Evening journal., 1891-02-02
CONGRESS IS AT FAULT.
The Presidents Views on the
Indian Question.
REDMEN ARE NOT ROBBED TODAY.

He Says ahe Administration Has Fui1x
Done It's Duty iD the Premises and
That II the sioa1 Have Been Deceived
He Could Not Prevent NJ.
NEW York, Feb 2.-The World pub-
fishes an interview with the president an
the Indian question. The president showed
both by words and manner that he was
keenly interested in the subject and lad
closely studied the situation at Pine Ridge.
He said Some Of these grievance ere
real, some are imaginary, some are in
evltable consequences Of our form OF gov
eminent. The Indian is naturally i'll
provident He win gorge himself and his
family today until his skin and their ms
are hursting-he will eat ten days rations
IN one, and then complain because fresh
supply = not forthcoming the instant his
appetite heckons
In past years he has often, no doubt.
been robbed by cattle rings, by agents and
by traders, precisely as the army during
the war was robbed Soldiers got s. ner
shoes and shoddy overcoats. The indian
has often received poor clothing and iaoily
rations
Not Robbed Today.
But ! do not believe the Indians are
robbed today When / entered upn,s my
public duties certain men were RECON-
mended for removal. The causes aasipped
would have removed them under ia. civil
service eruie-incompetency immorsi,tg ov
dishonesty. They were promptly ren wed
and their places filled by men recommended
by authorities who were in position to
know. Political or partisan reasons had
nothing to do with it, Some Of tho new
appointees proved inefficient and sven. 81
once dismissed
where the Delay Begins.
II have no doubt the Indian thinks he IL
being robbed, because on SATURDAY. he for
gets that on the previous Monday he ate
his entire week rations Also he doe rot
comprehend why his supplies are cut town
aud delayed. That is not my fault nor the
fault Of the secretary Of the interior. nor
that Of the commissioner Of Indian az RS.
The commissioners promptly reports to the
secretary, who promptly forwards the re-
ports TO me aud promptly recommend to
congress that the appropriation be prompt.
ly passed in full There my power and Tsv
responsibility and that Of tic Indian ae.
hartment end uro ...sse delay begiDs ~
couEress 10 Blame.
Congress does the cutting down az
which the Indian compfins. and the ,gis-
dom Or folly of this IS heyoad my control
do know, however, that the moment ecn.
gress appropriates the money every dollar
81 y Is ~ once applied 60 the Indians
wants, and the entire machinery Of The In
dian department is put In swift motion rs
ST the supplies ont as soon as possible.
but months or perhaps years have elapse,I
since the treaty. and the Indian complains
that the department has acted IA bad
faith The department has been Ia ~
wise 10 blame
How many entirely inst bills for the
relief Of white men have been ignored for +
years and viii be ignored BY congress for
al time. have repeatedly seen claims of
undonbted Justice oscillate from house 10
senate, until the claimants died or aband-
oned hope. These are inevitable. and If
The Indian finds them in bis lot it is the
iault OF neither the administrative nor the
executive branches Of the government.
Satisfied with the Present Regime.
These Sioux complained Of Agent Spen-
ceE, of Rosebud. The complaints were az
once investigated and, being found lust.
Spencer was removed Agent Gallagher
az Flne Ridge was obnoxious. The moment
This was known TO me he was removed
stand ready to remove any agent or em-
pioye of the department against whose
honesty, morality or efficiency ana serious
charge can be substantiated.
- am entirely satisfied with the present
81 Indian affairs It is
thoroughly honest and intelligent, and no
complaint has been given against IL during
me past two years that has not at once re-
ieived prompt attention and the cause been
No Help for the Redmen.
Il shall talk with this Sioux delegation
Z they desire q council: shall give them a
oil hearing, and II any wrongs are pre-
entea they will be met promptly and thor
'ughiy. believe, however, that the main
Is one beyond my control-tbe
ardiness with which congress has ratified
he agreement made with them by the
sioux commission, two years ago, and the
hitting down Of the appropriation recon-
nended for the current year
THAT they have been robbed bv agents
turing my administration know person
lily is not true. That matter has been
thoroughly sifted, and the charge found
panting"
The president spoke with great earnest
ess and with evident knowledge OF his
nblect. lie has weighed this question
arefully, and at the council there is no
onbt the delegation will have full oppor-
unity to present their wrongs, real or fam
led.