Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-02-14

ents and agents, being few in number
made reports to the war office, it is also
true that neither tie secretary of war
, or any officer in the war department
mad anything to do with the appoint
ment of these officers, nor was the war
Office charged with the duty of super.
visIng them or controlling in any num-
her up TO 1854.
BY the act of 1884 the secretary of
war was given sort of general super.
intendeney Of the 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 large majority of the agents
selected were taken from civil life and
as much machinery employed in the
conduct OF Indian affairs as now, we
claim that the Indian management has
ever been, substantially ut least. as at
the present time. Year after year large
amounts of money hav, been expended
with view to civiIizing these people
and yet failure is written upon every
page of the past history of our efforts in
this direction. The Inauguration ofthe
peace policy" in 1868 BY President
Grant, in the opinion of the undersigned
was virtual admission of that. With
civil agents this is not the case. Thew
are appointed generally as partisans and
tor limited time, subject at any time
to removal, paid small salaries and can
only hope to hold the position for a few
yeare at 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 is so perfect in manage. |
ment that abuses do not occur in its
management, also. but we think it com. |
pares favorably with any other depart.
ment, and that fewer instances of dis. |
honest practices have been laid to its
charge than to almost any other branch
Of public service.
Next to the question of absolute ius.
tice to Indians. comes that of the COM
parative cost of the two systems
and we are decidedly of the opinion
that large amount of money can and
will ne saved if the transfer is made.
II it be true that army officers can per.
form the duties Of Indian agents az
diligently and honestly as civ.
] agents have and are doing, and if the
war department can purchase as cheap.
y as the Indian bureau, and if the
means OF transportation in the war de-
oartment are much superior, and if sys.
ems OF inspection are equal, aud if
'rmy officers are not so apt to become
'ictims of temptation. and if we can Sc.
'ure more faithful and honest admins.
ration through army officers, and there.
" avoid some, if not all Indian wars.
ve say, it these or any number Of these
Propositions be true, then who will saw
hat we shall not save millions of dol.
ars in our Indian management if this
ransfer is made. and tina. the same
ime it will secure justice to the Indian.
he lack of which has caused SO much
rouble.
The report concludes:
We believe that the interests of the
government and the good Of the Indian
will be best promoted by transferring
he management Of Indian affairs to the
var department, leaving it discretionary
With tho secretary Of war to appoint
'ivil agents to those agencies which in
us judgement the interest Of all con.
'erned will be best secured by such
gent, and the officers Of the army
where interests Of the service require.