The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-27
PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM.
An Important Movement to Extir-
pate Corruption.
OPINIONS OF THE ARMY CHIEFS
Advantages Of the Proposed Change in the In;
dian and Pension Bureaus

elOTlnS CnanBes 10 Beucfa VI the
requesting answers 10 them. One OF these questions
What is your opinion TO the propriety OF transfer
ring the Indian and Pension bureaus TO the War Depart
menti
We subjoin some extracts from the replies received
by the committee
General sherman answers
The great of the Indians OF our country
located on reservations, and are entitled 10
nues goods ana food according 10 treaties made long
ago and Tor the faithful vi which treaties
the ialth OF The government rs pledged These Indians
vary widely IN their habits, anu should be dealt with
Accordingly. The present army is now stationed IN
mail attachments ut military posts chiefly at or near
hesc reservations, TO keep the peace between these
indians ana their white neighbors, between whom
here has always existed conflict Of interest and
natural hostility. Now as the military authorities
are already charged with the duty OF keeping
ihe peace. / am sure they VIII be the better
ible TO accomplish this end il intrusted with
Iho issue OF the annutcs, whether of money,
food or clothing Fact military post has It's quarter
master and commissary, who can, without additional
cost make the issues directly to the Indians, and ac
count Tor them ana the commanding officer can cxer
else all the supervision now required of the civil agent
in better manner because he has soldiers to support
his authority, ana can easily anticipate ana prevent
the MINOR causes which have so often resulted IN
Indian In like manner, our country is divided
into military departments and divisions, commanded
by experienced general officers named by the President
who fulfil all the functions now committed 10 In
dian superntendcnts and these too, have near them
inspectors who can promptly investigate and prevent
the ncpien steps that are SO apt 10 result in conflict
and war.
General Sheridan says
To squarely the subject, should the Indian
Bureau be transferred TO the military, have not the
least doubt but that the Secretary OF War would modify
his estimates Tor the coming nscal year the amount
OF 80, 500, 0O0 aud this Will only be commencement
have the assurance OF the Secretary Tor this reduc
lion. 1t is my belief that If the Indians had been
The hands OF the military there never would have been
any Indian wars of any consequence There would be
power over them which would make them respect
persons and property, and they would respect that
power. The attempt is now being made TO govern
these Indians without exercising any power
over them at all by simple suasion, while
at the same time we acknowledge the
necessity OF having the severest laws for the
mcnt OF intelligent white people. | am convinced the
Indians would be better satisfied Where the military
is stationed with them We see constant respect for
il. The treatment Of the Indians by the officers and
men IN their intercourse Is always gentle. Some
lines o; course. when we are obliged TO make war;
have 10 be rough; and in order TO make war success
FULLY We are Obliged 10 resort 10 some extent, to the
rules OF warfare which they adopt The military will
never make promise without fulfilling IT. WHILE At
present. there almost nothing but broken promises
arising the fact that the Indian Bureau has
act the necessary organization or machinery TO inhl
us promises
General Hancock says
believe 1t would be decided advantage to the
country to the indian and the pensioners to transfer
those bureaus to the War Department. and In regard
INDIAN matters especially may say that believe there
no motive save the interests OF the Indians and
those OF the country which would lead army officers
advocate or advise such transfer Tor il could but add
to their aOors and responsibilities and would invito
hostile criticism injurious to the army large should
cases OF maiadmInslration by individuals occur
General Scholeld reples:-
The transfer of the Indian and Pension bureaus to
the War Department would undoubtedly result in
economy anu honest administration and would be
wholly beneficial to the public service, provided too
much oil the labor OF those bureaus be not imposed
upon the army proper The army should not be bur-
aened with duties not stBcty military to such
tent cripple its efficiency in the of
render necessary the sudden transfer OF important
branch oil the public service 10 unricd civilians order
that the army officers might go - the ned Tho lesit
mate benefit that would be conferred those bureaus
oy the transfer would ARISE mainly from the introduc
ton into them OF the fundamental principle upon
which the military department Organized the
svi departments also, of all well administered govern
good behavior instead upon the vary Ing phases
OF political controversy, with the necessary machinery
Tor the certain detection and punishment Of official
crimes The difficulty OF adopting this principle In the
clv departments of our government doubtless very
great and the experiment, anybody regards 1t in
the lgnt OF experiment, could not be fairly
made than by atranser OF the Indian and Pension bu
reaus 10 the War department II this transfer made
The Commissioner and inspectors OF such bureaus should
be army officers OF proved character and the special
agents appointed from civil life should hold their Office
during good conduct and be subject TO trial by
MARTIAL under the army regulations
General Mcdowell says
am too ignorant of the workings OF the Pension
Bureau 10 be warranted in giving opinion It's
transfer II the Indian Bureau Is merely TO be trans
erred and not recognized, cannot see that Will
make any difference whether IT is under the Secretary
War or the Secretary othe Interior II was formerly
under the War department and TO put II back again.
allowing II TO continue us is, would produce good
results Things would remain as they now are, being
ony affected by the personal character vi the Cabinet
officer who might BE- IN charge II formerly under
and as grave ones, against 1t then as now.
IT, however, with the transfer the indian affairs
you Will rcorganizc the bureau by substituting COM
banding officers OF posts Tor Indian agents. and mill
tary district and department commanders Tor
teudents OF Indian affairs; by having the officers
Quartermaser's Commissary aud Medical departments
Ot the army make all contracts Tor Indian supplies
transport, Tor issue and account Tor them; by
haNng ali pay mcnts oil Indians made
by the Pay Department OF the army, and by having
Dicer detailed by the War Department to act Com
missioner of Indian Affairs, am OF opinion IL would
good thing Tor the Indians the Treasury and the
country, and disagreeabie and thankess for
The army However, the machinery which would ac-
compsh this already existence Tor the needs OF
the army and woud require but snght modification TO
put working order perform this additional duty
Que OF the great advantages oil such system would
be 10 take this Indian questionable administrative
part of it-out OF politics. aud the frauds on
the Indians, either the original contracts for sup
plies or IN the distribution OF them, which has been
Tor generations a reproach to every administration of
our national affairs Another advantage would DO It's
great economy
General Terry says
have so little acquaintance with the business OF
the Bureau OF Pensions that am not able to express
opinion upon that part OF this question which
lates TO It, but am decidedly Of opinion that tho
Bureau OF Indian Affairs should be transferred to the
War Department
General Ord says
think 1t would be an advantage to the Indians and
tend 10 MAINTAIN peaceabe relations with them.
Vuestion-leli US briefly what some OF the adyan-
lagos would DO over the system by the transfer
Of the control OF the ndiuns entirely 10 the War De-
PartmenL Answer-Promptuess in the delivery OF ra-
lions aud supplies We have to deliver them now TO
Troops ~ the immediate vicinity Of the agents and the
tamc machinery, in measure, could do both. The
duction OF the number OF employees. very large re-
ducon would Occult The clerical duties here Wash
ngton and at Department Headquarters performed by
general service men would be very materially reduced
Another advantage would be maintaining pcaccable
relations, because u We had 10 light the Indians
should TO do u rapidly possible II want
10 maintain peaceable relations we ought to know the
Indians thoroughly time VI peace and put the best
IN agents, men who would do their whole duty.
The Indians rule, respect force. They respect
who successfully enforce the orders they have
s.hAr haN puaan hat 4 ha
military successful with the lndians-in Caiior
and ArizOnaand the Indians were very well salts
fed then General Crook took charge IN Arizona he
had no trouble. 1 myself have gone right auild the
wild Indians at directed the establishment OF
the two posts spoken Of IN the testimony and know
what they cost had some fourteen companies TO-
Eether up there TO the Indians just as winter