The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-02-06


The report of the four members who
favor the transfer has just been com.
pleted by Representative Boone, and
will be submitted to the House the first
opportunity. The principal features OF
the document are as follows:
The history of our management Of Indian
shame nr Of :. the +
ing and liberal-minded men. A proper solu-
ton of the Indian problem Is pressing it.
self more strongly upon the public attention
every year, demanding the immediate atten-
tion OF Congress, and cannot, with either safe
be longer deferred. The failure on the part
of our Government to discharge its duty to
the Indians is not confined to the last few
years. Our wrongful treatment of them is
co-equal with our existence, though not to
the same extent in the earlier and purer days
as at present. During all the years past COM
plants have been made Of violated pledges,
broken promises, and lack OF efficient
and responsible management. Indeed,
the system of the management OF
the Indian affairs we have pursued Ut
to the demands of our duty. Nor has It met
the expectations of its instigators and advo-
Gates, and to such an extent have these
wrongs been multiplied, and to such extent
have frauds and peculation crept into the
m8U8X0Wcut
and shameful have these frauds become that
indignant public opinion will not longer look
on with Indifference and uncOncern, but de-
mands that these matters be looked into, and
the wrongs, so far as possible, be righted, and
that policy be adopted which will conform
with the dignity and character OF our Gov
eminent, and secure at the same time full!
and ample justice to suffering and outraged
people. ..
nm. ~ and oh ID ov3o
and to fearful extent, we think no one at
all acquainted with the facts will deny. II
proof upon this point were wanting or de-
manded, we have but to refer to the state
ments Of all who have Investigated the ques.
ton, and those familiar with our present
strenuous advocates of the present system,
and who ask its continuance, and who seem
to believe in its ultimate success.
To 20 back into the history of this question,
it will be found that our system of Indian
management has always been, virtually and in
it was nominally under the War Department,
prior to 1S49, the system was very much the
same as now. We are aware that the general
impression is, that before that time differ
ent system prevailed, and a.r,t the change change
ment, was radical change in the sys-
tenn; but such is not the case, and
while it is true that Superintendent and
Agents, being few fnInumber, made reports to
the War Office. it is also true that neither the
Secretary of War nor any officer in the War
Department had anything to do with the ap-
pointment of these officers, nor was the War
Office charged with the duty of supervising
them, or controlling them in any manner up
to 1884. While, by this act Of 1884, the Sec
pef1ntendence of the conduct of Agents and
Sub-Agents (appointed by the President), and
while by that act the President was authorized
to select military men to discharge the duties
of Indian Agents, it is further true that a
large majority of the Agents selected were
taken from civil life, and much of the sam e
machinery was employed in the conduct of
Indian affairs as now.
We claim that the Indian management has
ever been substantially at least as at the pres
emit time. Therefore, whatever failure or
wrongs have characterized our management
in the past are justly chargeable to our pres
ent system, and whatever Of success has at
tended that management should be credited
to that system. Year after year large amounts
civilizing these people, and yet failure is writ
ten upon every page of the past history of our
efforts in this direction. The Inauguration of
the peace policy in 1868 by President Grant,
In the opinion OF the undersigned, was Q vir-
tual admission that the Indian Bureau was in
affairs, and was compelled, therefore, to dele
gate much Of its authority to other hands.
From the show of progress made in civilizing,
educating and Christianizing the Indians, to
which your committee had their attention
called while among them last fall, there is no
room to doubt that we should try some
method of dealing with this question differ
emit from that now in vogue. The glow
ing accounts Of the rapid strides of the
Indians in the way Of civilized life, and
their rapid march to the standard Of civiliza-
ton. are not borne out by facts. Shameful
la {k how int
every branch of the Indian Service. No one
Is found with the hardihood to deny that the
history of such frauds is visible on every page
of Indian management for the last score or
more of years. Indeed, so fragrant are the
frauds and so defiant have their perpetrators
become, that 1t appears notorious fact that
. ring exists, composed of contractors, en-
ployes of the bureau and wealthy and influen-
ttal persons outside, whose object is to swim
die and defraud both the Government and the
Indians. The opinion entertained by the un-
dersigned is that these frauds will forever
exist, even with the most vigilant, scrupulous
honesty which can be brought into the man
agement of the Indian Bureau. because we be-
lieve the method or system of that department
Is inadequate to prevent fraud, however hon.
est the head Of the office may be, and for the
reason that the system OF accountability IN
corruption.
We are asked the very pertinent question
whether Or not the same abuses and frauds
would be practiced II the management should
be transferred to the War Department. We
think not, for fair and very plain and obvi-
Gus reason, to-wit: Whatever else may be
said of our army officers, they are, IS class,
men Of high honor and strict integrity. Thet r
upon them, and their association requires
their constant Observance. Every officer in
the army is q check upon every other officer,
and such is the system OF accountability in
the army that it is nearly Il not quite i'm
possible for an officer to act dishonesty with
out being detected, and upon being detect
ed, punishment follows swiftly and surely.
With civil Agents this is not the case. They
are appointed generally as partisans and for
limited time, subject ut any time to re-
moval, paid small salaries, and can only hope
to hold their position q few years at the most,
and hence have not the same inducements to
act honestly and fairly that an army officer
has. We do not undertake to say that the
War Department has such perfect manage
ment that abuses do not occur In its adminis-
tration also, but We think It compares favora-
bly, with any other department and that fever
to its charge than to almost ally other branch
of the public service.
Next to the question of absolute justice to
the Indians, comes that Of the comparative
cost Of the two systems, and we are decidedly
u tu0 ORmAO0 tu8t - AAlkO 8AAO0uS Va AAAOuOy
can and WIN be saved, If the transfer be made.
II, the committee say, It be true that army
officers can perform the duties of Indian
Agents as faithfully, diligently and honestly as
civil agents have, and are doing; and II the
War Department can purchase as che apply as
the Indian Bureau; and II the means Of trans
portation in the War Department are much
superior; and II the systems of inspection
are equal: and If army officers are not so
apt to become victims Of temptation; and
II We can secure more faithful and
honest administration through such army
officers, and thereby avoid some, II not all,
the Indian wars-we say. 1t these. or any
number of these, propositions be true, then
who can say that we shall not save millions of
dollars in our Indian management II this
transfer is made, and at the same time secure
justice to the Indians, the lack of which has
caused 90 much tr0uble2
The report concludes:
We believe the interest Of the Government
and the rood Of the Indian will be best pro-
mo1e6 ~ transferring the management Of
~ ~ A. 49, UY~s>n NJ N~~S