Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1873.djvu/7

Rh friends of the new policy, and the various impediments which have from time to time intercepted and obstructed the operations of the Indian Bureau have not, therefore, discouraged the reasonable hopes of final success which its active friends have always entertained. Satisfactory progress towards the accomplishment of the ends sought to be attained by this policy has already been made, fully justifying the hope that it will eventually achieve the end in view.

As the Department progresses in securing the adoption of this policy, the impediments are developed and modifications in details are suggested as necessary to give it greater efficiency and adaptability to the work in hand. Among these impediments is the practice, which has obtained for many years, of paying annuities to certain tribes, in money, in accordance with treaty stipulations, in lieu of goods and subsistence stores. It seems to he an unvarying result of such payments in money that the Indians are in worse condition in every respect than if they received payment in goods and supplies, and it appears in many cases that those receiving the most money are in the worst condition. Money seems to brutalize instead of civilizing, as they are ignorant of its value and unable to use it with any discretion. The result is, that in a short time after the receipt of the cash annuities they are often found in a state of great destitution. The recommendation of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that such payments be hereafter made in goods and supplies, even if it be found necessary to modify the treaties to enable the change to be made, meets with my unqualified approval. In this connection I desire to refer particularly to certain moneys due to the Prairie band of Pottawatomies, as well as certain sums which are expected soon to be to the credit of the Kansas Indians, which, under existing treaty stipulations and laws, are required to be paid to said bands of Indians respectively. It is very desirable, in my opinion, that the sums here referred to should be held and regarded by the Government as funds for the civilization of these several bands of Indians; that it would be demoralizing, and therefore improper to pay said sums over to the Indians to be squandered.

I shall, therefore, present to the proper committees of each House of Congress, during the present session, bills providing that the sums of money here referred to he invested in Government bonds and placed to the credit of said Indians respectively, for the purpose of their civilization, to be used by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for that object, both interest and principal, at such times and in such manner as the President of the United States may direct.

It is likewise detrimental to the substantial improvement of the race that they are compelled to hold their lands in common. Such community of interest operates as a premium upon indolence and unthrift, and places a discouraging burden upon those who are willing to work and who desire to acquire property. As fast as practicable, and