A large portion of the employés are provided in accordance with treaty stipulations. As an aid toward civilization the following Indian forces are employed: Indian police.-By act of Congress May 27, 1878, provision was made for organizing an Indian police, not exceeding 50 officers and 430 privates,1 and in that year the Indian police was organized at thirty dif ferent agencies. During the year 1884 the force consisted of 784 officers and privates, at forty-eight different agencies.3 The duties of the police are to preserve order on the reservation, pro hibit illegal traffic in liquor, and arrest offenders; act as guards at ration issues and annuity payments; take charge of and protect at all times Government property; restore lost or stolen property to its rightful owners; drive out timber thieves and other trespassers; return truant pupils to school; make arrests for disorderly conduct and other offenses. The pay, in addition to rations, is as follows: Officers, $10 per month; privates, $8 per month.* Court of Indian offenses.-In 1882 the court of Indian offenses was instituted. It consists of three members (Indians), appointed by the Indian Office for a term of one year, subject to removal at any time at the discretion of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. No polygamist shall be eligible to appointment. The court shall hold at least two regular sessions each month, and special sessions may be held when requested by three reputable members of the tribe and approved by the agent. The offenses cognizable and punishable are: The "sun dance," the "scalp dance," the "war dance," and all other so-called feasts assimilating thereto; plural marriage hereafter contracted or entered into by any member of an Indian tribe under the supervision of a United States Indian agent; the usual practices of so-called "medicine men;" stealing and willfully abusing property; the sale of women; the sale or use of liquor." For the discharge of these duties the court receives no compensation. Where the Indians have been induced to undertake the task, the agent reports faithful service on the part of the Indians comprising the court of Indian offenses." Inspectors.-The office of inspector was established by act of Congress February 14, 1873. The act provided for the appointment of five in. spectors, to be appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate, at a salary each of $3,000 per annum and his necessary travelling expenses. His duties are thus defined: A statement of each inspector's expenses shall accompany the annual report to the Secretary of the Interior. Each inspector shall hold his office for four years, unless sooner removed by the President. Each Indian agency shall be visited and examUnited States Statutes at Large, Vol. XX, p. 86. Report Commissioner Indian Affairs, 1878, p. xlii. 3 Ibid., 1884, p. xvi. Regulations of the Indian Depart ment, secs. 577,578; and act of March 3, 1885. 5 Regulations of the Indian Department, 1884, secs. 496-499. Report Indian Commissioner, 1884, pp. ix-xi. ined. Such examination shali extend to a full investigation of all matters pertain ing to the business of the superintendency or agency, including an examination of accounts, the manner of expending money, the number of Indians provided for, contracts of all kinds connected with the business, the condition of the Indians, their advancement in civilization, the extent of the reservations, and what use is made of the land set apart for that purpose, and, generally, all matters pertaining to the Indian service. For the purpose of making such investigations the inspector has power to examine all books, papers, and vouchers; to administer oaths and to examine on oath all officers and persons employed at the agency, and such other persons as he may deem necessary and proper; to suspend an agent or an employé, and to designate some person in his place temporarily, subject to the approval of the President, making immediate report of such suspension and designation; and, upon the conclusion of each examination, a report shall be forwarded to the President without delay. The inspectors, in the discharge of their duties, jointly and individually, shall have power, by proper legal proceedings, which it shall be the duty of the district attorney of the United States for the appropriate district duly to effectuate, to enforce the laws, and to prevent the violation of law in the administration of affairs in the several agencies and superintendencies. 1 United States special agents.-The Indian appropriation bill of 1879 provided for special agents who are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior2 at a salary each of $2,000 per annum. Five are at present employed. Their duties are somewhat similar to those of the inspectors, and they are required to take charge of agencies in cases of emergency, being bonded sufficiently for this purpose. They report direct to the Indian Office. Special agents are also detailed by the Indian Bureau to make inves tigations in special matters pertaining to Indian affairs upon which information is desired, or to transact special business. The Board of Indian Commissioners.-The Board of Indian Commis sioners was organized under the fourth section of the act of Congress, approved April 10, 1869, entitled "An act making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian Department." This act authorizes the President "to organize a Board of Commis sioners, to consist of not more than ten persons, to be selected by him from men eminent for their intelligence and philanthropy, to serve without pecuniary compensation, who may, under his direction, exercise joint control with the Secretary of the Interior over the disbursement of the appropriations made by this act or any part thereof that the President may designate." Upon the appointment of the Commission, in accordance with this act of Congress, the President issued the following regulations "to control the action of said Commission and of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in matters coming under their joint supervision: " (1) The Commission will make its own organization and employ its own clerical assistants, keeping its "necessary expenses of transportation, subsistence, and clerkhire, when actually engaged in said service," within the amount appropriated therefor by Congress. 1 United States Statutes at Large, Vol. XVII, p. 463. 2 United States Statutes at Large, Vol. XII, p. 792. (2) The Commission shall be furnished with full opportunity to inspect the records of the Indian Office and to obtain full information as to the conduct of all parts of the affairs thereof. (3) They shall have full power to inspect in person or by subcommittee the various Indian superintendencies and agencies in the Indian country, to be present at payment of annuities, at consultations or councils with the Indians, and, when on the ground, to advise superintendents and agents in the performance of their duties. (4) They are authorized to be present, in person or by subcommittee, at purchase of goods for Indian purposes and inspect said purchases, advising with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in regard thereto. (5) Whenever they shall find it necessary or advisable that instructions of superintendents or agents be changed or modified, they will communicate such advice, through the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to the Secretary of the Interior, and in like manner their advice as to changes in modes of purchasing goods or conducting the affairs of the Indian Bureau proper. # (6) The Commission will at their board meetings determine upon their recommendations to be made as to the plans of civilizing or dealing with the Indians, and submit the same for action in the manner above indicated. * (7) The usual modes of accounting with the Treasury cannot be changed, and all the expenditures, therefore, must be subject to the approvals now required by law. (8) All the officers of the Government connected with the Indian service are enjoined to afford every facility and opportunity to said Commission and their subcommittees in the performance of their duties, and to give the most respectful heed to their advice within the limits of such officers' positive instructions from their superiors; to allow such Commissioners full access to their records and accounts; and to co-operate with them in the most earnest manner, to the extent of their proper powers, in the general work of civilizing the Indians, protecting them in their legal rights, and stimulating them to become industrious citizens in permanent homes instead of fol lowing a roving and savage life. (9) The Commission will keep such records and minutes of their proceedings as may be necessary to afford evidence of their action. The Commissioners appointed adopted the following minutes as expressing their views of their prerogatives and duties: The Commission, under the authority of the President, considers itself clothed with full power to examine all matters appertaining to the conduct of Indian affairs, and, in the language of its original letter of appointment, to act both as a consulting board of advisers, and through their subcommittees as inspectors of the agencies, etc., in the Indian country. And in their first report they further say: The board have entire confidence in the design of the administration to carry out the system of reform in the management of Indian affairs upon which it has entered. Nor do we deem it expedient that the Commission should be charged with the expenditure of any portion of the Indian appropriations or any responsibility connected therewith, further than is involved in their general advising powers. Thus the Board of Indian Commissioners, though at first appointed for a specified purpose "to enable the President to execute the powers conferred" by a single act, the commission has been continued from year to year by subsequent acts of Congress "with the powers and duties heretofore provided by law;" and in 1871 Congress enacted that all accounts and vouchers for goods or supplies of any sort furnished to the Indians, and for transportation, buildings, and machinery should be submitted to the executive committee of the board for examination, re visal, and approval. The examination of accounts rendered necessary an office in Washington, and the employment of an assistant secretary and one or more clerks. Every expenditure of money for the Indian service, either under contract or by purchase in open market, has been revised by the executive committee, requiring an examination of several thousand vouchers each year, involving the disbursement and transfer of five or six millions of dollars.1. The purchasing committee has devoted much time to the supervision of contracts in consultation with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and to the inspection of goods and supplies of every kind purchased in New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Paul, St. Louis, and other cities. Copies of all contracts are kept on file in the Washington office for the purpose of verifying the accounts when received for examination, and a record is kept of all vouchers, with the name of claimants, the amounts and dates in detail, and of the action thereon, as well as of all correspondence relating to Indian affairs. Subcommittees are appointed from time to time to visit the agencies, to hold councils with Indians, and to advise them respecting their interests, rights, and duties. Correspondence is held with religious bodies and an annual conference with their secretaries and representatives in relation to the missionary and educational work carried on by them. The Board of Indian Commissioners was constituted June 7, 1869, the President appointing the following-named gentlemen: Hon. William Welsh, Philadelphia, Pa. Hon. George H. Stuart, Philadelphia, Pa. Hon. William E. Dodge, New York, N. Y. Mr. Welsh was elected chairman and Mr. Brunot secretary of the board. In June, 1869, Mr. Welsh resigned, and in November Mr. Brunot was elected chairman and Mr. Farwell secretary. A number of changes have taken place in the board since it was first constituted, as will appear by the following list showing the names of The board was relieved of this duty of revising accounts by the act of May 17, gentlemen appointed from time to time to fill vacancies caused by resignation or death: MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS, WITH THIER POST-OFFICE ADDRESSES. The Board now consists of the following gentlemen: Clinton B. Fisk, chairman, 15 Broad street, New York City. E. Whittlesey, secretary, Washington, D. C. Albert K. Smiley, Mohonk Lake, N. Y. William McMichael, 265 Broadway, New York City. Merrill E. Gates, New Brunswick, N. J. John H. Chariton, Nyack, N. Y. William H. Morgan, Nashville, Tenn. James Lidgerwood, 835 Broadway, New York City. William H. Waldby, Adrian, Mich. William D. Walker, Fargo, Dak. For their services the members of the Board, with the exception of the secretary, receive no compensation. |