New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-13
THE INDIAN BUREAU TRANSFER.

|
transferring the Indian Bureau to the War
! Department. A bill for the purpose has been
introduced in the House, and is evidently
backed mp by a favorable sentiment IN the
country at large. 1t is now some five years
since similar bill passed the House by
a large majority. No serious consideration
was given to it in the Senate. A reason
| for the treatment it received there, cur
rent at the time, was the number of Indian
agents who were personal friends and ap-
pointces of the Senator's and who would
| have been thrown out of Office had the bill
become a law. This, together with the natur-
al hesitancy of a conservative body like the
Senate to make an important change III the
machinery of the Government, defeated the
measure There are fewer politicians now than
then in the agencies. Under the system Presl-
dent Grant adopted a large number of agents
are selected by the different religious orSanlza-
tons. This is unquestiOnably an improve
mcnt on the old system, for 1t has pro-
vided the Indian Bureau with many honest
and efficient agents, who live upon their sal
aries. and think they are doing a service to
both religion and humanity by laboring for
the Improvement of their savage wards.
agencies has not saved the country the annual
inflicton of an Indian war, which Is pretty
sure to break out somewhere or other, III the
broad expanse of our Western frontiers, al
most as regularly as the grass sprouts in the
Spring. One year we had an Apache War,
another the Modoc War, with the death
of General Candy. another the terrible
Sioux War, with the massacre of General Gus
ter and his whole command, and this year the
Nez PercCs, heretofore a friendly tribe, have
taxed the resources of the Government and
cost lis the lives of many gallant officers and
soldiers. 4 system which does not keep the
Indians pcaceable must be pronounced fail
ure. The Indian Bureau may point to Its sue
cesscs in partially civilzing certain tribes and
to the general quiet of the Indian country, as
evidences of its efficiency but as long as every
Summer brings fresh battles and massacres,
the public Will have little confidence III it.
Some sensible arguments are urged i'll favor
of turning the Indians over to the War De-
partment but what will weigh more heavily
than all of them together is the conviction
that the Interior Department has demonstrated
its incapaclty to prevent blOOdsbed on the
frontiers, and that the Indian service has at
army. We should be glad to see the experiment
gwen fair trial. No class of men have as
much interest in mantaising peace with the
savages AS the officers of the Army, for their
lives are in constant jeopardy as long as hos
tilities continue. No class of public servants
are under as heavy bonds for good behavior,
for their life-pOsItlons are forfeited upon the
discovery of dishonest act. No class
are brought so much in contact with
Indians, and have had so much experience III
dealing with them. Near almost every reSer-
walton there is IA garrison, and most OF the
work of making and enforcing treaties has
always devoved upon the officers. Army
transportation would serve for the conveyance
of the Indian supplies, and army quartermas-
ters for their purchase. Cheaper prices, better
quality and honest distribution, would be Sc
cured and the whole swarm of Indian con-
tractors would be dispersed. In short, the dis
cipne and efficiency of the military organiza-
ton would be extended to the Indian service
with great advantage to the Treasury, and
with even greater advantage to the sayages
themselves.