OCR Text |
Show 16 REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT 08 THE INTERIOR. on duty in certain cases, and they are expected to feed and care for their horses, as a rule, without additional compensation. With the changes which have come and are still coming over the reservations, the duties of the police have become more complex and difficult and the cost of living higher. Because of the low rate of pay, therefore, the most desirable Indians are slow to accept service as policemen, and as a re44 the force has deteriorated in both character and competency. It is believed that a much-needed improvement would follow if the pay of the police were increased, the o5cers to $25 a month and the privates to $20 a month; if not only rations were provided for each Indian policeman on duty, but forage for his horse, and if inexpen-sive but comfortable accommodations were provided for both police-men and horses near their post of duty. The proposed increase in pay would doubtless cut down considerably the number of policemen who could be carried on the rolls, but without disadvantage to the service, for fewer men, if carefully selected, would more than double the efficiency of the now underpaid force. There should be a change in the uniforms also. The blue suit now prescribed by the regulations is not so well adapted to the use of Indians as would be a khaki uniform like that now worn by the Indian scouts in the Army, while the dark-blue hat could be exchanged with advantage for the soft gray army hat. NETHOD OF FURGHASINO BUPPLIES. An important part of the business of the Indian Office which attracts little public attention is the purchase of suppliesnecessary to meet the demands of the service. This is done annually, and the labor and responsibility involved are greater than would be guessed at a first glance. Estimates are sent in by the several agents and superintendents in the early spring-of the things that they will need to carry on their operations for the coming year. These are tabu-lated, and then advertisement is made for bids to hrnish the articles called for. The classification of the things bought and their approxi-mate cost may be seen in the statistics of the fiscal year 1905, which are given here in round numbers for conveGence of study: Subsistence ----------.--.-------------$-76-7,-00.0 -.-.......---.---..... Class 1. Blankets .................................1.4,.40.0. .......... Class 2. Woolen and knlt goods --_..._.--_---<--- -5-7,-80-0 -.-----...-.. Class 3. Cotton goods -----------.---I ----..--92.,0-00- ~ .....-~ Class 4. Clothing . . . . . . . . . 198 ,000 Claes 6. Hats and caps --~--------~~-~----BBBB.BBBBBBBB.BB..B.... 24,000 Class 6. Notlons --__-_-.--.--.._.--.--21.,2.0-0 .----:-----------.-. Class 7. Boots and shoes ----.---------:-- ...-..-.-..---.--' ------ 83,200 I 8. c e 48,600 . |