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Show 46 REPORT OF THE OOMMI8SIONEE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. to any agent who desires to elevate those under his charge; and if they are enforced with judgment, patience, and persistence they will do much to purify the moral atmosphere of a reservation. They will also accustom the Indians to usages to which they must conform when res-ervation lines shall be obliterated. Moreover, pending any general legislation extending State or Territorial marriage laws over Indian reservations, the records which are to be made can not fail to become of inestimable value for future reference. The book8 and blanks referred to in the circular, except the more elaborate certificate of marriage, have all been forwarded to agencies, and the replies from many quarters indicate a hearty accord on the part of agents with the purpose of the office and their intention to cooperate zealously in this effort to restrain vice and promote virtue in Indian con~munities. Sample pages of the register and license books are printed on page 630. To complete the system, books for recording births and deaths are needed and will shortly be furnished. So'far as relates to Indian allottees Oklahoma has wisely anticipated general legivlation by a law approved March 12, 1897, "Regulating marriages and' divorces among allotted Indians." This law, copy of which will be found on page 791, legalizes marriages existing at that date and divorces which had occurred previously according to Indian custom and legitimizes all the children. It provides that thereafter, as to licenses, mamiage ceremonies, marriage returns, and divorces, allottees shall conform to Territorial law. An Indian with more than one wife must designate one of them as his lawful wife, and if after July 1,1897, he cohabit with any other woman he shall be deemed guilty of bigamy. All probate judges are required to record, July 1, 1897, the names of Indian men who are married and the names of both their designated and rejected wives, the record to be legal and to be competent evidence in court. Why should not other Territories and States follow Oklahoma's example? Commonwealths founded on homes can not afford to be indifferent to conditions which undermine the family life of any class in their midst. I NEEDED PUBLICATIONS ON INDIAN MATTERS. For two years the ofice has urged that Congress make provision for bringing down to date and publishing new editions of three works which are sorely needed, viz, compilations of Laws Relating to Indian Affairs, of Executive Orders concerning Indian Reservations, and of Treaties and Agreements made with Indians. In making this recom-mendation for the third time, I quote from the last annual report: The latest edition of Laws Relating to I~lclian Affairs stops with March 4, 1884; Executive Orders Relating to India11 Keservations is brought down no further than |