128 REPORT OF ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS. 



has improved. Not only has the Department absolutely forbidden the making of " quass " on the islands, 

 but has also forbidden the giving of intoxicants to the natives. I am in favor of permitting the limited 

 use of alcohol for medicinal purposes, but all such material sent to the islands either for medicinal or 

 scientific purposes should at all times be kept in the personal charge of the chief agents of the respective 

 islands. The physicians or other authorized persons who may need supplies of this kind for official use 

 should apply to the chief agent for the same, who would furnish the quantity needed, receive a receipt, 

 and make a record of its disbursement in the log book of the island. Public drinking should be absolutely 

 prohibited. 



SCHOOLS. 



The schools and teachers furnished for the natives have not been encouraged as they should be, 

 owing to a certain prejudice that exists and to influences that have been brought to bear on the natives. 

 This condition we also hope has been changed for the better — not temporarily, but permanently — and the 

 natives have been made to realize as they never have before the necessity for learning English. The 

 practice of sending the older pupils to the Indian school at Chemawa, Oreg., is splendid, and should be 

 encouraged at every opportunity. The education of the growing generation will mean much toward solving 

 some of the problems that now beset the Department. 



WAGES, SUPPLIES, AND RATIONS. 



The question of payment for natives' services and the matter of how much and what supplies and 

 rations should be furnished to them by the Government is a most important one. The conditions in the 

 past, brought about by certain circumstances (some beyond the control of the Government), have made 

 considerable confusion and dissatisfaction. We want to help these men and women to be more self- 

 reliant and responsible; therefore some systematic and tangible plan must be worked out and adhered 

 to which will make them realize that there is permanency and stability to the system on which they depend 

 for their livelihood. Years ago, when the leasing companies were carrying on commercial killing of seals ; 

 the natives were paid so much per skin. In other words, for every seal they killed and skinned they 

 received a stipulated amount. Along with the reduction in the number of seals killed, conditions relative 

 to their pay and supplies or rations had to be adjusted. The inaccessibility of the islands and the mis- 

 understandings resulting from very vague reports to Washington as to the true conditions have produced 

 much discomfort on both sides. Until commercial killing is resumed it is no doubt a fact that the Gov- 

 ernment must to some extent continue to furnish food and clothing without cost to the natives. But the 

 matter presents itself very clearly to me that they should understand what they are to receive pay for 

 and on what basis. I believe it is as necessary to encourage these Aleuts to better work as it is to encourage 

 a mechanic in the city; therefore, those that are skilled should receive more per hour than the younger 

 or unskilled ones who do not understand any valuable or special line of work. I feel that the natives 

 should be paid hereafter for all their work and in return they should buy all their supplies and rations 

 from the Government. When commercial killing is resumed this suggestion can be carried out to the 

 letter; but until the time arrives when there will be enough work to assure their earning a livelihood a 

 certain amount must be given them by the Government. I think the inauguration of such a system will 

 prove very advantageous and place matters on a better business basis, and be satisfactory to every one 

 concerned. The old system now in vogue of charging the natives 33^3 per cent advance on all supplies 

 and rations purchased by them is wrong and should be abandoned. 



To-day a number of the men have specific duties the year round, such as attending the horses, cows, 

 reindeer, boats, etc. These men are much underpaid. For example, the man on St. Paul Island who 

 attends to the horses and cows, and who works long hours, receives $15 per month; the natives who attend 

 to the boats and launches are worth a higher wage than $5 per month; and likewise the reindeer herders, 

 who in winter sometimes spend days looking after these herds and seeing that they are all right, should 

 receive more than the $2.50 per month apiece. Not only are the wages too small for this steady and 

 stipulated work, but where the just grievance comes is in the fact that while these men are earning such 

 meager salaries per month other men on the islands are doing work at 25 cents an hour, earning more in 

 the aggregate than these men get for specific duties which are likely to preclude their taking part in the 

 general work. 



