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Show 20 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. PEYOTE. A growing interest is manifested in the subject of peyote in its relation to the Indians. Calls coming from every section of the country for copies of the peyote pamphlet exhausted the first edition of 1,000 copies in the first few months. Another edition of 2,000 copies was printed and is being distributed in the same manner. Three States-North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana-passed laws during the year against the sale, transportation, and distribu-tion of peyote, making with Utah, Kansas, Nevada, and Colorado, which already had laws, seven peyote-prohibition States. ESTATES AND WILLS OF DECEASED INDIANS. A graduated fee ranging from $20 to $75 is charged for probating trust estates of deceased Indians and approving their wills, the amount of the fee depending on the appraised valuation of the estates. This work is conducted by a force made up principally of attorneys especially trained in probate procedure whose salaries and expenses are paid from a reimbursable appropriation. Last year 13 examiners of inheritance were employed in the field conducting hearings on reservations and the public domain. The fees collected and covered into the Treasury amounted to $81,749.40, and during the year 2,601 heirship cases, 215 wills, and 3,112 miscellaneous cases involving probate questions were disposed of. PUEBLO LAND TITLES. Proposed legislation to adjust title to lands within the Pueblos in New Mexico received the consideration of Congress during the last session. Extensive hearings were held by the Senate Committee on Public Lands and the House Committee on Indian Affairs. A bill drafted by a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Public Lands was favorably reported, passed the Senate, and was favorably re-ported by the House committee, but failed to pass the House during the closing hours of the session. It is conceded by all informed persons that legislation is neces-sary to settle satisfactorily controversies affecting Pueblo land titles and every effort will be made at the. approacFng se,ssion of Congress to procure the enactment of legislation to adjust this most impprtant and complicated question on a basis wiiicil will be fair and lust to the Pueblo Indians, as well as others who may have legal or equitable 'rights. INDIAN DANCES. A long-time tendency of the IFdians has been to gipe too much time to dances, ?owwows, celebrations, and genefa1 festive occasions to the interruption of their self-supporting duties, and these.meet-ings have frequently gven opportunity for excesses of one kind or another detrimental to thew moyal and economic welfare. To cor-rect this practice, a letter mas widely circulated among the Indians |