REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D. C., August 15, 1929. The honorable the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: I have the honor to submit herewith the report of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the fiscal year 1929, covering the activities of the service prior to my entrance on duty July 1, 1929. Since taking office the new commissioner and his associate have been actively occupied in familiarizing themselves with the problems involved. We are impressed with the variety and complexity of administrative details which often prevent a clear view of the real objective of the Indian Service. We are determined to keep the goal before our personnel and the public to the end that the increased funds and trained personnel absolutely needed may be secured. The cost of Indian education and care of health obviously must exceed that of similar services amongst the white population, yet heretofore the appropriations, particularly for food, clothing, and vocational training, have never been adjusted to postwar costs. Prior administrations have reported this situation, but the data now in hand convince us that as a mere economic problem it will save the taxpayers money to grant at once larger appropriations to the Indian Service and to continue this policy for several years, to the end that the Indian may soon be able to contribute his share to the life of the Nation. CORRELATION BETWEEN THE WASHINGTON OFFICE AND THE FIELD SERVICE In the report of the commissioner for the fiscal year 1928 mention was made of the conditions existing in the Washington office and its relations with the field. So far as the present clerical force is inadequate to perform the work incumbent upon it and retardation or inefficiency occurs, conditions remain as before. For the best interests of the Indian Service, and especially that the assistance to or direction of the field units may be prompt, remedial, and conclusive, better provision for the accomplishing of the work continues to demand consideration. Advice was issued to the field directing curtailment of correspondence, and this to some extent has been effected. Consistent with application of the policies of the service and with its prior plans for the future improvement of its field work and its schools, superintendents of units should administer their institutions and attend to the details thereof and assume responsibility therefor. Should they not measure up to this responsibility, so far as financing permits, a definite field reorganization would appear essential. There should be available in the office time and resources for study of the major field problems and of important data and for formulation of constructive measures now forced aside by pressure of current routine work. PERSONNEL During the year the efforts of the bureau have been directed toward the strengthening of the personnel of the field service. The requirements for qualification for civil-service examinations for teaching positions have been made more difficult and the educational standards for the position of principal have been raised. Now the possession of a degree is a prerequisite for examination and appointment to this position for persons not already in the service. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 325, Indians have been given a classified civil-service status, effective April 1, 1929, but after that date Indians entering the service, except in certain minor positions, are required to qualify in open competitive examination. Certain preferences are allowed, however, in compliance with existing law requiring that Indians shall be employed whenever practicable. Încreased salaries allowed in conformance with existing reclassification laws have proven of noticeable benefit to the service in giving a more contented and efficient personnel. HEALTH There has been progress in the general medical work of the service during the year. The Indian people are increasingly responding to their medical needs; that is to say, an increasing number of Indians are seeking appropriate relief for medical and surgical conditions. Likewise, progress is being made in matters relating to disease prevention and public health. This is becoming manifest in connection with the activities of health workers, as well as of lay personnel within Indian reservations. Greater interest is being developed in Federal, State, county, and municipal health organizations, as well as by voluntary agencies. Closer cooperative health activities are being developed in many States having large Indian populations. In many instances members of the health personnel of the Indian Service are working in conjunction with or under the direction of similar organized health agencies of these States and counties. In this general health work the Indians themselves are believed to be showing a responsive interest. The Association of State and Provincial Health Authorities of North America has appointed a committee on Indian health and through this committee information regarding Indian health matters is being disseminated to State and local health agencies where Indians reside. Diagnostic, laboratory, and clinic facilities of these various organizations are being made known and available to health agencies of the Indian Service, all of which is conducive to a more complete and thorough health program in all sections of the Indian country. Trachoma, tuberculosis, and diseases of infancy and childhood continue to constitute the outstanding health problems affecting the several Indian jurisdictions. While increased facilities have been provided for the care of tuberculosis and for incipient cases in Indian children, material progress in the eradication of this disease will not be brought about until a well organized field nursing service has been instituted, together with an educational program which will reach the Indian home. The extension of this program will have its effect also in the reduction of mortality among infants and children. While fluctuations occur in the reported incidence of trachoma, it is believed that the activities conducted by the special physicians of the service are bringing about a greater decrease in this disease. Organized primarily as a program exclusively for trachoma prevention and eradication, the work of this group of special physicians tends more and more to comprise a broader field of activity and now includes general and special operative procedure for other eye conditions, for the removal of diseased tonsils and adenoids, and the care of other ailments. Epidemics of contagious diseases have been somewhat less as compared to preceding years. Influenza has been quite prevalent. Outbreaks of measles have been infrequent, due in all probability to the fact that a number of epidemics of this disease occurred during the two or three years prior to the period of this report. The incidence of whooping cough and chicken pox has been about as usual. The number of diphtheria cases has been low and almost no cases of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis have occurred. Smallpox has occurred on five or six of the reservations, the largest number of cases being reported from the Nez Perce Reservation at Lapwai, Idaho. Vaccination of Indians throughout the country against smallpox has been continued and protection secured against diphtheria by administration of toxin antitoxin wherever possible. Preparations were made during the latter part of the year to operate the Tacoma Hospital, Washington, which has been for some years operated by the Veterans' Bureau and was formerly the Cushman Indian School. This institution will have a capacity of about 100 beds and will be principally for treatment of tuberculosis. A new general hospital was constructed at the Western Navajo jurisdiction, Arizona, with a capacity of 36 beds. Small general hospitals were constructed at Taos in the Northern Pueblos jurisdiction, New Mexico, at Chin Lee, Ariz., and Tohatchi, N. Mex., both within the Southern Navajo Reservation. A small hospital or infirmary was erected in the Havasupai Canyon, Ariz., for the benefit of the Indians at this point. A converted hospital proposition was established at Toadlena in the Northern Navajo jurisdiction, New Mexico, with an approximate capacity of 20 beds. A new brick hospital was constructed at the Western Navajo jurisdiction, Arizona, with a capacity of 20 beds. A new brick hospital was constructed at the Keshena Agency, Wis., to replace the old frame hospital destroyed by fire. This has a capacity of 36 to 40 beds. The school plant at Kayenta within the Western Navajo jurisdiction, Arizona, was converted into a tuberculosis sanatorium, with a capacity of 40 beds and with provision of 10 beds for general cases. This sanatorium is 160 miles from the railroad. Its conduct under great administrative difficulties is in the nature of an experiment because of its distance from transportation lines. The Navajo Indians in this isolated section, however, are responding quite rapidly to the facilities thus provided for their welfare. A converted building has been made into an improvised sanatorium at the Crow Creek jurisdiction, South Dakota, and will provide for approximately 22 cases of tuberculosis. A new sanatorium of 40 beds was built on the Yakima Reservation at Toppenish, Wash. These hospital and sanatorium facilities have added approximately 312 beds for Indians in need of treatment. New X-ray apparatus has been provided in a number of hospitals and sanatoria and hospital equipment generally has been improved. There has been an increase in the ratio of nursing personnel, which has permitted a less onerous working day, and a new schedule of pay offers the possibility of advancement for those who do efficient work and are competent to undertake executive responsibility. In addition to the necessity for extension of hospital and sanatorium facilities as well as field personnel for the Indian reservations, there is pressing need for improvement and upbuilding of the institutions now being operated as infirmaries, hospitals, or sanatoria. Nearly all of these institutions are substandard in their equipment and operative personnel. Constant effort is being made to improve both the character and quality of the service rendered in these plants. With the establishment of adequate facilities and personnel the Indians generally have demonstrated a willingness to accept such services. Attention has been given to the collection of more accurate data relating to health and disease among Indians and the statistical section of the Indian Office has cooperated to the end that better health records and more complete reports of births, deaths, and population may be available. The accuracy of census returns is obviously of great importance in a determination of the ratio of births, deaths, and health data generally relating to the Indian population. Sanitary surveys by sanitary engineers of the United States Public Health Service are enabling the office to make better provision for safe water supply and proper disposal of sewage. The growing interest manifest on the part of the field employees of the Indian Service is encouraging. Also the increasing interest and helpful activities of the Public Health Service of State, county, voluntary, and other health organizations will be productive of better health among the American Indians. EDUCATION AND CIVILIZATION OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS The work of the year represents the continuation of a system of civilization and education which has long been established, is historical, and, in fact, has necessarily been developed in conformity with Federal legislation and limited by financial resources. The energies and powers of the service have been directed toward the improvement of the educational system, although it should be understood that the desired culmination of these efforts has not been attained. In some phases, however, the results achieved at this time are of importance in their bearing upon the eventual solution of the Indian problem. Of these the most important perhaps is the present reliance of 35,000 Indian children upon the State public schools for their education. The endeavors of the service thus directed still continue and the next few years, it is believed, will witness a material increase in the number and a further elimination from the Federal Indian schools of those who can, to advantage, attend the public schools. Thus there are at this time two means of reaching the end sought, namely, the schools of the several States and the schools conducted by the service. So far as the latter are to serve for some years to |