, with a limited knowledge of English, will make journeys of several miles to find town or county oEcials and then pay for marriage , licenses. But this does not in any way hinder Indians, especially allottees, fivm procuring licenses elsewhere according to State or Territorial law, and it will be noted that for a marriage between an Indian and some one of another race a license must be procured "in the manner prescribed by the State or Territory in which the Indian resides." . Of coursethese regulations will nor, enforce themselves, and, as with almost everything else in the Indian service, their successful operation will depend upon the Indian agents. But they give a strong leverage |
