Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-02-14

NVws ~ WHOSE uOOr lies TINS t0ult Arc the
drafts Of the Secretary of the Interior or the
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs dishonored
at the Treasury4 If they are. certainly there
is redress through Congress for this. But II
1t should appear that no drafts upon those ap.
preparations are presented, surely the Treas
urv is not to be blamed.
The view that the public will be most nat.
urally inclined to take, is that the Indian Blu.
reau, themselves, are to blame, either for not
drawing the appropriations out of the Treas.
ury and sending them forward for their legit-
innate purposes, or else for not bringing the
matter before Congress and stating fairly and
squarely thht they cannot obtain tl,e money.
They shouA either take hold Of one horn Of
the dilemma or the other. either say they can.
not get the appropriations out of the Treas
ury, or else get them out at once and send
them where they are intended by Congress
to 60. ..r ,.H -. =
This is certainly most remarkable state
of affairs. Here are treaties that have been
ratified nearly four years since, and money
appropriated from year to year according as
the treaties specify, aud yet this money, or
greater portion Of it, which the Government
has plighted its faith should be paid within
one year after the treaties should be ratified,
is lying useless in the Treasury, and the
whole country kept in constant excitement by
tales Of Indian outrages, caused by the neg
lect Of somebody, to have the business of pay
ing out these appropriations promptly aud
vigorously attended to. This, in my opinion.
is the grand cause of difficulty with Indians,
the neglect of the Indian Department in not
promptly remitting appropriations ! do not
propose to ask why they do not. Senator
Nesmith, however, seems to think that the
frequent changes in Superintendents, is the
cause why money has not been sent to this
Territory. do not agree with Col. Mes.
NTH in his views in That respect, and think
the paragraph referring to our Superintend,
ents. could have we'll been left out Of his
speech without being at all missed. But
whatever the cause. there stands the fact that
on the 2lst of April last, there was balance
in the Treasury Of the United States, Of over
two hundred and forty.six thousand dollars
belonging to the Indian service in this Terri
tory. If that money could come here and be
distributed where it belongs, it would most
certainly DO acceptable to hundreds of people,
who have long waited for a settlement Of their
demands against the Indian Department.
l could 20 on and cnumerate various other
causes why this branch of the public service
is so open TO public censure; Of its want Of
common mercantile capacity in the selection,
purchase and forwarding Of supplies for an.
nuity payments, and presents to Indians; of
its neglect to furnish its own officials with
the means to enforce the laws and require.
ments it has from time to time recommended
to Congress to pass Of its weak and ineffi-
cient organization in not having sufficient
power within itself to intorce any Of its own
requirements, without calling in the aid Of
some other branch Of the Of tho public service.
Much can be written on these and many 9th
or topics connected with this question; but
the limits Of the present article, already tres
passing too much on your courtesy. will not
permit. But If any one feels desirous OF in
formation. let him read in the reports Of the
Indian Bureau for the past ten years, and it
will be seen that,-with the exception Of the
language employed,-the same complaints
from Agents, and the same recommendations
from Supcrintendents pervade the whole.
l hope Senator Ncslnith will be joined by
o,heys in both Houses of Congress during the
present session, and that some radical change,
some progressive revolution be made in the
affairs Of this Bureau. 1t needs no act Of
Congress. however, to send forward appropri-
ations already made. Let the Indian Depart
mont do this at once, and they will strike out
one great cause Of trouble. This Territory
needs the money belonging to her, and the
people will remember the man, who, by his
acts in Congress. shall aid to bring about 90
desirable result.
JAMES G.. SWAN.
Neeah Bay. Cape Flattery, Jan, 9th. 1868.