The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-21

care Of horses, arms and equipment, cloth
ing, barracks, mess rooms And kitchehs,
they are at least equal to soldiers OF other
races Of no greater sxperience;
airy, recruited from the Grow tribe. though
none Of its member had had more than five
months service, furnishcd as early as Sc p
tembar Ii last. its full quota of non-com-
missioned officers, ~trumPters. and privates
f~or(cvard, fatigue. and other post duties:
and on 4 recent two weeks practice march
OF the command TO which it belongs demon
strated It's capacity for the performances OF
the various duties of the expedition. Moth
iug u~nfavorable has been brought. to the
attention of the department regarding the
utility rs military organizations OF the In
dian com of either arm, hut 50 far
there is every reason to believe that much
more than was expected Of the EXPERIMENT.
will be realized. They are treatea IN all
RESPECTS like other soldiers. and the same
duties are required OF them. ihey are
dressed the same, fed the same, taught to
cook and cat their food in the same manner.
ana in every respect they strive earnestly
to equal, and, if possible. Guido their white
comrades. All commands are given in
English, and though few of them under.
their orders quickly and make rapid pro-
gress in drill. :,
The habit Tor a few years of wearing good
olcthes. eating good food we'll cooked by
themselves, and living in clean and COM
Portable quarters, and the lesson that these
comforts are earned by their own good con-
duct, will not be entirely lost upon men of
any race or color. They are receiving in
struction in English and in the methods of
civilized life that will help them to help
themselves when discharged. They will be
impressed with the power OF the govern
ment and the folly and futility OF DISC
bediencs OF its authority.
Twenty-eight army posts. about one
fourth Of the entire numbe June ], 1883,
have been abandoned since that Ate. Ten
or twelve more can be abandone0 as soon
as suitable shelter for the troops IS
troops should be assembled by regiments or
at least battalions, in we'll built posts at
strategic and convenient points as rasldly
as il can be done consistently with ado
quate protection against possible Indian
depredations. Even for this purpose it has
toned at convenient railroad centsrs
at posts nearer the scene Of
trouble but not on the railway. Besides
the economy of transportation. supplies,
ETC., q much greater percentage OF men IS
available for service from a large post than
from a small one. Fewer are employed
outside of their Legitimate military duty,
and the discipline and drill Of the COM
mand is improved.
At the beginning of this administration
there wera licensed post traders at most
army posts. They were a privileged class,
exempt from taxation because located on
government reservations, and had practi-
cally a monopoly of the trade in such arti-
cles az we're not furnished or sold by the
quartermaster or cQmmissary. Wherever
cities and villages have grown up near the
formerly remote western posts. and the
post trader has thus ceased to be a neces-
sity. it has been my purpose to dlscon-
tinue the system as rapidly as possible, and
permit the trade of military posts outside
Of the ordinary governmental supplies TO
take it's regular channels. On the 4th OF
traders. There are now but TWENTY-FIVE.
and seven of these have been notified that
their licenses will be revoked with
in a short time at q date so fixed
as to give them al opportunity to sell or
reduce their stocks. -Four OF the remain
ment has been ordered, or soon will be, 80
that at the end of the fiscal year there will
be only eleven remaining.
The parties who held these privileges had
large personal and political influence, and
it has not been an easy or a pleasant task
had invested considerable capital in these
enterprises, and were therefore entitled to
consideration and a reasonable time to
close their business. But their profits had
been large, and I believe no injustice has
been done them. 1t was a pernicious sys-
TEN, and necessity was the only excuse for
its existence at any time. 1t has outlivsd
whatever usefulness it may ave had, and
its longer continuance is not for the inter
est Of the service or for the public good.
The present method of allotment of the
annual appropriation Of $40O, 600 for arm
scribed by the act of Feb. 10, 1887 ga Stats.,
401), and which gives to each state an
amount proportionate to its congressional
representation, is not such as to produce
the best results. The aid given different
states is very disproportionate. The
states is not more than half that received
by others that maintain double the number
of men in their national guard.
There is no induosment for the mainten-
ance of a greater number of militia than is
actually required by the law, but rather the
reverse, If economy is consulted. The
allotment as now made is not based upon
what the states do in return for the appro-
priation, but what they ought to do. 1t
would be better to help those who help
themselves. If the appropriation. or sven
one-half of it, was distributed upon tho
basis of the effective force of the national
guard maintained by the several states, it
would better accomplish its purpose of
encouraging organization.
In conclusion Secretary Proctor calls the
attention Of the president to the full ac-
count, in the report of Gen. Schofield, of
the operations of the army last winter dur
ing the troubles with the Sioux Indians.
This campaign, which was made in mid
winter in a severe climate, was conducted
in a manner deserving commentator.
The character and attainments Of the
older officers of the army, who made their
records during the great war, is too well I'M
derstood to require any mention; but / wish
to pay a well-deserved tribute to the younger
officers, who have not had the great war
opportunities of their seniors. Nothing in
my connection with the army has surprised
and Rratifed me SO much as the general
high character and professional attain
ments of the OUNCE officers of the army,
who have made the most Of their oppo.-
t~unities under the conditions of COMPARE
tive peace. 1t is upon them that we must