New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-03

Is necessary to render civilized life possible.
should be practically instructed m the various branches
OF husbaudy, and girls should receive good tfanins
I'm household duties aud habits OF cleanliness In tls
way Young generation may be raised up nr more oeu
TO cyihzng influences of higher KIND anu more III iV
a peaceabe ana profitable Intercourse Win 'no "ni''
lapeople. ,,
and ralaried by Government But IN some II ot mos.
cases the farms have been worked by Wme men mvay
to raise crops Tor Supplying the aseno,s aa @ mo
They are to be turned to much greater ~
farms should be used N the hfst place i9t iho tors
ton Of the youths mt school Besides this, me
are TO visit The farms cultivated py lndansi 20 b s
latter practical instruction in their work and ala lhe ~
E,n"0n The reservations the labor Of white men is
10 be dispensed with and Indian labor TO be rs
much possible. To wha extent thls can De uohe' ~
der prudent and energetic nroclly' ~ snG 3,f re-
COMMISSIONER Of Indian Affairs III MS description ~ ~
suits accomplished 10y gent Wilbur Proper ul,eIiii
ton should he made in The distribution Of supplies ana
annuity goods aud the granting 81 aI0s ~ maj
effort be encouraged by tangible recognition una
reward.
Some OF these reforms have time been in pro-
crese others are in course preparation. Their accom-
pshment requires time and patient labor and above III
things an honest and efficient Indian service Inc
Indian service has IN Of It's branches long been the
subject OF popular suspicion without attaching uhuuc
importance rumors or allegations II must DC
said that frequent Investigations have sho~n sucn,
picions without good reason. Inquiries ~
by myself since I was charged VITA me eon"uCs %
this Department have convinced nc oi tn,a y" 80 sd
result OF such inquiries, presuupNe evidence o Z
character came 10
which justified me in handing over uunDcI vi 60
the Department Of Justice for criminal prosecution ~
well rs civil action while following the principa oleel
OF discovering presen existing have thought
II my duty TO extend incidentally such inNo, ,, -.
tmprcs4 cfcers of the Government with the fact thai
they from thUir responsibility Wheh my
plnude nor their persons will he safe although their &C
counts may have been closed and the money gone mo
their pockets Such lesson taugl IN the most incis'e
manner viii rot laii to rave WHOLESOME Cn,Ot
and. indeed, IL is most necessary one
Iuil gorvipp "
iGcati0ns render minute supervision oAIoiIuS uli
fcult There Is no doubt that franz ~ we leio'
of contracts. aud dishonest practices IN tho uelNcIy ahn
distribution OF supplies aud annuity goods have iT4ns
~ been the canse Of Just di-contrni iCS '"e i'"S
do not deem The present machinery OF the lnan -cr-
,ire sent Tor the prevention discovery Of abuses
Va t.,,iro'f nrertifcs The inspectors aud suuern-
teudcns VINO are charged among other things with such
0uty have IN hut rare instances been successful IN FER
ref nc ont te willy cxpedeuts Icsorted 10 BY dishonest
contracors agents The records OF me indian once
bear ont This assertion When supeIin.tndent 1r an
iuspector VISITS agency hls coming h. almost always
known beforehand SO tIat there Is tine enougn 10
conceal evidences Of iraud and mlsinanas, iienl.
IL is very Ike catching birds with
brass band What the Indian Bureau needs perhaps,
more than any Other branch OF Inc Government Is sle-
cai service composed uf ctccut agents VINO, under me
immediate control the department. can move secretly,
and can pOuucc upon the point tn be Investigated vi hout
prrmonitor venture to express the nope mat Congress
nproase A proner use made OF such an appropriation
win not Olly improve the character OF the service but
desire to add that TIE Investigations carried on by
this Department FOR The discovery and correction OF
per H IL " ~ ,ilitr,s.,s and Ia ruuish for CON
trinpl We therefore frequently fail In our inquiries,
, Copgrcss tat owert to its fullest extent
and Congressional Investigations may therefore become
very desirable wien tie Dcpdrwcuf, for the reasons
ti,J G,i it.cji unable ~ 20 10 the bottom OF sus-
nccicd Transactions unless Congress secs 10 10 invest the
t"iisG the cnicct ~ sncnd,ng sections ls3 and 1eI
Revised STATUTES TO enlarge the powers OF the sec
ciuIy al tie Interior IN This rtsp'ci.
That he Office of an Indian agent ia very responsible
re.t capacity, and tli salary Of $1,000 }Cf without
far prospect % advancement is. under ordinary cir
cusanceS uadcquite 10 induce men of such oalibe 10
cypose thcfs elves and thcr families 10 the discomfort,
aud pryaions Of frontier Inc has too frequently boon
stated Dy NY predecessors their reports Go need repe
ton here The Consequences which such false econ
omy apt to lead need scarcely GcscfDrd ihe report
Of the Commissioner u Indian Affairs furnishes some i
terrstug illustrations. cannot 700 urgently commend
to the attention ~ Congress .ne gsadatOh ii tAc salaries
of Indian agents which Dc suggests.
The present system which permits irgIous soccti's
respects undoubtedly an Improvement upon the former
practice Of making appointment, IN tho i.Vian S,Iy cg
political grounds lui that ne present ~ ''r - ~
mo- means perfect IL demonstrated by Tie ire
Il very much in neeG ~ the element ~ St9bly' An ar
rangement enabling The Department TO assign an officer
dtnrc aud tIen 10 promote him IN the grade II duty.
end pay according 10 merit, WILL III fral measure SUI
plv that want, ana in course " time give as b"dS 81 TAR
moro ieIcrd efficient and trustworthy agents than
avodc o. selection heretofore III practice eau ever D.
expected TO furnish.
TIE PRESERVATION or TIMER.
Tho ropdity with which this country ia being
r,nned Of IT'S forests must alarm every thinking men.
Il has been estimated by good authority, that If we 20 On
NJ the present tho supply OF thinner III The United
states will, in less than twenty years fall con
sderably short OF oar homo necessities no"
sisostrouslv tbe destruction Of the forest ga 4
co,,trv affects the regularity Of the water supply
In is n, ers necessary for navigation increases .he ire
ourucy Of fre-het. AMI irundaGns' des up SpiihEo,
49,, t,Dsforus fertile agricultural districts INTO barren
Istcs ID . matter OF universal experience INC "",lH
rr il hi.h tmr that sE0ad tGTi our earnest at
t.,tio ~, inns auicct. which seriously concerns oar
"ati"naI prosperity. ] have reason to believe
nave already stopped the deprcdauons on me
public lands 10 very great extent, an! may ~ ," ii
ued they viii entirely arrest me eyii = .'iap,, ili,S
small number OF wuclliul and cn'fEti nc agent N.it
suffice prevent. IN iuu' nor iAd'eu ,c 5,.',ns .,
siugo trees and there but ut e"si depreaaoh' Oh
To avert such evil results % dennins ile ng. ,,5
Of trees would suggest ne following gfeyenlauNe a4u
measure, All tu5ber land. stu belonging L. the
United states should I' "il'aNI 'to' ,i - he To-
Of the PRED npuon, ana ~ - t.'I, 0t f,r
cation OF ic various 'nds of scr. Timber lau, Ut lo
agricultural purposes 'hoEl DC soia II 'oa q. t I, mr.
for cash. ana -' giad "a ln PIC a. r ,i il,Yd
c,a..s nav for the yaluo OF tnc unbtr On thc ''i,
Tn, vii DO All to max a., ., ,'Tr e ,C o." n6ct
,ber All Government agents should he protldrn t 10
urotect the timber Oh public lands I"m u'l' i
@onsi dcrre,Iaors by seizures and by criminal ~ wen
I6orzcd and instructed, Under the direction OF The
Department Of the Interior or tit DelA 81 81
cnrrut local demand, timber from III" puplie lhu niue,
proper regu atoms, and In DONG 80 e.pcea 10 ,e 20
so as moi TO prevent the natural renewal o tnc ol',
This measure would enable the people ol t'e riiS
states and Territories obtain the timber tp'A hel W
a lrgtl way, az the same tune avoiding the dangerous
consequences above pointed out.
Tho secretary concurs i'm the recommendation OF the
Commissioner OF the General Land Once: l. That al
offices of surveyors-ccuerll be consolidated into one
which shall be located at Washington = The anohllon
Of the contract system; ana g. Tho appointment Oh
Survey OF. General O The United states