Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-11-03
WEEKLY CITIZEN. SATURDAY.. NOVEMBER 3, ISs5
RorrPNn nrpAPraIrNT.

It Is customary for the Commissioner
 of Indian affairs to render an annual re-
 port of the condition of the Indians
 throughout the United States, and
 make such suggestions as he may deem
 necessary as to needed changes, and ask
 for more orless aid to carry out hls
 plans for the civilization of the heather,
 as well as Christian, Indians. MF. Price,
 the present head of that department,
 has sent forth his report for this year.
 He says: "Arong the things needed to
 secure success and efficiency in solving
 the Indian problem are, first, an appro-
 printioa Co survey out the boundaries Of
 the Indian reservations, so that both
 the Indians and white men may know
 where they have rights and where they
 have none; second, a law for the punish
 ment Of persons who furnish arms and
 ammunition to Indians-no such law
 now exists; third, more liberal appropri-
 ations for the Indian Police; fourth, an
 appropriation sufficient to defray the
 expense of detecting and prosecuting persons who furnish intoxicating liquor
 to ludians.7
 This passage from the commissioners
 report reads very well; it is only right
 that both whites and Indians should
 know where reservation lines are lo-
 csted. but so long as such lines exist they should be observed by both par
 ties; the whites should not be allowed to encroach upon Indian reservations,
 nor should Indians be allowed of the reservations; but if they should cross the reservation lines it should be lawful
 for any citizen Of the United States to kill them oa sight, provided that he gets the first saot, and the entire tribe should be held responsible for the good behav- ior Of each and every member of that tribe.
 We fully agree with the commissioner | that persons who furnish arms and am munitiou to IndIans," and sell whisky to | them, should be punished; and as post l traders and men connected with | the Indian Department furnish most | of the arms and ammunition, as well as sell them most of the | liquor, We would suggest that he be- gin this reform at once. He should be able to punish his subordinates, even though there may be no law for punish ing outsiders who sell arms and ammu- milton to the Indians.
 The commissioner thinks Congress should confer both civil and criminal jurisdiction on the several states and territorias over all the Indian reserva- tious within their respective limits and make the personal property of Indians gmeuable to the laws ot the state or territory an which they may reside, eZ- cept in ca-es where such property is expressly exempted by a treaty CT act Of Congress, and gave him all the rights in courts enjoyed by other persons This is good and sound prapositiUn; give the Indian all the rights in the courts enjoyed by other persons, but don't c3utinue Co give him more rights than are enjoyed by citizens.
 The commissioner is sorely agEueved because certain attorneys have entered into contracts with Indians n which said attorneys are 70 receive large fees. This Is certainly an injustice to the h. dians and no attorneys or so-called at Joueys should be allowed to meidle with the government in its dealings with the Indians. B1t this is not the worst feature il connection with the h. dian service. and We regret that the com Inissioasz, hos, us usual, entirely overlooked lt It is the steal ing that is done by the commission CTS own subordi1ases, in comparison to which the attorneys fees referred to is in about the proportion Of 8 mouse.to a grisly bear. The country is well aware, and 1-r. Price must know It better than almost any other man, that the Indian department is one of the most corrupt departments ever organized under our form of government. Not only this, but, the whole system is a fraud and farce on tbe people ot the United States, and an outrage on the pioneers of the west who are compelled to suffer from the bad effects Of the system which has grown up, and which is administered without grain of common sense, or a particle of ! justice either Go Indians or white men. It is slmply department carrying an immense patronage, that affords a null . ,itude Of sinecures, which are filled by the Interior department, and its sub, Indian department, with men whom we regret to say, are too often wanting in every qualification necessary to properly fn the offices t7 which they are ap- pointed
 We have had an example right here in , our midst; a man was indicted, and |; strong effort was made to try him &C., } cordiug to law; but the alleged criminal in one way or another, succeeded in the wheels of justice, and even went so far as to spirit away an im- , portaut witness in the case, which was not brought about by any love said wit , ness had for the alleged criminal. At 1 the time the case was mp for trial, the . CITIZEN was ol the impression that there , was more 0f au effort to persecute, than there was Go prosecute, but from tha- has since accidently ( fallen into our hands, We are satisfed . that undue means were made use Of to ( put an important witness for the prose cuhon out of the way, which ia all , probability will put the alleged culprit l beyond the power Of the district attor- uey to convict
 The CITIZEN finds no fault with our [ present Secretary of the Interior for the [ condition Of the Indian De- ] pertinent. 1t is just what he found 1t when he assumed control. But there a are many changes and improvements he | could make, or suggest, which would at least show bis good intentions 10 inau- gurate much needed reforms.
 JUDGE DAVID DAVIS thinks that if the voters Of the country could have their say about the nomination -