Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-02-14
THE INDIAN TRANSFER CUES
TION.
Opposing Report Of the Divided Com
mittee,

the views of Senators Saun.
ders aud Oglesby, and Representatives
Stewart and Van Voorhees,, four of the
eight members of the joint committee
on the Indian transfer question, has
been completed, and will be presented
to the committee tomorrow.
1t is shown that various evils and
abuses grow up under the administra-
tion of Indian affairs by military officers
and Notwithstanding the retormatory
legislation of March 3rd, ls47, they
continued to grow up to the last hour 10
which the war department had control
Of the Indian population and so little
had been done toward Indian civiliza-
ton under the war department mana
agement, that public opinion had acqu-
iesced in the assumption that Indians
were not susceptible of civilization. 1t
is estimated that if all the fighting Tn.
dianss of the country could be got to.
gether, they would not muster n ore
than $4,000, aud the idea of their ever
concentrating for warlike purposes is
simply preposterous. Indian wars on
large scale are over and we may reason.
ably hore that that portion of our ma
tional history IS in the past. In refer
ence to the sentiment of the Indians on
the subject, the secretary of the interior
made to the committee statement. Civ
ing the views and vote of the various
tribes which gives an average vote of
10 to l against the proposed transfer,
nearly all tribes being unanimously op-
posed to the proposition. All religious
denominations in this country are abso-
lutely opposed to the proposed change
Of management. Their opinions and
behests deserve and should receive re.
spectful consideration.
That we have among the quarter of
a million Indians, some unruIy tribes,
is lamentable fact, and to this your COM
mittee would respectfully call la,tention to
Congress. We are Of the opinion that
in such special cases the military should
have temporary control, and that the
President have power to place sach
warlike or unruly tribes under military
discipline, the same as he would city
or state terrorized by mob law or revo
luton. That the Indian can be An.
glo Saxonized is proved beyond all cav
il in the case Of the Winnebagos and
Omahas. who reside on reservations in
Nebraska. They live in comfortable
houses, have good barns, cultivate their
lands and raise as good wheat, corn aud
potatoes as are produced through the
labor of whites. They have churches
and schools, and no more orderly com
munity can be found than on these two
reservations They are petitioning IL
become citizens-a question Of suc''
vital importance in their case that must
soon be solved. Is it necessary to place
these people under military manage.
ment? We think not. Whether the
management of the Indians is or is not
delegated to the war department, q
general system Of reform and improve
ment should continue, and among the
most important things commanding i'm
mediate attention is to provide that al
civil laws of the United States be ex
tended over all Indians who will agree
thereto, with code, of laws applicable
to them, defining crime aud providing
judiciary, especially in what is known
as the Indian Territory. In the opin
ion of the committee such legislation i.
imperatively needed, and no time
ought to be lost in making necessary
provisions therefor. The Indian agent
seems to be the objective point tc
which all those opposed to the present
policy Of government point in scorn de-
rision. They assert that the Indlar
agent is synonymous with fraud and
corruption. The committee made dill
gent inquiry into the present system o
conducted agencies, and are of the op
inion that, as general rule the agen
is more siuned against than SHINING
There are now "a agents employed, ant
every opportunity the department pro
poses to reduce this number by consol
idation of agencies, and lessening o
reservations where it can be done Will
Justice to tribes. Men of integrity VIII
are competent to administer the affair
and agency successfully can in mos
cases get larger salaries at less sacriic
nearer their homes. The salary shonl'
be large enough to employ honorabl
men of decided executive ability and
enable them to take their families t
agencies and to support them there
The pay ought to be more liberal an
: the tenure of office should be secure fo
a term Of years provided the aget
should prove worthy. The laws provic
, ing for punishment of wrongdoers