The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-27
THE indian BUREAU TRANSFER.
Report OF tho Pour Members OF the Joint
Committee who Favor It.

wAsHISaroN Jan. 96.-The four members
OF the Joint committee appointed by tho two
Houses OF Congress at its last session who favor
the transfer Of the management OF Indian
affairs from the Interior TO the War Depart
ment have Just completed their report. and
Representative Andrew r Boone OF Kentucky
will submit 1t TO the House at the fret oppor-
tunty. The report gives n history Of Indian
management In the past. and SAYS that what
ever failures or wrongs have characterized II
are Justly chargeable to the present system. and
whatever OF success has attended II should be
credited to that system. The report continues:
Year sneE year large aT9gns Of money have eeenss
In the face OF the facts compelled to admit that
gs S TT Sn SEe M sES % Hs a d Se % S
policy" in s by President Grant the opinion % the
undersigned was a virtual admission that the Indian
Bureau incapable o the proper eonipct OF Indian
Of is suthonty 10 ether hands Prom the slow progress
which has been made IN eiyiizins cduesun and ehri.
the lndAns to which your Committee had their
attention called while among them last fall. u would
sSms met6od Of GeaiSs % with tbs sacstoa dirsrsa,
ron rs; 10 yog1e %s res,ss G ns sSpse1 e G 70
indians In the ways OF civilized ne and their rapid
out by the fses il hardly Necessary to sdducs
prooit establish The FAC, that shameful lreguisnnes
@Tyies % No one hs. the hardi6ood % deny that DE
Indian Tor the last more OF years
Indeed so naIan are lhss frauds snd 80 defiant hsye
Gus aet that ring exists eompoed OF contractors. EN-.
outside wS Ses TO and er"aS 10Th
Ss S5f Ss @d,p We , o, ts SpS% ns.
yisAnt and se1upulous honesty which can be broaght
believe the method OF systcm OF that department. are
Inadequate 70 preven. fraud however homes. The head OF
accountability In the department is not close enough 10
must Of be TOO much intrassd to The hand. Of
G5 save Se % " .na nay honor Sneh
alas has too often failed when put into he balance with
We are asked the very pertinent question whetnsr or
mot s % should 'Ss @ .eTsa % oe DR. w
ment We think not ueI Alsw ant very PLAIN sni 90, 90
army fcers they class, men Of high honor and
ees n6S Ts % r1nT s sss nSss Ss Rsa
constant observance Every oncer IN the army Is a
sssoSnSSy sssoS %sH twin IL % he army nearly G 2o quite
Impossible ioI an oteeT 70 act dshone Ny without 6ens
swiftly and surely Allowing mat those ofesrs are very
AND ce,SHy We do no, clSim or them any natural sa
perionty 10 hi, regard over o,her men, SUI an army
good behavior Upon THIS he depend. Tor hi. living Ii is
we saS 10 endpg Nm nat honssty /. the best pSey
Viii he oiy agents t6,s IL no, the case they are ap.
pointed generally as pnrusans and for limited hine,
anss and can only hope 10 hold the position Tor a w
a. 10 s honestly S S a y nEs hat S n 'ss sTy ocs
has We do not undertake To say that the war Depart
IN lis administration also but we think it com
SySTs9 I S I9sT ee snl . Ss ~
its charge than 70 almost any branch Of the public
SeXt to the question Of absolute Justice % !hs !hs
two ystems aud we arr decidedly Oi the opinion that
large amount Of money can and VIII be saved 4 This
transfer made. Although the evidence is conflicting
aud somewhat unsatisfactory with regard 20 the pur'
Smss Sn t s %y he Var cannot pScSa
cheAply and transport much more chcapiy than the In
complete and it- isciues ior uan,poauon greatly su
penOr BY the greatest Expense satbutahle To the
frequent Disturbances and periodical Indian the Sc
| b,lng caused principally by the unnithiune.
| Of Indian agents aud others connected with the
supplies The failure ~ hone sty distribute supplies has
| cost the country many millions Of dolHTs hnh many,
vrry many valuable lives Then ii II he true that army
ofcers can perform the duties of Indian agents faith
fully, diligently, and honestly Ms The civil agents have
and are dong and the War Department can purchase
UAnspurtation IN the War Department are 50 much su
perior aud # the sysenso sol inspection are equal and II
| temptation, and II can secure more faithful and
hone Admnstraton through army officers and thereby
any number OF these proposiuon@ be true men VINO
can say that shall not save millions Of dollars IN our
Indian management TINS transfer s made snd nt me
| which has caused 50 much trouble
AlteT careful consideration of all the circumstances
surrounding the question weghlng NE reasons od ana
against best we and not unnindul Of the dlncu
ties surrounding the question, we belche lhat INC N
ba best promoted bY transferring the management OF
Indian affairs 10 the War Department leaving u discre
uCnary with the Secretary Of war 90 nppolnt cyil asthi,
all rned would be best secured by such an agent
and the officers of the army where the Interest OF the
after patent and candid investigation OF the whole
Que have been able To understand ~ NOT
have we relied alone upon the statements aud Opnioni
| O to the failures Of the present system or II,
| feebleness want Oi capacity 10 compass thh gfeAl
question or bring Il to eredilabc issue bn. a majority o.
with their own ears while among the Indians reasons