All of the provisions of the act for the relief of Indians occupying railroad lands in Arizona, New Mexico, or California, approved March 4, 1913 (37 Stat. L., 1007), as extended by the act of April 11, 1916 (39 Stat. L., 48), are extended for a period of one year from and after the 4th day of March, 1919.

Where restricted Indians are in possession or control of live stock purchased for or issued to them by the Government, or the increase therefrom, such stock shall not be sold, transferred, mortgaged, or otherwise disposed of, except with the consent in writing of the superintendent or other officer in charge of the tribe to which the owner or possessor of the live stock belongs, and all transactions in violation of this provision shall be void.

Twenty thousand dollars is appropriated for relief of distress among the Seminole Indians in Florida.

Sixty thousand dollars is appropriated from the tribal funds of the Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, to be expended in the erection or purchase of homes for Chippewa Indians whose homes were destroyed by forest fires.

Twenty thousand dollars is appropriated from the tribal funds of the Chippewa Indians of Minnesota to be expended for the construction and repair of roads on the Chippewa and ceded Indian reservations in the State of Minnesota.

Ten thousand dollars is appropriated from the funds on deposit to the credit of the Red Lake Band of Indians in the State of Minnesota, to be expended in the construction of roads and bridges on the Red Lake Reservation.

Sixty thousand dollars is appropriated for the purpose of paying the amounts assessed against tribal and allotted lands of the Indian reservations of Minnesota on account of benefit accruing to said lands by reason of the construction of a drainage ditch or ditches under the laws of Minnesota.

Three hundred and seventy five thousand dollars is appropriated for the Flathead irrigation project; $100,000 is appropriated for the Fort Peck irrigation project, and $50,000 is appropriated for the Blackfeet irrigation project, all in Montana.

The act of March 1, 1907 (34 Stat. L., 1015-1035), as relates to the disposal of surplus unallotted lands within the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, is repealed and authority is granted to make allotments under existing laws within the said Blackfeet Reservation to any Indians of said tribe not heretofore allotted, living six months after the approval of this act and thereafter to prorate all unallotted and otherwise unreserved lands among the Indians who have been allotted or may be entitled to rights within said reservation.

Twenty five thousand dollars is appropriated for road and bridge construction on the Mescalero Reservation in New Mexico.

Thirty-five thousand dollars is authorized for expenses in connection with oil and gas production in the Osage Reservation, Okla. A per capita payment not to exceed $200 to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes of Indians of Oklahoma is provided for.

The unsold and forfeited tracts of coal and asphalt deposits in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations are to be reoffered for sale between September 15, 1919, and November 15, 1919.

Claims against the Creek and Seminole Nations, including claims to unpaid per capita and equalization money, must be filed not later than one year from June 30, 1919.

A per capita payment of not to exceed $25 to the Rosebud Sioux Indians is authorized and $25,000 of the tribal funds of the Rosebud Sioux Indians is authorized for the purchase of cattle.

The sum of $12,000 is authorized to aid the public schools in Uintah and Duchesne Counties, Utah.

The sum of $500,000 is appropriated for the Wapato irrigation project, Yakima Reservation, Wash.

The sum of $75,000 is appropriated for beginning the construction of the irrigation system on Indian land adjacent to Toppenish and Simcoe Creeks, Yakima Reservation, Wash.

The sum of $2,509,895 is appropriated from the trust funds of the several tribes for their support and civilization.

Authority is granted for the leasing of certain portions of Indian reservations for the mining of metalliferous minerals.

Hereafter no public lands of the United States shall be withdrawn by Executive order, proclamation, or otherwise, for or as an Indian reservation except by act of Congress.

COURT DECISIONS.

There were a number of decisions affecting Indian matters, rendered by the Supreme Court of the United States the past year. Some of the most important were:

Gabe E. Parker v. Tootie Riley, a minor, et al.-Where an allottee, a full-blood Creek Indian, died November, 1908, leaving a husband and two children, one of the children born after March 4, 1906, in the settlement of conflicting claims of the heirs to royalties collected and accruing under an oil and gas lease for her homestead, this question arose:

Did the approval of the oil and gas lease by the Secretary remove the restrictions and thereby immediately vest the royalties accruing under the lease in the heirs, or were the royalties to be held under Departmental supervision, for the benefit of the minor born subse

quently to March 4, 1906, under section 9 of the act of May 27, 1908, until 1931, the end of the restriction period. Court held restrictions not removed, but that the royalties descended to the heirs in the same manner as the homestead and that the minor born subsequently to March 4, 1906, was entitled for her support to the exclusive use of the entire homestead until April 26, 1931; that is to say, the interest or income which might be obtained by properly investing same during said period, namely, until April 26, 1931, leaving the principal, like the homestead, to go to the heirs at the end of that time.

United States v. Suda Reynolds.-The question presented was, whether the trust period began to run from the date of the approval of the schedule of allotment or from the date of the trust patent. The court, speaking through Justice Pitney, said, "While the matter s not free from doubt, we have reached the conclusion that by the better construction the period begins and dates from the issuance of the patent and not from the approval of the schedule."

Seufert Bros. v. U. S. Trustee et al.-The question at issue was whether the treaty of June 9, 1855, with the Yakima Tribe of Indians, ceding to the United States lands occupied by them on the north side of the Columbia River, in the Territory of Washington, and reserving to the Indians the right of taking fish at all usual and accustomed fishing places in common with citizens of the Territory, gave them the right to fish in the country of another tribe on the south or Oregon side of the river.

Held that, they had the right to fish in common with citizens of the United States at the usual and accustomed fishing places on the south bank or shore of the Columbia River.

Kenny v. Miles. The court held that where an Osage Indian died, without the restrictions having been removed from his lands, a partition by the heirs (where the heirs were Indians) was of no effect until approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

PURCHASE AND TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES.

Purchases covered about the same line of goods as heretofore, the usual standard of quality being maintained with a lessening in quantity in some directions in an effort to economize to offset the steadily increasing cost. Particular care was exercised, however, to see that food supplies, clothing, fuel, and other necessities were amply provided. In some classes of goods, particularly where production was below normal or the tonnage exported large, it was rather difficult at times to obtain the necessary quantities. However, practically all of our requirements ultimately were filled. As long as the regulations of the United States Food and Fuel Administrations, together with those of the War Industries Board and other controlling

organizations were in effect, they were strictly complied with in the Indian Service. Since the creation in the War Department of the director of sales office, the Indian Office has closely cooperated with it through its surplus property division. For a short time after the cessation of war activities, there seemed to be a lessening demand on the outside for certain lines of supplies, which had a tendency to increase the interest in Government business, including our own, but this covered only a short period, after which the reverse applied. As a result, competition was not as keen as we would have liked it to be. Prices generally have been high, but it is believed those obtained compared favorably with purchases made elsewhere under similar conditions. The service has not felt any serious effects during the year through car shortage or freight congestion. Supplies moved regularly and in good order. Where in the very few instances it was necessary to take special measures to secure equipment, the United States Railroad Administration aided us promptly and in every way practicable. An energetic effort was put forth during the year to use up all surplus property in the service, and as a result considerable saving was made.

THE INDIAN EXHIBIT AT THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT EXPOSITION.

The Indian exhibit at the Interior Department Exposition held in this city May 19-31, 1919, consisted of enlarged photographs showing the educational and industrial progress of the Indians; how they helped to win the war by service in the Army and Navy, the purchase of Liberty bonds, Red Cross work, and food production. Specimens of native Indian handicraft, such as beadwork, hand embroidered garments, artistic designs in laces and bags and various similar articles made by Indian pupils were shown; also canned and preserved fruits and vegetables, and many interesting products of the domestic science and art classes and the mechanic art shops of the Indian schools.

CONCLUSION.

The purpose underlying the creation of this bureau is the preparation of Indians by education along industrial, moral, and civic lines for assuming the duties, responsibilities, and privileges of American citizens. This year's record shows a notable advance toward the accomplishment of this object.

Your continuous sympathetic cooperation is much appreciated. Very respectfully,

The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

CATO SELLS,

Commissioner.