Daily national Democrat., 1860-07-01
The Reservations.

So far as the Senate has power in the prem
ises, the present Indian reservation system
has been abolished An amendment offered
by Mr.. Latham to the bill making appropria-
tions for the current and contingent expense.
of the Indian Department and for fulfilling
treaty sipulations with the Indian tribes
was passed on the 2sth of May. The amcd-
ment reads as follows:
Provided, That the Secretary of the In
terror may divide the State of California
into two Indian districts, and that the Presi-
/ dent of the United States, 10y and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, shall ap-
point a experimenting agent for each dis
/ trict, at a salary Of $500 per annum; who,
upon executing bond upon such terms and
in such sum and security as the Secretary of
the interior may prescribe, shall have under
his control and management, as the Secreta-
ry may prescribe the Indians and Reserva-
tions in their separate respective districts.
Each superintendent may appoint, subjec to
the confirmation of the Secretary of the In
terror, a Supervisor for each Reservation in
his respective district, to instruct the Indians
in husOandry, at salary of 81 500 per an.
mum; and also appoint not exceeding four
laborers, TO aid such Supervisor, at a compen.
sation not to exceed fifty dollars per months
And provided further, that the Secretary of
the Interior is authorized, at his discretion
Cf deemed eXpedient) } to lease either or all
Of the reservations or farms, for term OF
years, to responsible parties who may be
willing to farm them, and provide for the
support and comfort of the Indians thereon,
or who may be brought there 10y the Super
intendent, for a sum not exceeding $4,000
per annum, and upon such party giving bond
in such terms and for such sum as the Secre-
tary may dictate, for the faithful performance
OF his contract, to support the Indians, pre-
serve and return the Government property
entrusted to his care And provided further
that the express condition of such leasing is
| to save the Government Of the United States
from all expenses connected with said reser
vations. except the salary of the Superintend-
ent of each district, and the lessee is to re
ceiye and support all Indians brought to the
reservations by the Superintendents: And
provided further, that all Acts or parts of
Acts in conflict with this provision be, and
are hereby repealed"
The principal change which this amend
ment would effect, would be to make two
districts instead Of one out Of the Reserya-
tion system, and TO reduce the expense of the
system about $1,000 per Onnum; also to
place the power in the hands of the Secreta
ry Of the Interior of leasing the Reservations
to persons who would agree to take care of
the Indians The Reservations therefore are
still reserved for the support of the Indians,
and the only point gained is that they will
be managed differently from what they have
heretofore.
We are inclined to think the system bet
ter one than the previous There is not so
much margin for swindling. The Secretary
Of the Interior will have an eye upon the
Superintendent, and they can be made en-
tirely responsible. The Superintendents will
have the direct control of the Supervisors,
and can see that they do their duty, where.
as the sub-agents before, could do pretty
much as they pleased, being responsible only
to the Federal Government, which was q
long way off.
The idea Of leasing the Reservations to
responsible persons, for a term of years and
at given sum, is much better than leaving
them in the hands of agents who might cul-
tivate them for their own benefit and for
the purpose of speeulating on the products.
1t has been charged, and perhaps proven,
that this thing was done under the old sys-
tem-that the. Indians were made to work
the farms, while their overseers sold the pro-
duce and pocketed the proceeds. The lease
of the Reservations for $4,000 per annum
would go far towards bearing the entire ex-
pense of the Indian system, and certainly
would be a saving to the National Treasury.