The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-27
THE INDIAN BUREAU.
The Reasons Alleged for Its Transfer to
the War Depal tment.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The report OF the four
members of the joint committee appointed by Con-
gress the last session to take into consideration
the expediency Of transferring the management
of tn. Indian affairs from the Interior to the War
Department who favor the transfer. Is just completed
by Representative Boone of Kentucky, and will be
submitted to the House at the first opportunity. The
principal features of the document as follows:
The history of our management and treatment of
the Indians is one of shame and modification 10 all
right thinking and liberal minded men. Hence it is
not strange that grave complaints have arisen in the
pubic mind upon this question, and loud demand
made everywhere that these grevious wrongs at
least close if they cannot be redressed. A proper
solution of the Indian problem demands the i'm
meiiate attention of Congress, and cannot with
either safety to the Indians or honor to the govern
ment be longer deferred. Our wrongful treatment
OF them is coequal with our existence though not
to the same extent in earlier and purer days as at
present During all the years past complaints have
been made of violated pledges, broken promises and
lack of efficient AMI responsible management and to
such an extent have fraud and peculation crept
into the mani cement of Indian affairs, and 80
glaring and shameful have these frauds become
that indignant public opinion will not longer look on
with Indifference and unconcern, but demands that
these matters be looked into, and the wrongs rghed
as fer as possible, and that policy be adopted
which will conform with the dignity and character of
our government, and secure at the same time full
and ample justice to suffering and outraged people.
That these wrongs and abuses do now exist and to
fearful extent we think no one at all acquainted
with the facts will deny. If proof upon this point
were wanting or demanded we have but to refer to
the statements Of all who have Investigated the
question and to those most familiar with our present
management, and TO those who are strenuous advo-
Gates of the present system and who ask its con-
tpuation and seem to believe in its ultimate success.
very important question aries here to the
causes of these wrongs and Encouragement.
Is it a wicked purpose Oh the part of the govern
ment to wantonly and cruelty inflict injury upon
these helpless and defenseless Indians? We do not
SO believe If not then it follows that the defect lies
in the system adopted in the management of Indian
affairs connected with the inefciency or dishonesty,
OF both, of those who charged with the carrying
out of the details of the system.
To go back into the history Of the question 1t will
be found that the system of management has al
ways been virtually, the system in vogue. Even
while it was nominally under the war department.
prior to 1919, it was very much the same as now
Whatever failures or wrongs have characterized our
management in the past justly chargeable to the
present system, and whatever of has attend
eJ that management should be credited to that sys
tenn.
Year after year large amounts of money have been
expended with view to civilize these people, yet
failure is written upon every page Of the past history
of efforts in this direction The Inauguration OF
the "peace policy in 1868 by President Grant, in the
opinion of the undersign ed was Virtual admission
that the Indian bureau incapable of the proper
conduct of Indian affairs and was compelled to dele
gate much of its authority to other hands.
From the slow progress made in civilizing, educa.
ting and outstanding the Indians to which your
commission had their attention called while amongst
them last fall, there is doubt We should try some
method of dealing with this question different from
that now in vogue The flowing accounts of rapid
strides of Indians in ways of civilization are not
borne out by facts. Shameful irreg ularties and
gross frauds have cfept into every branch OF the sell
vice. No is found who has the hardihood to de-
ny that the history of such frauds is visible on every
page of Indian management fer the last score or
more of years indeed, SO fragrant are those frauds
and SO defiant have their perpetrators become that
appears to be notorious fact that ring exists COM
posed of contractors, employees Of the bureau and
wealthy and influential persons outside, whose OBJ
ject is to swindle and defraud both the government
and Indians.
The opinion of the undersigned is that these frauds
will forever exist, with the most vgilant and
scrupulous honesty brought into the management OF
the bureau, because we believe the method or system
Of that department is inadequate to prevent fraud
however honest the head Of the Office may be and
for the reason that the system Of Accountability in
the department is close enough to detect corrup-
ton.
We are asked the very pertinent question whether
or not the same abuses and frauds would be prac-
tced if the management should be transferred to the
War Department? We think not for few yery
plain and obvious reasons, to wit: Whatever else
may be said of army officers they are as class
of high honor and strict integrity. Their train
ing has impressed these high qualities upon them
and their associations require their constant observ-
ance Every officer in the army is check upon
every other officer, and such is the system of ac-
countabiity in the army that it nearly not quite
impossible for an Officer to act dishonesty without
beng detected and upon being detected punishment
follows swiftly and surely With civil agents this is
not the case They are appointed generally as parti-
aud for limited time subject to removal at any
time, paid small salaries and can only hope to
hold the position few years at the most and hence
have not The same inducements to act honestly and
fairy that army officers have. We do not undertake
say that the War Department is perfect in its
management that abuses do not in Its admins
traion also, but think it compares favoraby with
any other Department and that fewer instances of
dishonest practices have been laid to its charge than
TO almost any other branch of the public service.
Next to the question of absolute justice to the In
dams that Of the comparative cost Of the two
systems and we are decidedly of the
opinion that large amount OF money can
and will be saved if this transfer is made.
If the committee say that it be true that army officers
perform the duties of the indian agents faithfully,
diligently and honestly civil agents, if the war de-
parJment can purchase as cheaply as the Indian bu-
reau if means OF transportation in the war depart
superior, if the systems of inspect ion are
equal if army officers are not apt to become vic
Tins of temptation, if we can secure more faithful
and honest administration through army officers and
thereby avoid come if not all Indian wars; if these
or any number of these propositions be true, then
who can say we shall not save millions in Indian
management if this transfer is made, and at the
same time secure justice to the Indians the lack of
which has caused SO much trouble.
The report concludes: We believe the interest of
government and the good of the Indians will be best
promoted by transferring the management of the In
dian affairs to the department., leaving it discre-
tonary with the Secretary OF War to appoint civil
agents to those agencies, which, in his judgment the
interest of all concerned would be best secured by
such agents and officers of the army where the inter-
est of the servce renuires it,