The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-01-25
SIOUx IND THE INDIAN


While the debate In the Hou1e OF Rep
reoenistives was going IN In rsIoeton = ~
Teton Sioux, Nj. Sargent, OF Cettospis and
Others attempted 10 show that - tern wes
applied IN, and that the 066e really tneeed'
ed included . large number Of Indians. 9r.
Clskett. OF Montana, admitted that there
might be such trfbc; but declared that the
whole .ystem Of distributing goods west OF
the Mississippi Was one great scheme OF
fraud. "-0asssss, slss.
We publish to-day the debate entire, -
published 10 The Congressional 0lsss, apd
We ask our readers 10 compare the shove
qsesasies, under the editorial caption
''Chopped," with what M: Clagett said and
Geo bow much regard II has for accuracy.
Mr. Clagstt did favor the appropriation.
He had for On authority that 1t wss needed
On editorial In the Rocky Mountain Gassiss
last winter, written by Delegate elect,
Major Martin Maginnis, and very different
in tone from one written short time previ'
ous. Did the Gazette chop ! and Why? Mr..
Clagett favored that appropriation to be used
Ia snuuities to those Indians to prevent hos>
Utilities. BE was not and Is not party to any
projected or perfected frauds, and In honor
be It spoken of Montsnss present Delegate,
he asks on the floor Of Congress for thor
ough investigation of the disposal of the
money and the holding Of al Indian agents
and superintendent TO strict accountability.
We will be glad to read Of the Delegate elect
doing the same thing when his term of Of
fee shall have - nearly expired. The fact
Mr.. Clsgctt mentions, that neither superin>
tendcnts or agents are required by law %
keep record Of their official transactions, u
! one that falls with startling effect ON the
country. II Is no wonder the Indian Ring
10 the synonym for corruption and fraud
from Washington u the rcmotest
agencies. The officials are paid pitiful
dolcs of salaries, yet they grow rich, almost
without exception. The Government g,vss
of Its millions In lavish proiusi0n TO feed
and clOthe the ssvsges, yet W. are forced to
believe very little of it or its purchases reach
large proportion Of lhe tribes, and super.
intcudents and agents arc not required BY
statute to keep record Of their Official acts.
Put this and that together and the necessity
Of the bill M. Claget. introduced 10 % sp.
parent that 1t must be universally admitted,
yet there 10 little probability It will pass.
It IL well known that the Indian agencies
Of Montana ore sslaried at 81 100 per amman.
Hardly suy good business man would accept
On agency II that was oil the pay In it. Yet
We know how psrsisten.ly they are sought
and how more tepaciously they are held 70.
It 10 explaiuable In the fact that IN ex.aesat
told 10 short time since that when he was
handed his commission BY IN officer high In
the Department, 1t was with the remark,
you ought to make 5000 or $500 per
snnum out Of this appointment" and an.
other told him, I'VE do not estimate that
over fifty per cent Of the amount appr0pri.
sted reaches the Indians" Said the ex.
agent, Nov, what construction would an
agent naturally put upon scch remsrksy'
We believe that which the 0sssese puts In
the mouth Of Mr.. Clsge.t, aud VIC believe,
further, that the entire Indian system and
oil the policies arc frauds and humbugs.
The primary idea that the Government Of
the United States recognizes within ,ts do.
main hostile confederation and has ''digui.
hed" them with treaties. - NJ. Sargent hes
II, wherei" this great Republic gets down
and eats dirt to mollify the rcd-skin cut.
Threats, 10 in itself . humilialipg humbug.
Il recognizes them ~ hostile. treats with
them - hostile and buys protection from
their scalpine HALVES tor larsesses OF money.
We do not 80 why coufsderated hostile
rcd men, are eatitled to any more consider.
alton than like considerations Of any other
color. What tho Govcrnmess should DO 10
n bs break up the tribal system, TO rcoog.
nise NJ hostile confederation except ~ pab.
lie enemies to be whipped IL It 10 In the
power Of the Republic to do It, to give what
recompense 70 individuals It may he deemed
they ore entitled 70, and to hold them In.
dividuslly sssponsible 10 the same laws and
tribunals and penalties % other men. II
may sssn difficult y do this, but any dif.
6culsy Of that kind would bs jess distressing
than for frontiersmcn 70 be shot down and
muGllatsd BY ssvages with the auas mu.
Ditions ed wsspeus TOO generous govern.
ment iesses 10 hostile TRIAL Indians.
4" Bot whiis the present system and policy
does hold, md our Cospesiscd eastern law
makers insist On layishing snnuities upon
The Indians, let there BE- such laws enacted
- will tend to secup The most emcieat and
honest disbussemsuts Of monies and dlstr.
button Of anuuisies, that TIE virtues Of the
system may b developed to the fullest ex-
tent Doubls q treble The salaries, II need
b, and throw such restrictions, checks, and
balances about the onlcess that the much
abused Indiss DspartaseSv shall b u me.
tbodically and closely administered % that
Of the Tseasury..o TO accomplish this 70
know OF no plan more effective, one more
apparently necessary, than that introduced
1 BY Mr. Ciagett to compel distribution 70 be
public. records to Be kept, and thsy 70 b
subject It On times 70 public Investigation.
II win 70 far toward preventing fraud, =.
curing more efficient Standardization, pun.
tshtng culptjes, ana giving "a honest man
IN opportunity 70 10 % Isdisn agent with.
oct resting under the implied impuestion BY
the very o1ice - holds that he 10 peculasing
from the Government.
rERRr1ORL4L- LEGZsLA-,
y ro,a@,. ,Sn TON. nd trye ~
The G,ess Of January 9th i to hand :son.
tanning several columns Of debate n the
House % Tsfritorisl Legislation. A bin
passed correcting ! misdescrip,ion q ths
boundary line. givipE ID Montana strip Of
country east 81 Pleasant Valley, which
iseAnIcally was ID Dskota. The bIl ~
also debated at ls1sth md pissed the House
transferring The control Of tbe several Pen.
isntisfies II The Territory 70 the :rerrito.
nal authorities. A bin vas ALEC discussed
end rscomuisss9 eai5asstd7es ~ Petes'es
of ths reports Of the 0opesms Courts In tho
Tss3sesisa Alse 3 III ~ discssscd md