National Republican., 1883-10-05
rnr NtAN OK rnr AvrNur.
smnn ruih About Men and measures.

Small Talk About Men and Measures.
"Do you know said the old residerit 'how
the custom of displaying the flag on thc do
partment buildings was startcd?'
"No Hasn't it always boen so displayed
during business hours ~
"No, indeed. Up to very nearly tho break
ing out of the war the flag was never moro
frequently displayed over the government
buildings than from others, if, indeed, as fre-
qucntly. But after Floyd resigned from Bu-
chanans cabinet and skipped away southwark,
Judge Holt who was then acting as post
master general, was appointed secretary of
war, Those were pretty serious days
in Washington. You couldn't always
tell whether your neighbor and perhaps
nearest friend was unionist or secessionst
and good many conservative people were
carefully keeping their opinions to them-
selves, waiting to sec which way the cat
would jump or worse still, perhaps secretly
plotting together to seize some strong
advantage and help overthrow tho gov
ornmont. One day, in the winter of
1860 '6l, shortly after Judge Holt was ap-
pointed secretary, the flag floated from the
staff of the war department. friend of
at that time a prominent officer in another
department, happened into the judges office
early in the day, and casually re-
marked: Il SEQ you've hung your
Nag out, Mr.. Secretary. What's tho
occasion of itT 'Oh, we feel safer under the
flag, replied the secretary, grimly and went
on with tho business in hand. All the de-
partments felt safer under tho flag shortly
after A few days, or weeks, perhaps later,
John A. Dix, then secretary of the treasury,
wrote his celebrated shoot.him- on the-spot
letter, and the old flag has been popular
throughout the north over since. And that's
how it camo about that the flag Is displayed
over nearly every government building dur
ing business hours"
@@a
In q chat with an attache of the interior
department and party of outsiders the pre-
diction was mado that members of tho senate
committee on Indian affairs would attack
the management of the Indian bureau and
the policy of the general government toward
the Indians next winter, and that the dis
cussion ensuing would result in important
notifications of existing laws ON the subject.
hope there will be an intelligent investi-
cation into tho business of the Indian
bureau" said tho department att,cho. 1T
is possible that there may be abuses practiced
in the Indian office, but full exhibit of the
work done there and an explanation of the
way it is done and of the methods
employed in tho management of the
| 100000 Indians who are cared for
will do much to disarm criticism, and put the
bureau in its proper light. In their abuse of
the Indian office, the generality of critics,
editorial and otherwise, display boundless ig-
norance not unmixed with malice and un-
reasoning prejudice. l have some knowledge
of the inside workings of the Indian office,
aud believe it to be honestly and prudcntly
managed. 1t is operated as nearly as it can
bo done on correct business principles. The
regulations prescribed by law, and by the
secretary of the interior and commissioner of
! Indian affairs, for the purchase and distribu-
tion Of supplies and for the government of the
Various tribes are rigid and comprehensive.
! They aim to cover all points and to guard
against dishonesty and fraud in every form.
| The rules are so strict in many cases as to
seem almost unjust and many of the very best
agents in the employ of the government arc
threatening 10 leaVe on account Oh tne emoar'
/ easements they encounter in the collection o.
money coming to them. They say they arc
subject to annoyance and loss every day o
their lives, and that tho iron clad rules laid
down by the department of the interior fol
the observance of its disbursng officers are un
necessarily onerous. This is debatabll
question, however, and congress will not be
likely to give tho men who disburse So, OlC
annually for the support of tho Indians any
more license than they now enjoy. Tho ten
dency will doubtless be the other way"
w
"Did you know" queried the department
attache, that the existing Indian reserva
tons number about 40 and embrace an arei
of not less than 15O,oOOoOO acres? No
| thnnnht not This is nm nren four timns