Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-01-17
The NATloN's WARDS,

lndi2n Commissioner 0berIy Submits
His Annual Report.
Washington, ID. O., Jan. 15-John 81.
Oberly, commissioner of Indian affairs,
has submitted to the secretary of the in
terror, the report Of the operations el
his bureau for the the year ending June
80, 1888. The commissioner, in the
present report discusses tine act of July
2. 1855, by which the authority and
duties of the superintendent OF India
school We're intended, end says that
these additions have raised certain ques-
tions concerning the relations of that
otfioer to the Indian bureau. The com.
missioner reaches the conclusion that the
most natural. economical and effective
administration OF Indian school affairs
will be secured by enlargipg the preroR-
stiyes Of the superintendent, first, by
placing under his immediate charge all
matters connected with ell branches of
Indian education, instead of restricts
ing him in two lines OF work in
connection with but one cless of schools
end. second, by providing that he shall
perform the official functions necessary
an the discharge OF such enlarged duties
through the bureau of Indian affairs
may place at the disposal of the suparin.
tendent the entire official machinery of
the bureau by the use of which nearly
eli the business in relation TO Indian
schools is and must be transacted.
The commissioner recommends that
some important changes in the method
of making purchases of Indian supplies
& much more satisfactory method, he
thinks would be for the Indian bureau
| 10 submit to bidders q standard sample
| of each article instead of beng submit.
ted to the large variety OF samples Of
each article. Thus the question of price
would alone have to do considerable II
awarding contracts, and nothing more
would be required of the commissions,
than the making OF the award to the
lowest bidder. To make the inspection
of such goods as blankets, cloths, cloth.
ing, etc, intallible, accurately adjusted
machinery and other appliances for test
ing the strength of fabrics could anC
should be supplied.
The com missioner favors The exten
sion Of the provisions of the civil service
law to the Indian service end says thu
he would advise that this extension bt
made Immediately if he we're not fearful
il taken now. 1t would be robbed o.
much of its-effectiyenes by being attri-
buted to partisan rotivss.
] In conclusion the com missioner says
l"I have no donbt that under the favor.
able conditions of an Indian service il
which the evils of what is known as the
party spoils system OF appointment arc
dismissal would be minimized and il
which intelligence and jealous actor
might confidently anticipate the support
of the government; in which, too de-
votion and efficiency might labor assured
of the applause OF the people and honest
administration do ITS perfect wcrt
| promptly on all occasions without re-
| huke or fear OF prosecution: the Indian
question, in ell it's perpleyiug features
might be transmitted from O demoraIiz
ing political question into not danger
ous sooial question.
The Iudian must be taught how tt
labor, and, that labor may be made
necessary to bis we'll beng, he must b.
taken out of the reservation, through
the door of the general s!totment act
and he must be imbued with the exalt.
ing eeotism of American civilization, 81
that be will say 81" instead OF 1--WE,
aud "this is mine" instead OF "thIs il
ours" But if he will not learn; if b,
shall continue to persist in saying, 81
sm content let me slone"-then tn
guardian must act for the ward and d,
for him the good service which he pro
tests shall not be done. The good ser
vice he denounces as bad service.