OCR Text |
Show transportation facilities reaching into the Indian and more ' complete and rapid communication between the O5ce in Washington and its field representatives, superintendencies were abolished and agents came into immediate official contact with the Indian Office. Then began the breaking np of reservations into smaller territorial areas, each under a separate agent with a large corps of employees under his control. That condition continued until the last few years, when the disintegration of the tribes by the allotment of their lands and the education of their children began, ind, instead of entire tribes being dealt with as units, the individual Indians were substi- . ' tuted for the groups. This change of plan means increased work for'the clerical force of 1 . the Office, but more satisfactory progress for the Indian. The con-gress has wisely and effectively promoted the programme by enacting legislation, already discussed in my last report, enabling the Depart- I ment to give to any competent Indian his pro rata share of his tribal fund and a patent in fee to his land if he wishes them, to sell a noncompetent Indian's land for his benefit if it is obvious that the money n.ill do him more good, and to dole out to an Indian who is ~ physically helpless such part of his pro rata share of his tribal fund as may be required to provide for his necessities. As a final step in the disintegration of the old system, I have ~, inaugurated the policy of doing away with every agency possible and placing the affairs of small groups of Indians in charge of a bonded day-school teacher or farmer, who reports direct to this O5ce without the intervention of his former superior, the agent. I am thus able to come into direct official contact with the man who personally meets the Indians in their everyday life and can report on their con- ' dition and requirements from intimate bowledge. This w 3 more and more individualize the Indians and give them a home counselor who is himself the representative of the Washington Government. Their business matters, it is needless to.say, are more expeditiously and intelligently acted upon than through the-' former roundabout mechanism. To cite a recent example, there was until lately consolidated under an agent at San Jacinto, in southern California, a number of widely scattered bands of Mission Indians, living on small reservations. Five day schools are conducted at the homes of as many bands. Under the practice formerly prevailing the bonded officer at San . Jacinto relied principally for his reports to this Office on the state-ments of a day school teacher or farmer who was near the Indians, as it was only rarely, of course, that he-was able to visit his charges in person. ' This agency I have broken up into .five groups, each in charge of the day school teacher nearest the Indians. The teacher in each case gives bond and in all particulars assumes the responsi- - |