226 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



on hand and those hereafter to arise. The evils of a large class of people among the 

 Indian people amenable to no law cannot be overestimated. 



The intruders may be classed into those innocently coming into the country, not 

 knowing that it is unlawful; those fraudulently pretending to be of Indian blood; 

 those persistently and willfully defying and evading the authorities simply for the 

 privilege of living in the Indian country; escaped criminals and felons from the 

 States seeking refuge here. Along the border the intruders steal timber and coal 

 and use the Indian grass without compunction. 



Since taking charge of this agency I have suggested a plan, and am putting it in 

 operation, of deputizing several members of the Indian police force for each nation to 

 make the intruder question their special business, making a descriptive list of in- 

 truders, and acting under direction of this office strictly, but paid a special salary 

 by the nations for whom they work. 



The salary paid by the Government of $8 per month is not enough to support them 

 and their families while riding constantly on this service over a wide scope of country. 

 It would not pay the expenses of a single week. The danger and labor must be paid 

 for or else the men cannot be obtained. This plan is practical and will enable an ele- 

 ment to be controlled which has not been controlled heretofore, and which has been 

 a source of many serious difficulties and crimes. 



CRIMES. 



Crimes in the nations are diminishing steadily, owing largely to the efficient 

 manner in which the court at Fort Smith, Ark. (the Federal district court for 

 the western district of Arkansas), is conducted. There they capture, try, convict, 

 and sentence the criminal "with neatness and dispatch." It is dreaded by the crim- 

 inal class and admired by law-abiding citizens. 



The efficiency of the Indian courts in punishing crime among their own citizens is 

 gradually improving, but is as yet by no means perfect. The criminal jurisdiction of 

 the courts, however, reaches all classes except that favored man, the disputed claim- 

 ant for Indian citizenship, who may kill or be killed by Indians without any court 

 exercising jurisdiction. 



AGENT'S JURISDICTION. 



The United States agent is kept busy trying to determine who are intruders, of the 

 great number reported to the agency as such; then putting them out the limits of 

 the agency; and, lastly, keeping them out with a United States Indian police force, 

 paid $8 a month, out of which each man must furnish his own horse, saddle, and 

 bridle, pay his own expenses, and care for his family in a luxurious manner, if he 

 chooses to do so. The United States is available for this purpose, but it is like using 

 a sledge-hammer to fan away the flies with — strong enough to crush the fly, but not 

 nicely adjusted to the business. 



Where men are charged with evading their just obligations by coming into or stay- 

 ing in the Indian Territory, he is required to put them and their effects across the 

 line, where they may bo subject to civil law. He also decides very many civil dis- 

 putes arising between United States citizens alone, and between United States citi- 

 zens and Indians, acting as arbitrator, and geuerally supervises the intercourse with 

 the Indians agreeably to law and the regulations of the Indian Department. It is 

 his duty further to prevent crime and assist in the arrest and delivery of criminals, 

 to supervise the intercourse of Indians with each other, to pay out per capitas where 

 it may be due from the Government to the Indians in the limits of the agency, and 

 conduct such investigations as may be referred to him by the honorable Secretary of 

 the Interior Department. 



POLICE. 



The Indian police consists of 40 privates and 3 officers, who are located at different 

 points throughout the limits of the agency, so as to make the force as efficient as po&- 



