812 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



"Formerly funds were remitted quarterly to agents, even though their accounts 

 might not have been sent in for two or three years. Now remittances to agents are 

 not made, and the salaries of their employe's cannot be paid until their accounts for 

 the preceding quarter have been received in the Indian Office. 



" Formerly the unexpended balances of funds which remained in the hands of 

 agents at the end of a fiscal year were carried over by them to succeeding years until 

 their retirement from the service. Now balances are covered into the Treasury at 

 the end of each fiscal year. 



" Formerly agents expended Government property in such manner as they thought 

 best. Now sufficient reasons must be given for the disposal of any Government prop- 

 erty, and authority must be obtained from the Secretary of the Interior before any 

 expenditure can be made. 



" Formerly supplies issued to Indians by Indian agents were receipted for by the 

 chiefs. Now each head of a family and each individual Indian who is of age must 

 receipt for himself. 



" Formerly when annuity moneys were paid to Indian tribes in fulfillment of treaty 

 stipulations a large percentage of the whole sum was divided (or supposed to be) 

 among a few prominent chiefs. Now each individual Indian, including chiefs, receives 

 his per capita share. 



"Formerly flour was accepted at an Indian agency without any inspection. Now 

 it is inspected before shipment and again upon its arrival at the agency. 



fl Formerly when beef cattle were delivered at agencies two or three head were se. 

 lected by the contractor's herder and the agent, and by their weights an estimate 

 was made of the weight of the whole herd. Now the agent must render a certified 

 weigher's return for all animals received. 



" Formerly Indian traders were permitted to charge whatever prices they might 

 elect to put upon their goods. Now their prices are controlled by the Indian Office. 



" Formerly a trader might charge an Indian two or three times the price charged a 

 white man for the same kinds of goods. Now traders are forbidden to make any dis- 

 tinction in prices under pain of the forfeiture of their licenses. 



" Formerly the Indians were imposed upon through a system of brass checks, tokens, 

 and store tickets. Now traders are forbidden to use anything but money. 



"Formerly contracts were made with Indians for collecting claims againsf the 

 Government, by which attorneys took from one-half to two-thirds of the sums which 

 were collected. Now all contracts made with Indians must be approved by the Com- 

 missioner of Indian Affairs and the Secretory of the Interior before attorneys can 

 have any standing in the Indian Office; and if contracts are approved, attorneys are 

 obliged to show what services they have rendered before any payments can be made." 



CHANGE IN OUR INDIAN POLICY, 1869, 1870. 



President TJ. S. Grant, during his first term, inaugurated several 

 changes in our Indian policy, fraught with more good to the Indian 

 and the country than all the measures of years past. 



At the time of his inauguration, March 4, 1869, the superintendency 

 system — agencies with the various tribes reporting to superintendents 

 of a number of agencies and to the Commissioner at Washington — a 

 most vicious and dangerous system, with loose methods of contracts for 

 supplies, &c. — was the rule. There were some of these superintendents 

 with two agents, some with ten or more, under them. Generally the 

 Indian agencies in each State or Territory formed a separate superin. 

 tendency. 



The Indian tribes were considered nations from 1776 to 1869. More 

 than three hundred and sixtv treaties with Indian tribes are on the 



