Arizona silver belt., 1878-12-20
Arizona Silver Belt.
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rnr 1Nn1AN QuEaT1oN.

THE INDIAN QuEsTz0N. 7
 The following testimony vas ret ceived by the Joint Commission having under consideration the prop osition of transferring the Indian Bureau to the War Department, ou the 4th inst st Washington:
 The first witness was Dr <. c. Bsrstow of Providence, R l.. chair han of the Board of Indian Com laissioners. and representing the Con- gregational church in behalf of the ,iucasion and conversion nf the la- ian race. He sad ,hat iu his juag- n.ent the proposed trapsFer was un- wse that if effectel t woul 5 -rtainly work adversely to she chris ,ian operations now in progress. He Yeeited It length many interviews had wi,h army officers on the subject, and said those favorlng the transfer ap-  p,:ared to have but one reason there for. namely, thst the War Depart n,ent paid better salaries for sanitary ,bity than dld the Department of 'he Interior. He thought 1t impossible for the Board of Indian Commis- sloners to work in harmony with the army officials as 1t did with civilians aud gave as hs reason that tue army 1sas formed for war, to subdae enc mics and retain peace rather than to promote eigilization. religion and friendship. In his opinlon in five vears' iime under the supervision ot christian discipline the entire Indian race could be civilized for one halt the amount of money winch would necessarily be expended in the event Of their being placed under the rulmg of the War Department, and under the former plan in the time men toned he was sure the aid of the military to keep the Indians peaceful would be no more required than It IS at present n our States He con ridered that there are some very good men in the army, but did not think them adapted to the requirements ot Indian agents, and was positive thar they are incapable of promoting re liki0n, cisilizauon, etc.
 E. M. Kingsley. of New York member of the Board of Indian Com. Iaissioners and representing.the Pres hyterian sect. also the chairman Oi ,he purchasing committee. was tho next gentleman to present his views, He said "We need an army witt hoes and spades for the Iadian rather than with swords and rifles ' If che commission so desired he would pro- duce books of his office for every ex- peuditure made by the board ana where purchases were made, where forwarded and the disposition made of the same. He defended the h. dian agents as 8 body and said then wholesale abuse was unwarranted With reference to the creation o. contracts by the InGian bureau h' said he did not accept criticisms o. tue var department on the subjec and considered t poor grace for tha .lepartment to offer t, considerin: the rascally contracts which passe' through the hands of Its officials during the late war. The great mas. of religious denominations through uut the country favored the contsnua ton of the existing peace policy Should tue transfer be made tn board would not feel that they hal any active sympathy. The goot work done by the board had, | many instances, been demorallzed b surrounding military posts. To hi knowledge there was no existing an tagonism between the various re liglous denominations