[Illustration: Map showing INDIAN RESERVATIONS in the United States West of the 83^{rd}. Meridian and NUMBER OF INDIANS belonging thereto 1879 ] ----- Footnote 2: We are Americans by adoption. The real American race is the Indian. Footnote 3: Excepting the Navaho. Footnote 4: Includes 23,381 freedmen and 2,582 intermarried whites. Footnote 5: Commissioner Sells gives in his 1912 report only the value of the stock owned, whereas in 1904 and 1898 the number is given. CHAPTER II—THE U.S. INDIAN OFFICE IN 1913 The Bureau of Indian Affairs was organized in 1824, and was under the War Department. On March 3, 1849, the Interior Department took over the management of the Indians. Since 1832, there have been 31 Commissioners of Indian Affairs. The longest tenure of office was that held by Honorable Wm. A. Jones. The present Commissioner is Honorable Cato Sells of Texas, who took charge June 4, 1913. Mr. Sells has already inaugurated a new and progressive policy and his work is highly commended by every person having the welfare of the Indians at heart.[6] A splendid tribute has been paid him by M. K. Sniffen, Esq., Corresponding Secretary of the Indian Rights Association. Honorable Edgar B. Meritt, who has served faithfully for many years, is Assistant Commissioner. There are in addition to these high officers, Second Assistant Commissioner, Honorable C. F. Hauke; and Honorable E. B. Linnen, Chief of the Inspection Service. I have always considered the Inspection Service the most important of all. It is therefore very satisfactory that we have as Chief of the Division, a man who has had twenty-five years’ experience as Inspector and former Secret Service official. And right here, I wish to state that if the Inspection Service had been efficient in past years, the horrible scandals in Minnesota, Oklahoma and elsewhere never would have occurred.