*Report covers twelve months from December 1 to November 30; all other figures for calendar year. During the civil war records very incomplete.

1900

9,337 90,879,889 10,774

The American Indian.

The annual reports of the agents of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1901 showed that the Indian population, exclusive of Alaska, was 269,388, distributed in the several States as follows:

The expenditures of the United States on account of the Indians in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902, was $10,049,584. The expenditures from 1789 to 1902, inclusive, have been $389,282,360.

The five civilized tribes, Indians and colored-Cherokees, 31,000: Chickasaws, 6,000; Choctaws, 16,000; Creeks, 10,000; Seminoles, 2,757; total, 65,757; total colored Indian citizens and claimants, 18,750; grand total.

Pueblos of New Mexico...

Six Nations, Saint Regis, and other Indians of New York.
Eastern Cherokees of North Carolina..

INDIAN AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS.

The following table contains a list of the Indian agencies and schools, with the names and addresses of the agent or superintendent in charge:

The Indian question has always been one of great difficulty to the Government. They are a little understood people, and the efforts to govern them from Washington have often been futile and mistaken. The Commissioner of Indian affairs has at last discovered, what every man who has been among them has known for years, that the indiscriminate issue of rations has been an effectual barrier to civilization; that the periodical distribution of large sums of money was demoralizing in the extreme, and that the general leasing of allotments, instead of benefiting the Indians, as originally intended, has only contributed to their demoralization. The present Indian educational system, taken as a whole, is not calculated to produce the results so earnestly claimed for it and so hopefully anticipated when it was begun. In the last twenty years fully $45,000,000 has been spent by the Government alone for the education of Indians, and it is a liberal estimate to put the number of those so educated at 20,000. His education having cost him nothing, he does not appreciate it. He does not know how to value it and in consequence, on his return to the ignorance and bigotry of his tribe, he almost invariably relapses into barbarism. The Commissioner contends, and with reason, that it is time to make a move toward terminating the guarnianship which has so long been exercised over the Indian and putting him upon an equal footing with the white man, so far as his relations with the Government are concerned. The function of the State is to see that the Indian has the opportunity of self-support, and that he is afforded the same protection of his person and property that is given to others. That being done, he should be thrown upon his resources. It then becomes entirely at his own option whether he will become a useful member of the community or not. Whatever the condition of the Indian, he should be removed from a state of dependence to one of independence. The way to do this is to take away those things that encourage him to lead an idle life, and, after giving him a fair start, leave him to take care of himself.

The Department in June last issued an order to the great Sioux agencies directing the agents to erase from the ration roll all those Indians who had become self-supporting, and, further, to issue rations to other Indians only in accord with their actual needs, and to inaugurate, whenever possible, the policy of giving rations only in return for labor performed, either for themselves or for the benefit of the tribe. At first the order caused considerable dissatisfaction among those affected, as was natural, but it was well received by the majority of Indians.

Statistical information indicates that the present system of industrial education, supplemented by a common school curriculum, is making steady inroads upon the inherited tendencies of these people. The Indian school system, which is a simple one, has prepared and will continue to prepare the Indian youths of our land for the duties and responsibilities of American citizenship.

There were fifty-seven Indian agencies in 1893, which were increased the next year to fifty-eight, dropping the succeeding year to fifty-seven again, since which time there has been no increase in the number allowed by Congress. In 1896 the number was fifty-seven, and for each of the succeeding years, including 1900, there were fifty-six. A material reduction was made in 1901, and a further one of four for 1902, leaving at present forty-nine agencies appropriated for.

The ultimate result of all Indian educational processes should be the preparation of the younger ele. ments of the tribes for the duties and responsibilities of American citizenship. By education they should be made superior to their fellows in the tribes who have not taken advantage of the opportunities presented by the Government. The results of the experiments so far made show that the average Indian girl or boy is doing as well in his environment as the same type of the American. The danger attending the education of the Indian lies in the Government's holding out places of profit in political life to those who graduate from the schools. But the general public is not justly called upon to support either Indians or whites under such circumstances. The schools, therefore, seek persistently to teach them to earn wages for themselves independently; to seek outside opportunities for work, and not wait for gifts of life to be handed to them unsought or not labored for. That they have been successful in this is shown by the fact that hundreds of Indians have left the reservations and are mingling with the whites in the eager struggle for existence.

The National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

The National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers is established for the care of volunteer soldiers who became permanently disabled while in the service of the United States. The branches are located as follows: Central Branch, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio; Northwestern Branch, Milwaukee, Wis.; Eastern Branch, Togus, Me.; Southern Branch, Hampton, Va.; Western Branch, Leavenworth, Kan.; Pacific Branch, Santa Monica, Cal.; Marion Branch, Marion, Ind.; Danville Branch, Danville, Ill.; Mountain Branch, Johnson City, Tenn.; Sanitarium, Hot Springs, South Dakota, for which appropriations were made at the last session of Congress.

State homes are at Youngville, Cal.; Monte Vista, Col.; Noroton Heights, Conn.; Boise, Idaho; Quincy, Ill.; Lafayette, Ind.; Marshalltown, Ia.; Fort Dodge, Kan.; Chelsea, Mass.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Minnehaha. Minn.; St. James, Mo.; Columbia Falls, Mont.; Grand Island, Neb.; Milford, Neb.; Kearny, N. J.; Vineland, N. J.; Bath, N. Y.; Oxford, N. Y.; Lisbon, N. D.; Sandusky, Ohio; Roseburg, Ore.; Erie, Pa.; Bristol, R. I.; Hot Springs, S. D.; Bennington, Vt.; Orting. Wash.; Waupaca, Wis.; Cheyenne, Wyo. The United States gives to each State maintaining a home for disabled soldiers and sailors $100 a year for each soldier and sailor cared for in a home.

The managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers are the President of the United States, the Chief Justice and the Secretary of War, ex-officio; General Martin T. McMahon, President, New York City; General Alfred L. Pearson, Pittsburg, Pa., Colonel John L. Mitchell, Milwaukee, Wis., Vice-Presidents; Colonel George W. Steele, Marion, Ind.. Secretary; Colonel E. F. Brown, New York City, Inspector-General; General Charles M. Anderson, Greenville, Ohio; Colonel Sidney G. Cooke, Herington, Kan.; General Thomas J. Henderson, Princeton, Ill.; General J. Marshall Brown, Portland, Me.; Major William H. Bonsall, Los Angeles, Cal.; Captain Henry Palmer, Omaha, Neb.; Colonel Walter P. Brown, Jonesboro, Tenn.

Labor Legislation.

Revised by G. WALLACE W. HANGER.

Chief Clerk United States Department of Labor.

Boycotting is prohibited by law in Colorado, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Blacklisting is prohibited by law in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Laws which may be construed as prohibiting boycotting exist in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Laws which may be construed as prohibiting blacklisting exist in Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island and South Dakota.

In California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin it is unlawful for an employer to exact an agreement either written or verbal from an employe not to join or become a member of any labor organization as a condition of employment.

Arkansas-Eight hours constitute a day's labor on public roads, highways and bridges.

California-Uniess otherwise expressly stipulated by the parties to a contract eight hours constitute a days labor. On any public works of or work done for the State or any political sub-division thereof eight hours constitute a day's work for all laborers, workmen and mechanics. A stipulation that neither of the above-mentioned classes shall be required or permitted to work more than eight hours a day must be contained in every contract to which the State or any of its political sub-divisions is a party. Twelve hours constitute a day's work for drivers, conductors and gripmen of street cars. Employment for more than nine hours in any one day is forbidden for those under eighteen years of age, except when it is necessary to make repairs to prevent the interruption of the ordinary running of machinery, or when a different apportionment of the hours of labor is made for the purpose of making a shorter day's work for one day in the week. In no case must the hours of labor for such persons exceed fifty-four in one week. This does not apply to those engaged in vinicultural or horticultural pursuits or in domestic or household occupations. Colorado-For all workmen employed by the State or any sub-division thereof eight hours constitute a day's work.

Connecticut-Unless otherwise agreed eight hours constitute a lawful day's work.

District of Columbia-For all laborers or mechanics employed by or in behalf of the District eight hours is a day's work.

Idaho On all State, county and municipal work eight hours constitute a day.

Illinois-Except on farms and when otherwise agreed eight hours is a day's work in all mechanical employments. This does not apply to service by the day, week or month.

Indiana-For all classes of mechanics, workingmen and laborers, except those engaged in agriculture or domestic labor eight hours constitute a day's work. Overwork by agreement and for extra pay is permitted. More than eight hours a day work is absolutely prohibited for persons under fourteen years of age. Kansas-For all laborers, mechanics or other persons employed by the State or any political sub-division thereof eight hours constitute a day's work.

Maryland-No mechanic or laborer employed by or on behalf of the city of Baltimore shall be required to work more than eight hours a day, except employes of the Fire Department, Bay View Asylum or the city jail.

Massachusetts-For all laborers, workmen and mechanics employed by or in behalf of any city or town in the commonwealth eight hours shall constitute a day's work. Employment of minors under eighteen and women in mercantile establishments for more than fifty-eight hours in any one week is prohibited, but this loes not apply in the month of December of each year to persons employed in shops for the sale of goods at retail.

Minnesota-Laborers, workmen and mechanics on public works are restricted to eight hours' labor on any calendar day.

Missouri-A legal day's work consists of eight hours. This, however, may be modified by agreement, and does not apply to those engaged in agriculture.

SO

Montana-A legal day's work consists of eight hours for persons engaged to operate or handle any firstmotion or direct-acting hoisting engine or any geared or indirect-acting hoisting engine at any mine employing fifteen or more men underground, when the duties of firemen are performed by the person engaged, also for any engineer operating a stationary engine developing fifty or more horse power when such engineer has charge or control of a boiler or boilers in addition to his other duties. The law applies only to such steam plants as are in continuous operation or are operated twenty or more hours in each twentyfour, and does not apply to persons running any engine more than eight hours in each twenty-four for the purpose of relieving another employe in case of sickness or other unforeseen cause.

Nebraska-For all classes of mechanics. servants and laborers, except such as are engaged in farm or domestic labor, eight hours constitute a day's work.

New Jersey-On any day when a municipal or general election is held eight hours constitute a day's work. New Mexico Eight hours constitute a day's labor on the public highways.

New York-For all classes of employes, except in farm or domestic work, eight hours constitute a day. except on work for or by the State or a municipal corporation. Overwork for extra pay is permitted. The faw applies to those employed by or for the State or a municipality, and every contract to which either of these are a party must contain a stipulation that no workman, laborer or mechanic shall be permitted or required to work more than eight hours in any one day, except in cases of extraordinary emergency.

Ohio-In all engagements to labor in any mechanical, manufacturing or mining business, unless otherwise expressly stipulated, eight hours constitute a day's work, except in case of conductors, engineers, firemen and trainmen of railroads, where it is ten. The service of all laborers, workmen and mechanics em ployed upon any public work of or work done for the State or for any political sub-division thereof is restricted to eight hours a day.

Pennsylvania-In all cases of service by the day, unless there is an agreement to the contrary, eight hours shall constitute a day's work. In cases of farm work and labor in factories, laundries, renovating establishments and street railways this does not apply. In penitentiaries and public reformatory institutions, also all public works, eight hours constitute a day's work.

Tennessee-Upon the highways eight hours is a day's work, whether by convicts or free-road hands. Utah-On all public works and in all underground mines or workings, smelters and all other institutions for the refining or reducing of ores eight hours is a day's work.

Washington-On all public works eight hours make a day, except that in cases of emergency overtime may be worked for extra pay.

West Virginia--In the case of all laborers, workmen and mechanics employed by or for the State eight hours constitute a day's work.

Wisconsin-Where there is no agreement to the contrary a day's work shall consist of eight hours in all engagements to labor in any manufacturing or mechanical business. In the above lines no woman can be employed over eight hours a day. No person under the age of sixteen can be employed more than ten hours a day.

Wyoming-In all mines and public works eight hours constitute a day's work.

United States-All laborers, workmen and mechanics employed by or on behalf of the national government are required to work but eight hours a day.

Legislation by Fifty-seventh Congress.

FIRST SESSION,

The legislation adopted by the Fifty-seventh Congress, during the session which ended July 1, 1902, was more important in character than has been enacted during a similar period in many years. The aftermath of the Spanish-American war was naturally responsible for many of the important measures passed, and the commercial interests of the country were contributory causes to the character of many other laws that were added to the National statute books. In both foreign and domestic measures the session was notable.

Isthmian Canal Measure. The French Isthmian Canal Company, which controls the canal route across the isthmus at Panama, offered to sell all its rights and titles to the United States for the sum of $40,000,000, and Congress passed a law authorizing the President to purchase these rights, etc., if the company should be able to produce a clear title to its property. If this condition is complied with the President is then authorized to obtain from the Republic of Colombia perpetual control of a strip of territory six miles wide extending from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean whereon to construct the Panama Canal, and, if that territory is not sufficient for all requirements, the President is authorized to secure as much additional territory as may be needed. On the other hand, if the Panama Canal Company is unable to comply with every requirement regarding title, etc., the President is instructed to acquire as much territory as may be needed from Nicaragua and Costa Rica in order that he may proceed with the construction of the Nicaragua Canal, and Congress appropriated, in addition to the $40,000,000 for the purchase of the Panama route. $10,000,000, to be expended in survey and constructive work. In the event of the selection of the Panama route there is available for construction $135,000,000 more, but if the Nicaragua route should finally be selected the law appropriates $180,000,000 additional; the total sum appropriated for the Panama route being $185,000,000; for the Nicaragua route, $230,000,000. The money for the enterprise is to be raised by popular loan, for which purpose the United States Treasury is to issue bonds of small denominations to the amount of $130,000,000 at 2 per cent.

Philippine Legislation.-A law of utmost importance to the Philippines was that providing tariff regulations for the island. This law provides that while the tariff laws enacted by the Philippine Commission are to remain effective, a reduction of 25 per cent is allowed on all imports from the islands to the United States which are the product of the Philippines, and foreign vessels may trade among the Philippine ports. All duties and taxes to be collected under the act are to be held as a separate fund to be paid into the Philippine Islands treasury to be applied to the welfare of the islands.

Chinese Exclusion Indefinitely Extended.-The Chinese Exclusion Act in its original shape will remain in force for an indefinite period. The time limit for that act was about to expire, but the demand from the Pacific Coast for its extension was so general that Congress was obliged to retain it on the statutes. The exclusion laws are also to apply to the new possessions of the United States, with the exception of the territory of Hawaii, and every Chinese laborer now in those islands, except such as have complied with the law, must obtain a certificate of residence within a year, or submit to deportation to China.

National Irrigation Law.-Congress, in compliance with the suggestions of the President and others interested in the development of the western States and Territories, passed a law authorizing the Department of the Interior to set aside moneys realized from the sale of public lands in those States and Territories for a reclamation fund to be used in irrigating arid and semi-arid lands in order that they may be opened up for settlement. The law applies to the States and Territories of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas. Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Settlers are to occupy such land when irrigated, but the title to the irrigation works and reservoirs is to remain with the Government until Congress directs otherwise.

War Taxes Repealed. The War Revenue Repeal Bill disposed of all taxes imposed on commerce on account of the Spanish-American war, with the exception of mixed flour duties and the import tax on tea of 10 per cent. The latter expired January 1, 1903.

Oleomargarine Taxes Increased. The revenue taxes on substitutes for butter were increased by an act approved May 9. Any person who now sells oleomargarine or similar imitations of butter is held to be a manufacturer of it, and wholesale dealers must pay a revenue tax of $200; retail dealers, $6 per year. Wholesale dealers in adulterated butter are compelled to pay a tax of $480; retailers, $48, and a stamp tax of 10 cents per pound is also imposed on all such butter.

Barracks at Manila.-The need for suitable army barracks in Manila was recognized by Congress and $3,000,000 was appropriated to build habitable quarters for American troops stationed there.

New Buildings for West Point, Congress appropriated $5,000,000 for the new buildings at West Point. which were declared to be badly needed. These buildings are to be of most modern construction and will supersede the antiquated structures now at the Point. The latter will probably be removed, though several buildings of special historical interest may be preserved.

Naval Increase. The effort to keep this country in effective fighting trim was supported by the Naval Appropriation bill. which provided for additional cruisers and battleships. One battleship is to be constructed in one of the United States Navy Yards instead of by private contract.

For Forts and Batteries. The Fortifications bill provides for an expenditure of $2,000,000 for new gun batteries: $1,237.000 for rapid fire guns; $334,733 for large guns, and $90.058 for artillery practice.

Postal Improvements. The Post Office bill appropriated $500,000 for pneumatic tubes for transportation of postal matter, and $7,529,400 for the extension of the rural free delivery service. Of this sum $7.000.000 will be paid to carriers and the balance will be paid to clerks and special agents called into service by reason of the extension of the free delivery. The pay of such carriers is not to exceed $600 per year.

The President's Message.

President Roosevelt delivered his second message to the Fifty-seventh Congress on December 2. An

abstract follows:

We still continue in a period of unbounded prosperity. This prosperity is not the creature of law, but undoubtedly the laws under which we work have been instrumental in creating the conditions which made it possible, and by unwise legislation it would be easy enough to destroy it.

As a people we have played a large part in the world, and we are bent upon making our future even larger than the past. In particular, the events of the last four years have definitely decided that, for woe or for weal, our place must be great among the nations. We may either fail greatly or succeed greatly; but we cannot avoid the endeavor from which either great failure or great success must come.

We do not shrink from the struggle before us. There are many problems for us to face at the outset of the twentieth century-grave problems abroad and still graver at home; but we know that we can solve them and will solve them.

No country has ever occupied a higher plane of material well-being than ours at the present moment. Never before has material well-being been so widely diffused among our people. Great fortunes have been accumulated, and yet in the aggregate these fortunes are small, indeed, when compared to the wealth of the people as a whole. There are more deposits in the savings banks, more owners of farms, more wellpaid wage workers in this country now than ever before in our history.

Of course, when the conditions have favored the growth of so much that was good, they have also favored somewhat the growth of what was evil. It is eminently necessary that we should endeavor to cut out this evil, but let us keep a due sense of proportion, let us not in fixing our gaze upon the lesser evil forget the greater good. The evils are real and some of them are menacing, but they are the outgrowth, not of misery or decadence, but of the progress of our gigantie industrial development. This industrial development must not be checked, but side by side with it should go such progressive regulation as will diminish the evils. We should fail in our duty if we did not try to remedy the evils, but we shall succeed only if we proceed patiently, with practical common sense as well as resolution, separating the good from the bad and holding on to the former while endeavoring to get rid of the latter.