Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-02-22
SATURDAY. FEBRI AIRY -. l>Gs.
Our Indian Dep rt1ent.


Th,rr has bcsn much said on the s;rc:s-
and much through the columns Of newspapers,
in regard To the lsrg. amount, Cue our ciii-
z..iss for services rendered and goods furnished
this Department.
1t has been will understood that a larS'
san Of money, (nea,ly one hundred thousand
dollars.) has been received for disbursement
in this Territory months ago by our present
Superintendent. 1t is also matter of noto-
riety, that men who have been in the service
of the Department as subordinates, on fixed
salaries per annum, have not received dol
lar for the last twelve Or eighteen months.
Il is not to be wondered at, then, that the
public should have formed the opinion that
there has been gross wrong committed on
creditors, either by the Department at Wash
ington or by the Superintendent. The fact that
ample means were provided by Congress for
the wants of the service, and large amount
placed in the hands Of the superintendent,
would seem to exonerate the Department at
Washington from blame, and justify the con-
clusion that the fault rests with the Superin-
tendent, for no sensible man will contend for
a moment that honest creditors have not been
most grossly wrongcd by somebody. In the
absence of any explanation from Mr.. Kendall,
we have been forced to conclude that he has
failed to do his duty, and VIC have been left
to our own conjectures as to the reasons and
motives that have influenced his official ac-
ton.
IF it is true that the Department at Wash
ington has been guilty of the inexcusable
folly of putting this large sum of money into
the hands of their Superintendent, which
Congress had provided for the payment Of
these liabilities, and has tied up lis hands, by
pos;tire Instructions, so that he caanot pay 1t
oui, the head Of the Department desires
prompt removal from Office for incompetcncy.
Every apology that has been offered for
Nr. Kendall, reflects either great discredit
upon the Department or impugns the honesty
or intelligence Of bis predecessors in office.
While We are not disposed to defend the last
Administration, We do intend to do them JUS
tics. As Republicans, we have every coll
ceivable motive for having the new admins
tration our Indian affairs contrast favOrably
with that of their Democratic predecessors
but candor compels us TO say, that instead Of
any improvement having been made in that
Department Of Washington Territory, every
thing has been growing worse until they have
reached the very climax Of disorder and bank
ruptcy.
The Superintendent is at open war with
several Of his agents, in consequence Of his
arbitrary and tyranicai course towards them
in denying them all participation in the ss'lec-
ton Of their subordinaies; and while he has
Thousands Of dollars at his disposal. he CON-
prls thesn to travel about the country in the
discharge Of their official duties promises
70 psy. (which our people have conc to IT,
gard - almost wouhi-ss)-a condition 81
shin<s nrvrr h~fwe known in the history al
sA~ Depatw~f. There may hsve hs~n times
vhra sh~ supsrin,-odsns has br-n destitute
e funds CIR f-w weeks. ar even msnihs. and
Via sexa.s have hs~n redEe,d to the humid
i.sisa II skiing ersdi fsr a meal az vi~srsis.
~ eshsr cou;inssns exPnsrr: ln' w. rsske
shr ansrssion- without far of ssa;r2dietisn,
- n ja<sire to tbs fanner saR-riu;ead~nis,
- Mr. b. 4. K~nAaii Is ihe caly nAas eva
connected With the raalir ssvior Il this
Governn~nf in the Indi.n. OF any c'her he
rznr~ns. ihs, ha- refused 10 rsy their sab
ssiin.ae. quarterly dnrs. or advance sh-sn a
1-ll~ a. sxpr-s-. to Be incurred in reaching
- disaasf puiass to vhirh thy had been ar
AsrsA. s;fa fAssassds sf dalLa's sf llnr dc
psss8 Avy1ScADL9 To TINE SERVICE orr
slinl asey Prsadsd. and fAy or a hundred
tlss.a.A .ssr lying in the treasury at Wash
hgsn ssS;-es 70 their draft
We would m, do Mr.. Kendall. az any one.
q ins<nsioaal injustice. II il BE- true that b.
= - svs~4igsd BY the Department that h~
has ID legal a. Discretionary poser to apply
sse .ss<y - Asnd for thrse nrer-say Pur-
poses, a. f~ the payment Of salaries long
~;... d. she suhorlinaies uyson the rr<srva-