secure for the Isleta pueblo the land claimed by the Indians; that the Laguna allotments, made many years ago, be reviewed with the object of securing a more equitable distribution of the land.

PIMA INDIANS-COMMISSIONER ELIOT.

(Filed June 18, 1917.)

The Pima Reservation, reservation and day schools, Sacaton diversion dam and bridge on the reservation, Ralph E. Ward, superintendent. (See Appendix M.)

RECOMMENDATIONS.

That special efforts be made to secure the additional appropriation required to build the diversion dam with bridge superstructure across the Gila River at Sacaton; that a cottage be built for the reservation physician at Gila Crossing; that day schools be provided for Sacaton Flats and Cooperative Village; that a physician who is a specialist in trachoma and another field matron be permanently assigned to the Pima Reservation.

SALT RIVER RESERVATION-COMMISSIONER ELIOT.

(Filed June 28, 1917.)

Pima, Maricopa, and Mohave-Apache Indians at Salt River Reservation, Camp McDowell and Lehi, Charles T. Coggeshall, superintendent. (See Appendix N.)

RECOMMENDATIONS.

That provision be made for a larger water supply for irrigation.

SHERMAN INSTITUTE.

During the special meeting of the board at Riverside, Cal., we had abundant opportunity to make an examination of the Sherman Institute. We were favorably impressed with the large attendance of children, the excellent spirit which animated all their doings and the effective work of Supt. Conser and his staff. The main school plant covers approximately 40 acres, largely occupied by the necessary buildings, lawns, and playgrounds, and to grow the vegetables for student consumption it was necessary to rent some 40 acres contiguous to the grounds. The school farm is 5 miles from the main plant and of its 100 acres almost 10 are required for buildings, etc., so that the area under cultivation does not exceed 90 acres. Several miles from the school 190 acres are rented for dry farming on which barley and wheat are grown for hay.

We are of the opinion that at least 40 acres adjoining the school grounds should be bought so that larger quantities of food products may be grown for school use and we recommend that Congress be urged to appropriate at least $20,000 for this additional acreage.

TUBERCULOSIS IN OKLAHOMA.

We desire to direct your particular attention to the gravity of the health situation in Oklahoma as disclosed by Commissioner Ketcham, who investigated the ravages caused by tuberculosis among the Choctaws and Chickasaws. We feel strongly that measures should be taken at once to cooperate with the Oklahoma State officials in providing ways and means to segregate all tubercular Indians in the State not only to safeguard the unaffected Indians but their white neighbors as well.

PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES.

Commissioner Ketcham represented the board at the annual letting of contracts for Indian Service supplies at Chicago and St. Louis. He reported that prices uniformly were exceptionally high but in keeping with the general conditions found, according to common report, in other purchasing branches of the Government. In many lines goods were scarce and some of the manufacturers would not bid for long contracts because the conditions of the primary markets were too unsettled. Notwithstanding these embarrassing conditions most of the necessary supplies were bought.

The good quality of food supplies was maintained and, in other lines, quality was not sacrificed merely for the sake of economy. But much care was taken to see that articles which clearly were not absolutely needed either were bought only in part or not at all and substitutions were made where it was considered they would meet the wants and, at the same time, effect a substantial saving.

For instance, none but those schoolbooks which are essential for schoolroom work were bought, this effected a saving of several thousands of dollars. A considerable saving was made by buying but half of the vitrified chinaware. In the dry-goods line denim for curtains and table covers-purely ornamental uses of the materialwas eliminated and likewise the facinators used at odd times by Indian schoolgirls, counterpanes, and like articles which serve certain purposes but are unnecessary. Because of the much increased cost resulting from the high values of dyes, dark outing flannel was not bought, but the darkest patterns of light-colored flannel were substituted at a good saving. The war-raised price of indigo dye having almost doubled the price of indigo percale, none was purchased. Instead, noncrinkled seersucker was substituted, and it also was purchased in lieu of crinkled seersucker at a saving of several cents a yard.

Other savings were effected as follows: Opaque for window shades is to be bought only for new buildings. A cheaper line of leather work gloves was bought. Iron and steel requisitions were cut in half. A good grade of lard compound was substituted for the pure lard heretofore used. Khaki hats for the Indian schoolboys and the police were selected in place of felt hats at a saving of a dollar a hat and, wherever practicable, khaki and corduroy were bought instead of woolen clothing. The surplus stock of drugs in the service will be used to fill 1918 requisitions so far as they will go, for contracts were made only for enough drugs which, with the surplus, will meet the needs during the year.

Commissioner Ketcham was much impressed with the high character of the work done by the representatives of the Indian Office at the lettings and with the intelligence and good sense with which they met the difficult situations and abnormal conditions.

RETURNED-STUDENT PROBLEM.

For some years we have been painfully impressed with the large proportion of boys and girls who, after returning to their reservations from Indian schools, fail to put into practice what they were taught at the schools. In too many instances these so-called " turned students" not only do not show any progress, but actually go backward.

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In an endeavor to get at the cause of these failures a questionnaire, having the "returned student problem" for its subject matter, was sent to nearly 150 reservation superintendents and superintendents of large nonreservation schools. They were requested to give their views on the subject and a majority responded. Their thoughtful, interesting, and almost appealing letters leave little room for doubt that on every reservation there is a proportion of student failures altogether too large to be viewed with indifference. But, at the same time, the superintendents united in declaring that the percentage of failures grows smaller continually, a fact that warrants the assertion that our method of educating the Indians is achieving results though so slowly that progress may be measured in terms of generations.

In the opinion of almost all the superintendents the chief cause of the failures of returned students is the Indian reservation; its life and environment; its lack of opportunities to put into practice what is learned at school and the prejudices and conservatism of the old and uneducated Indians who easily influence the younger Indians, whose filial respect closely approaches veneration, and who are extremely sensitive to ridicule.

The Government takes the young Indian from his reservation, places him in a school, feeds, clothes, amuses, and educates him; then sends him back to the reservation, and, apparently, forgets him. The ex-student finds little or nothing at his home which measures up anywhere near the standard of living he had become accustomed to at the Indian school. Instead of encouragement he meets discouragement; instead of cooperation he meets antagonism.

We agree with the superintendents, and with the Indian Office, that there must be a decided improvement in living conditions among the Indians if the progress toward civilization, begun in the reservation and nonreservation schools, is to be hastened.

FIELD MATRONS.

There is at hand, in the Indian Service, a human agency which can do more to improve Indian home conditions than any other branch of the Indian Bureau. This is the field matron service, composed of women who go into the homes of the Indians and who daily are in intimate contact with Indian families.

In the last Indian appropriation act there is an item for $75,000 for additional field matrons. While this looks like a large appropriation it is entirely insufficient to provide and equip field matrons

for all the reservations which need them. The field matron service has never been properly appreciated. Perhaps this is because it is not organized along the most effective lines. The service seems to lack coordination in reservation activities, officials and superintendents apparently do not fully comprehend the scope of field matron work; and the field matron should have more authority and better transportation.

We are of the opinion that there should be in the Indian Office a "welfare" section devoted to the problems of the Indian women and children, and the head of this welfare section should be a woman. It is the purpose of the Board of Indian Commissioners to make a special study of reservation social service with particular reference to the returned students, and field matrons in the hope that, in a short time, there will be laid before you plans for reservation activities which may prove to be the solution of the whole returned-student problem.

On some of the larger reservations, where Indian homes are scattered over extensive areas, the number of family visits a field matron can make is measured by her transportation facilities. If field matrons were provided with automobiles, not only the number of their daily visits would be largely increased but they would be equipped to bring emergency cases to the agency hospital quickly and comfortably.

INDIAN LABOR IN ARIZONA.

A condition which should have immediate consideration touches Indian labor in Arizona. During the last two years there has been a wonderful increase in the acreage planted to cotton, and every indication points to a stimulated augmentation of cotton area in the irrigable belt. To handle the crop will require the employment of thousands of men and women, and the cotton planters are looking to the Indians of Arizona and adjoining States as a source of labor supply.

Accurate figures giving the acreage of the area under cotton cultivation and in development are not available, but members of the board who inspected Indian jurisdictions in Árizona this year had abundant opportunity to see the great agricultural development in what, a few years ago, was an arid and semiarid country.

Commissioner Ayer has given this subject his particular attention so far as it relates to the Indian, and his reports to the board show that the cotton country of Arizona promises to provide gainful work for a large number of Indians, even though they are employed only during the cotton-picking season. But this opportunity carries with it a situation which may develop into a serious problem.

If a large number of Indian workers are brought into this cotton country there will be gathered, in one section of the State, for a few weeks each year, hundreds or thousands of men, women, and children from all parts of Arizona and adjoining States; Apaches, Mohaves, Navajos, Pimas, Papagos, Maricopas, Yumas, and, probably, Yaqui from Mexico. These Indians will be without the oversight of their superintendents. They will, in a measure, be free from accustomed authority and there is danger, unless proper provision be made to care for them, that there will be duplicated in Arizona the dis

graceful and immoral conditions which obtain during hop-picking seasons in certain parts of the Northwest and berry-picking seasons in the Eastern and Central States.

We look upon this cotton development in Arizona as a hopeful opportunity to advance the Indians toward self-support but, at the same time, we recognize the fact that a mixed community, composed of members of several tribes who are temporarily without the safeguards of reservation jurisdiction, is apt to develop deplorable conditions.

We feel strongly that proper provision must be made now for decent living conditions for such Indians as may go to work in this section of Arizona. Houses, or decent tents, should be provided by the employing cotton planters and we are glad to inform you that Commissioner Ayer, who brought this situation to the attention of several of the larger growers, has their promises that not only will they build such houses but they will cooperate in any efforts which may be put forth in behalf of their Indian workers.

Although we are aware that the officials of the Indian service who are in close touch with this situation are alive, not only to the opportunities for the economic advancement of the Indians presented by the Arizona cotton industry, but to the problems which will spring from this industry, we urge the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to give this matter his earnest and immediate attention.

COMMISSIONER SELLS'S POLICY.

One of the principal features of the administration of Indian affairs during the year was the promulgation, on April 7, 1917, by Commissioner Sells of his "declaration of policy."

In brief, the commissioner declared the time had come for the separation of the full bloods and mixed bloods, for discontinuing Federal guardianship of all competent Indians and "giving even closer attention to the incompetents that they may more speedily achieve competency."

In his declaration the commissioner says:

Broadly speaking, a policy of greater liberalism will henceforth prevail in Indian administration to the end that every Indian, as soon as he has been determined to be as competent to transact his own business as the average white man, shall be given full control of his property and have all his lands and moneys turned over to him, henceforth he will no longer be a ward of the Government.

We heartily approve of Commissioner Sells's declared policy and desire to point out that it is in line with policies which the Board of Indian Commissioners has advocated, consistently and continuously, for more than a quarter of a century, and we believe, with the commissioner, that when his policy is transformed into the desired results the end of governmental administration of Indian affairs will be hastened.

RIFLE RANGES FOR SCHOOLS.

Some months before the United States declared war on Germany, Commissioner Ayer made the suggestion that rifle ranges be provided for nonreservation schools, so that the Indian boys might be instructed in target practice according to the methods of the Regular