REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. WASHINGTON, D. C., February 9, 1895. SIR: The Board of Indian Commissioners, pursuant to the act of May 17, 1882, respectfully submit their twenty-sixth annual report. Since our last report we have suffered a grievous loss in the death of our highly esteemed colleague, Hon. Elbert B. Monroe, of Tarrytown, N. Y. At a meeting held in New York May 31 the following minute was offered by President Gates, and unanimously adopted: Mr. Elbert B. Monroe has served on this board since December 17, 1891. He has shown himself deeply interested in all that concerns the education, the civilization, the Christianization of the Indians. His experience in business life in New York, his sound judgment, his gracious and attractive personality, and his invariable devotion to principle, and advocacy of the highest standards, and the most unselfish spirit in all dealings with the Indians have made him a valuable member of the board and have endeared him to us all. We wish to express to the members of his family circle our high appreciation of his character and our sense of personal loss in his death. We regret to report, also, the death during the last year of two former members of the board, Gen. George Stoneman, of California, and Hon. A. C. Barstow, of Rhode Island, the latter having served faithfully and efficiently several years as our chairman. The vacancy caused by the death of Col. William McMichael, in 1893, was filled, by the appointment January 29, 1894, of Hon. Charles C. Painter, whose long experience and service as agent of the Indian Rights Association rendered him a valuable accession to our board. But after serving a little less than one year he was suddenly removed by death. At a meeting of the board held January 15, 1895, the following minute was offered by Commissioner Garrett, and unanimously adopted: We were anticipating a career of great usefulness from Mr. Painter as a member of this board, when he was suddenly removed from works to rewards, on the 13th of January. He was in many respects peculiarly fitted for his position, having great vigor and energy in discovering and exposing abuses in the Indian service, zeal in the defense of the Indians' just rights, and perseverance in urging upon the Government and Congress important measures in their interest. His recent visit to the Pottawatomies, of Oklahoma, was the last undertaken by a member of the board. His long experience in the cause in connection with the Indian Rights Association made him one of the best informed men in this country on the Indian question, and he was not infrequently consulted by the President and Members of Congress on important subjects upon which they desired information in this connection. His loss will be severely felt by the board, and we sincerely sympathize with his family in their sudden bereavement. 3 PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES. As required by law, we have been present at the opening of bids and the awarding of contracts for Indian supplies, in consultation with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and we can testify that fairness and strict impartiality have been the rule in this important business. The number of proposals received and publicly read was much larger than in any previous year, amounting to 600, and the prices ruled surprisingly low. The vast amount of samples filling the warehouses seemed at first sight appalling, but with the help of competent experts all were carefully examined, and such selections were made as seemed best for the service. From the inspection which we have been able to make, we believe that the goods delivered have been fully up to the sample, and we hear very few complaints from the agencies and schools as to the quality of the supplies received. The sweeping charges of fraud in the Indian service which are sometimes published are founded upon traditions that have come down from former times. Last spring the contract business was divided between Chicago and New York. We can not see that anything was gained by this arrangement. It is true that some large classes of supplies are purchased at the West, such as bacon, beef, flour, corn, and agricultural implements, and the theory is that Chicago is nearer the source of supply. But many contractors and their agents assured us that it was quite as convenient to send their bids to New York, and it is evident that the division of the work involves a considerable increase of expense. But after the experiment of the last year the Secretary and the Commissioner will be able to judge wisely as to the future. FIELDWORK. During the year we have visited and inspected Indian agencies and schools in North Carolina, Indian Territory, Oklahoma, New Mexico, California, and the schools at Carlisle and Hampton. Reports of these tours of inspection will be found in the appendix. We invite special attention to the report of Commissioner James in respect to the condition and needs of the Navajo Indians of New Mexico, and to that of Commissioner Painter relating to the sale and lease of lands by the Absentee Shawnees of Oklahoma and the sad condition of the Kickapoos. CONFERENCES. As in former years, we have held public conferences with the secre taries of religious societies conducting Indian missions and schools, and other friends of Indians, at Mohonk Lake and in this city. The large attendance at those meetings and the earnest discussion of all phases of the Indian problem evince an unabated interest in the work of educating and civilizing the Indians. Full reports of the proceedings of those conferences are forwarded herewith, and we need only to invite attention to some salient points-the condition of the Indian Territory; the working of the severalty law; the leasing and selling of allotted lands, and the school question. INDIAN TERRITORY. The graphic picture drawn by Senator Dawes of the sad state of affairs in this Territory, occupied and owned by the Five Civilized Tribes, was to many a new revelation. Those Indians have so often been held up as models of civilization, conducting a wise self-government, supporting their own schools and courts of justice, and enjoying all the comforts of home life, that it was surprising to hear that the courts and legislative bodies are utterly corrupt; that the public school system is primitive and inefficient; that the lands belonging to the whole people by treaty rights are, to a large extent, absorbed by a few enterprising half-breeds, who have gained complete control, and pay no attention to the welfare of the great majority of the people; that crime goes unpunished, and that the white people who have settled in the Territory have no protection. But all this has long been a familiar story to us. We have repeatedly called attention to the deplorable facts. Twenty years ago, in our report for 1874, we said: The experiment of independent local governments on the part of those Indians has been tried for a sufficient length of time to test its practicability, and has not proved satisfactory in its results. A delegation of this board visited the Territory in December, 1874, and consulted with the leading men of the several tribes, but after a full and friendly discussion the Indians declined to take the initiative or participate in any movement leading to a change in their national condition or relations with the United States. The commissioners, however, after a full consideration of the subject, recommended that a Territorial government be established by the United States, the governor to be appointed by the President, and the legislative body to be elected by the people of the Territory. Again, in the autumn of 1882, our secretary visited the Indian Territory, and "the conclusions reached by him after several weeks of observation and extensive traveling in that country confirm the views presented in our report for 1874. The reasons which then existed for legislation by Congress for the better protection of the rights of person and property within the Territory still exist, and time has added to their force." In subsequent reports for 1884, 1886, and 1889, we repeated our earnest conviction that a better government than now exists is needed-a government including the whole Territory, and preparatory to its organization as a State and its admission into the Union. From time to time relief measures have been proposed and considered in Congress, but no legislation resulted. Now, however, an earnest effort has been begun to settle the important and vexing problem. A commission, authorized by the act of March 3, 1893, has been appointed by the President, and has been some months in the field endeavoring to persuade the people themselves to take the initiative, and consent to an equal allotment of their lands, and to the establishment of a Territorial government with a view to the ultimate creation of a State of the Union. This commission has failed, as their published report shows, on account of the selfish interests of a few leading men. It may, therefore, become necessary for Congress to exercise its sovereign power, abrogate existing treaties, and adopt such measures as equity and justice may require to secure the protection and welfare of all the people residing in the Territory, rigidly guarding all vested rights of property. That large tract of valuable land can not always remain in seclusion, and present conditions can not much longer be endured. The number of United States citizens residing, rightfully or wrongfully, in the Territory, is very large-some say 300,000-and is increasing at a rapid rate. A vast amount of property has accumulated in their hands. Many are employed upon the railroads and in mining; others are trading or raising stock, or cultivating farms. There are also teachers, ministers, and physicians, with their families. |