The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-20
LET THE ARMY TAKE CHARGE.

- hTNtN@ N@tiF1fANNGs
It takes now, under the present ar
cengoment, two great departments OF
tho government to handle any Indian
outbreak. The Interior Department
mas charge of the Indian bureau, but
Is powerless 10 suppress outbreaks
without calling upon the War Depart
mont. Much confusion and delay,
therefore, must necessarily result in
tho general handling Of the Indian
problem, when the work is divided be-
tween two independent heads. But
still greater item is the cost and dis
satisfaction resulting from putting the
Indian bureau in the Interior Depart
ment.
There are some thirty or forty In
dian agencies, the sslar,e s and sppro-
priations for which amount to many
thousands annually. In many cases
these agents have grown rich ofi sal
aries under $1,000 per annum, an utter
impossibility except by fraud and ras-
cality of bold type. Aud the conduct
and theits of these agents have be- on
chiefly productive of the greater
number of the Indian troubles
| and yet the army is divided up among
thsso reservations and all the machin-
cry that is required to handle the
agency, paid for literally doing moth
ing. Every command at a reservation
could take full charge thereof, without
extra expense to the government and
conduct its affairs In better shape
and with more prompt and decisive
action than is now the case with tho
cumbersome machinery of tho Interi-
or Department.
Indian inspectors, special Indian
agents and tho officials at tho agen.
cies could be respected by army Off
GERS whose labors are now light and
pay excellent and saving OF many
tens Of thousands of dollars be secured
for tho government. But the saving
in tho matter Of the purchasing of sup
plies Is an additional reason for turn
ing the Indian bureau over to the
War Department. The army stores
could be drawn on for the
heavy supplies furnished annually
TO the tribes and the nations
and other supplies could be obtained
by them regularly, as obtained by the
army, and much complaint be stopped
If tho soldiers are to have the Chief
responsibility for the suppression OF
these outbreaks and are to be con :
stantly used for police duty on the
plains and at the reservations, they
should have also the full police pow
ors,the shaping Of the policy and the
sAy.so in the treatment necessary to
absolutely control those savage wards
Of the nation and prevent uprlsings
and massacres. The recent troubles
bring again prominently 10 the front
these many reasons for transferring
tho Indian TO the war department.
The matter has been again and again
mooted, but 80 far without success.
Western people are OF all others the
mostly directly and deeply Interested
in the prompt and energetic solution
Of this Indian question, and it Is
doubtful II the matter will ever be sat
isiactorily settled until tho army is
given full management. Western rop-
resentatiyes in Congress can bring
about the transfer, II 80 Disposed, and
their constituencles,could engage in no
moro laudable work than educating
them, this fall, mp to tho gravity AND
necessities of the situation. 1t seems
to us tho transfer should DO made, but
an exhaustive discussion might do.
volop strong consideration against it.
The matter at least should have q full
and thorough hearing and discussion
by Congress next winter.