Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-17
WHAT TO DO WITH 10
Congress Doubtful About Handing
the Indians Over to the Army.
WHO SAYS YES AND WHO NO.
What Senators and Representatives Havc to
Say on the Subject-Opinions of the Secre-
tary Of War and the Commissioners Of In
dian AMAirs.

CHALL THE INDIANS be taken away from
~ the supervision Of the Department of the
Interior and placed under the care Of the
army?
Congress seems to be in doubt about it. But it
is not true, as has been represented, that the
Secretary of War is DESTROYS of undertaking
the contract. A STAR writer spoke to him
yesterday on the subject, and he said:
II think that the management of the Indians
should remain where it is. Fifty years ago
there were reasons enough in iavor of placing
them under the control of the army but the
time has gone by for that. The question of ad-
ministering their affairs is not one of war but
Of peace, save for a small rumpus semi-occa-
sionally. They are very well cared for now,
and see no occasion for such a change Is has
been suggested"
| PUT ONE INDIAN IN EVERY TWENTY SQUARE
| MILES.
Apublic man interested in the Indian ques-
ton suggested what he thought was an admira-
able idea for the solution of the problem. He
said:
There is one Indian to every twenty square
miles in the United States. MY plan would be
to divide the entire country up into districts Of
that size, and to place one Indian in the mid
die of each such section, with the proper
allotment of land as determined by Congress.
| In this manner each Indian would be encysted,
| so to speak, so as to be unable to do any harm
whatever, and no more trouble would be ex-
perIenced on his account. In short, the In
dian problem would be solved"
HE STAR man ran up from the War Depart
| ment to the Capitol and talked with some Of
charge of the administration Of Indian affairs
| in both houses
| ''The present system of managing the In
dams is failure" said Senator Stewart of Ne
yada. Take the people of Washington, put
them on a reservation, feed them and treat them
like the Indians and they would soon become
Just as bad and as difficult to manage"
| POINTS IN FAVOR OF THE CHANGE.
Senator Plumb's reply was:
| "The proposition has many points in its
favor. II it we're carried into effect the civil
and military control over the Indians would be
| brought under the same head. This would be
an important gain, for the reason that the In
| dian entertains instructive respect for
power-that is, visible display of force and not
| something that is to be dreaded afar off. Again,
control by the army would not change with the
| going out of an administration. That would be a
| great advantage. So far the cost Of the
| service is concerned I don't believe that it
would be rendered any less by placing the di-
rectlon Of affairs in the hands of the army.
| There has been a great deal Of talk about the
| dishonesty of Indian agents. but my belief is
| that they are singularly honest class of men.
| That branch of the service is remarkably clean.
| As a matter of fact the agents ought to be paid
| very much better than they are.
| "As for the present trouble, it originated in
| an effort by the Department of the Interior to
forbid an entirely harmless religious ceremony
OF the Indians. lack Of food operating as a con-
| tributory cause. Much might be done to amelio-
rate the condition Of the red man if only the
PhllanthrOpic people. who are SO loud in the
expressions of their sympathy. would exert their
| energies in some practical fashion in his behalf
From season to season Indians Rights Associa-
| tiOns. the members representing the ownership
| OF many millions of dollars worth of property
1 get together at Newport or elsewhere and talk
| sadly about the condition of the Indian Incl
dentally they make a few speeches, criticise
existing methods, drink few bottles of wine,
thing for the individual Indian; they are con-
tent with theorizing."
! Owe THEM LANDS IN sEvERALrY.
There is probably no member Of the United
States Senate who has had such extended OPP
portunities for observing the Indians in their
native wilds as Sanders OF Montana. 1t may
| be said that no man at present living in this
country has enjoyed so dramatic career or
| encountered SO many perils single-handed,
contending. as he was compelled to do for years,
| for the establishment, OF law and order in the
| widest western region against an environment
| Of lawless ferocity which recognized authority
in nothing save the revolver and the bowie
knife. Said he, when the question was put to
| him:
"If the Pine Ridge Indians had not been hud-
died together on a reservation with nothing to
do save to concoct mischief they would not have
formed the plot which has been making so
much trouble. In my opinion, all the Indians,
| with the exception Of some Of the southwest
tribes and possibly the Cheyennes, should be
allotted lands in severalty as soon as possible
and should be required and assisted to settle on
the same, the intervening and surrounding
| territory beini- given to white settlers, who
| would maintain the peace and exercise a civil
izing influence over their copper-colored
friends. When this plan has been carried out
l think that the wisest thing would be to give
such modified supervision as might remain
necessary into the hands Of the military rather
| than the civil power, partly because the army
is independent Of popular elar'or and political
influence"
| AGAINST ANY TRANSFER.
| Among the members Of the Indian affairs
committee on the House side wide differences
Of opinion were found as to the proposition.
The chairman, Judge Perkins of Kansas. ex.
pressed himself very emphatically against the
notion of placing the Indians in care of the
War Department. Said he:
| For many years the Indians were under the
control Of the War Department, and experience
verifies the statement that they are better
cared for by the civil authorities, as under the
present system The treatment Of these people
by the government has steadily improved dur
ing the last twenty-five years. Millions OF
dollars are spent annually for their education
and food lands allotted for their use and
in every way Uncle Sam has been solicitous for
their welfare. The agents employed are honest
men. as the records show, and any one acting
in such a capacity who may be found unworthy
is quickly discharged. The policy of the gov.
eminent has been steadily growing in the di.
| rection of iberality for the Indians-particu.
larly in respect to the instruction of children
in industrial and other schools the intention
being that every child shall have an educa.
ton"
| PUT THEM UNDER THE ARMY.
The next member of the House committee on
Indian affairs took a view Of the situation en-.
tirely opposite. 1t was Mr.. Shively of Indiana,
and he strongly favored the transfer of the In.
dams to the care and protection Of the army.
''As things are now" said he. ''the Indian
bureau il q field for the distribution of patron
age, and under such conditions public inter.
ests are never 80 well served. I want to see the
reservations broken up, the free lunch counter
taken away and the lands allotted as soon az
possible in severalty among the Indians. The
red man should be given all his rights, and
among them the right to earn his bread and
butter. Under army control better discipline
would be maintained and there would be less
peculation and speculation in supplies and
| what not. / conceive that, in any event, the
turning over of the Indians to the War Depart
ment would be merely temporary resort, in