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Show COMMISSIONER OB INDIAN AFFAIRS. 21 I be used in conversation than would similar terms be with ladies and gentlemen of 0 t h races. I have not found it expedient or n e c e s q to lay down specific rules on this subject, as fie high sense of integrity and dignity in the splendid corps of field workers does not require it. REIMBURSABLE FUNDS. The reimbursable appropriations, amounting to $1,495,000, made by Congress for the purpose of encouraging industry and self-support among Indians has placed in the hands of the &ce an i n s b e n t by means of which thousands of Indians have been given an oppor-tunity to become self-supporting. While in the past the Indians have manifested some reluctance in requesting this money, and some still do, the majority, who understand the purpose of the Qovernment in affording them reimbursable aid, are now studying their own needs and asking to be supplied with appropriate equipment. There are some Indians, as among whites, who do not measure their credit by their needs and their ability to pay, but 'this plan will teach them financial integrity and inculeate'qmre buainess morals, with the mlt that they will be cautious in their requests for assistance and take better care of what they obtain through 'the these of reimbursable money than they heretofore have of property imed to them gratui-tously, knowing that the amount loaned must be returned. Many Indians h a ~ ebe en given reimbursable assistance and have used the loans chiefly in the purchase of live stock, agricuftural implements, seeds, wagons, hamess, sewing maclrims, lumber, doom and windows for the improvement of houses, wire for fencing, and wens. In a few instances rations have been purchased and sold to Indians for consumption during the period when they were preparing their lands for cultivating and planting their crops. . As a rule the Indians are very conscientious in regard to their accounts and make payments promptly. In a number of cases eer-tain Indians have settled their accounts before they were due, and still others have made partial' payments prior to the dates agreed upon. There have been cases where, by reason of crop failures, sick-ness, or some other unavoidable cause, some Indians found it di5mlt to make payments on the dates agreed upon. In all meritorious cases I have been lenient with the debton end have extended the time for payment, so that they might not become discouraged. Where the failure to return 'the money is not mxitarious, and these have b very few, the property was taken and resold 'to other Indians. In such cases the Indians from whom the preperty was taken have been required to make good the deficiency which resulted during the time it remained in their possesion, and the Indians to whom the prop* was rqold were charged with the appraised value at the time of ib , |
