The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-02-07
THE INDIAN sERvIsE IN NEVADA

Af4t iNCAas cEhNiFE lv NEVADA. Z
Fitch. of Nevada, and Sargent, OF
California, had n set-to in the House
OF Representatives on the 18th of Jan
uary, over the Indian appropriation
bill. Sargent introduced the bill from
committee, and Fitch took his trail''
and attempted totomahawk the appro-
priation for Indian service in the State
of Nevada. Sargent, however, defend
ed his cash vigorously, and finally
"got away with the appropriations
for agents, interpreters, supplies, etc.
The debate developed some facts IN
regard to the past management OF the
Indian fund for Nevada, which fully
justiiies Mr.. Fi.oA'a opposition. Ii !,
tie true, rs Mr.. Fitch asserts, that not
one dollar in hity Appropriated COR the
Indians Of this State, ever reaches
them, it is certainly time TO stop ;ha,
leak, and relieve somebody Of the re-
sponsibility Of pocketing that extra
forty-nine dollars. II was claimed 10y
Sargent tina. the Indian appropriations
have been disbursed with greater hon
esty and economy in Nevada than in
other portions of the country. II this
is a sample Of honesty and efficiency,
what must no tho condition Of the
service in other districts? 1t is Ger
tainly not paying Gen. Grants admin
istration a very complimentary notice.
A communication wa read from the
Secretary Of the Interior, stating tina.
the SUPPLEMENTARY for Nevada had
been ordered discontinued hence no
appropriation was asked for that Office.
The bill! contained az appropriation OF
1880 for "an agent for the Indians OF
Nevada" In making the motion to
strike this out, Mr.. Fitch gave notice
that he intended TO follow !. up by
striking out the appropriations "for
interpreters and ageuts wherever they
occur, as well as the general appropri-
alton Of $4,000 reported by the Com
mittee in the latter part OF tho BILL"
He asserted this money 20 be use
less,y expended" and that the goods
distributed to the Indians rarely
reached them, generally finding
their way speedily to the stores of per
sons supposed to be in harmony with
the Indian agents, the expenditure
being OF 10 heneht to the Government
or to the Indians"
Sargent replied that he did mot be
iieve the gentleman from Nevada a
proper judge rs to the treatment we
should maintain toward tho Indians
in his own State" lie thought il
would be n great cruelty 10 Withdraw
the $4,000 annually appropriated
for them, and took occasion to al
lude to a former speech Of Fiich's. in
which he was charged with declaring
"that the only good Indians were the
dead Indians" Fitch disclaimed ever
having declared that to he his senti-
ment, and proceeded to state what he
knew of the working of the prezen;
system. He said:
The gentleman from California Mr..
SARGENT speaks OF the great Valu2 a
these Indian agents. happen to know
OF one in tho mining towns where | r..
sided for "A few months in the summer
OF 1869, where 4 sub-agent appointed
under the new theory WAS givci
charge of the Indians OF that portion
of Nevada. | do not mean the IA,
new theory of giving the agencies &,
preachers, but the theory OF the sprin.
of 1859, OF appointing Army officers
This man of whom l speak receive,
an appointment rs sub-agent from til,
Army officer in charge OF the Neyadi
superintendency, and then occupied
his time in teaching q dancing school
fLaughter.l Ii he eve went near tn.
Indians, or did anything but draw hi'
$1,000 a wear. IL was never brought Z
nv knowledge. / do not know tina
the amendment l have moved would
If adopted, reach that particular sub
agent. but il would affect tine powe
which otherwise might give US anothe
dancing master, or perchance aslngin.
master. to take the place OF the preser
incumbent.
The bill contained an appropriate
AIS for IA special agent for the Piute
IN Nevada" Sargent dilated on tn
ferocity OF these Indians, and the ex
t~raordinary value of tho operations {
the agents who have kept them fror
breaking out in renewed depreciation:
According TO Sargent their happ
hunting grounds have been destroye
bv the railroad ana tae mining settle
ments. Fitch replied hamoroasly:
These Piutes inhabit the conntr
north and along the line ofthe Centr.
Pacific railroad. They have no nun
mo grounds which are invaded D
either railroad or settler; hrst, pecails
tho railroad scarcely more than sklr'
the country which they inhapl., ~,
secondly, because their =, nI hn !,
ground, r not OF character 10 DC u y
inred by invading settlers me =
uia can attack the fierce rabbi, IN D
ia,y oy rbaso the flying srasshoPps