Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-07-25
INDIAN COMMISSIONER MORGAN
TALKS PRETTY PLAIN.

th6hO HGt - SH'H'
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE contracts
for educating Indian children in Catholic
schools for the current year are being
made by the Indian Office directly with
the schools instead Of through the Bureau
of Catholic Missions, as heretofore. The
amount awarded to the Catholic Bureau
for this purpose last year was $3.50, 600.
The amount given to the individual
Catholic school this year will aggregate
more than $500, 900.
In a letter to Father Chapelle, vice
president of the Catholic Missions Bur-
eau. giving the reasons which iniiuenc-
ed his action, Commissioner Morgan
says: On entering upon my present
duties | expressed preference for the
government rather than the contract
system, rs being more in harmony with
American idea of education by means OF
the public schools. At the same time
stated that the schools maintained by
the Government for the education of the
Indians should be strictly non sectarian
and non-paTtisan and further, that the
appropriation of public funds to sectariar
institutions was, in my opinion, contrary
10 the spirit, if not the letter, of the Con
stitution, and opposed TO public policy.
said, however, distinctly and repeat
edly, that it was not my purpose or wish
to interfere in any way with the contract
schools then existing, unless for good
and sufficient reasons, expressing, how
ever a determination not to authorize
any new contract schools.
:" My position ON the question was VIC
lently assaulted by your bureau. False
charges were preferred against me. and
the most determined, but futile, efforts
were made to prevent my confirmation
and to secure my displacement An
employe discharged for cause from this
office was Immediately given employ.
ment By your bureau, where he is still
retained, and during the entire two
years the bureau has both directly and
indirectly, in season and out Of season,
publicly and privately, through news
papers and personal interviews, through
official correspondence and in the lobby
Of Congress assailed the policy of the ad-
ministration and attempted to defeat the
extension and successful operation OF
the government schools. Those in your
employ, in the field and others, instigat-
ed apparently by the attitude of the
bureau, have endeavored, directly and
indirectly, to hinder the efforts of the
government in its beneficent work OF
educating and civilizing the Indian
through its own appropriate means.
These influences emanating from your
bureau have been in some respects at
least hurtful, and it is certainly not its
fault that the government schools have
not been crippled or even destroyed,
While drawing hundreds of thousands
Of dollars of government funds to build
up and sustain the mission schools under
your charge, your bureau has thrown
the whole weight Of its influence against
the government, upon whose bounty it
subsisted.
Your attitude of hostility, criticism
and aggressive antagonism has rendered
official intercourse between your bureau
and this office very difficult and harrass-
ing, largely increasing its work, and
hindering and delaying the general
cause of Indian education. During this
period of time the president of your bur-
eau, Rev. j. A. Stephen, has never, as
far as known, taken any pains to bring
about pleasanter relations with the In
dian office has never spoken to me. or,
SO far as l am aware, been IN the office,
and is entirely unknown to me, even by
sight"
The commissioner then complains of
the bureau for inspiring an article assert
ing that the trouble with the Moqui In
dian in Arizona was due to the commits
sioner's pigheaded opposition to contract
schools, and continuing, says
3" Receiving no explanation or apology
from you therefor, as | had a right to
expect, l sent you word that would be
glad to see you in reference to it, and in
full n
as being displeased with the offensive
article, disclaimed all responsibility for
it, and said that you had reprimanded
the employees of your bureau from whom
it emanated. You admitted that he was
the person who had been dismissed from
this office for cause, and who was at
once taken into your employ, where he
still remains and | pointed out to you
that he had been the promoter of discord
during the last two years, and that, in
my opinion, there could be no harmoni-
Gus relations while he continued in your
service.
u further maintained that no employe
of your bureau. sustaining the relations
it does to this office, has a right to make
these assaults, and suggested, in the in
terests of harmony, that this man be i'm
mediately discharged from your bureau.
To this proposition you would not
consent, although repeating with en-
phasis your disapproval of his action,
stating that it was unwarrantable that
he had used your name W ithout
authority, and that you were both pain
ed and shocked.
" have reflected very carefully over
this matter, taken high counsel regard
ing it, and most reluctantly feel con-
strained to say that the Office declines to
enter into contract with your bureau
for the education of Indian youth"
The Commissioner says that for
the year 1891 81 the bureau officially
requested $4,000, nearly fve,sixths
of the Indian appropriations. THIS
the Commissioner thought unreason-
able, but agreed to 100000. The
government furnished the following
sums to religious bodies for Indian
schools for 1871