Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-04

the territories Thereon there Is III clrculatlOn
general impression TO the effect that monarch
ical institutions are unknown from the Cana
dian boundary line to the Rio Grande. Thi,
idea is erroneous, for no monarch in these
modern days could ever be crowned more auto
cratic in authority than those governmental
delegates who have been appropriately styled
''Indian agents" Practically there is nc
limit 10 the agents power, not even
unconstitutional barrier; that great document on
which the national structure stands does not
recognize the red man of the forest and the
prairie. The Indian u not taxed and, there
fore has no right save the right TO exist as best
he can. Because of the existence of this con-
ditiOn Of affairs the utmost care should be
taken in selecting those in whose hands the
management of Indians is placed. and II Is
really wonderful that little ground
for copper coIored complaint exists when
We glance but for moment at the
methods employed in making appointments to
responsible positions in the Indian service In
the very nature of things political considera-
lions must have preference and ar conse-
3ueuce round men frequently get into square
holes: the results in such instances being
unanimously disastrous. After a while. pro-
vidIng OF course. that the Indians don { die IN
the meantime some arrangement may be made
BY which the good agents IN the service will be
permanently retained and civil service sys-
tenn devised which will recognize nothing bu:
fitness in the matter of new appointments
The AGENTS HANDS ARE TIED.
g., The civilian agent of these days. powerful as
he may be on the reservation over which he
reigns receives but little consideration at the
hands of the authorities in Washington. He
may desire to do much that would be really
beneficial to the Indian, but his hands are gen
orally tied. Recommendations that mean a
great deal-affecring. for good. not only the
savage. but the material progress of the great
northwest also-are remorseiessly pigeon
holed should they not be in accord (and I'M
fortunately they frequently are not) with the
temporary policy of the Indian bureau. In
the absence of other easily understood terms
policy seems to mt the case; II has
fitted il since the Indian bureau
was legislated into existence, and 1t Will
Continue to be the proper term until
some mighty philanthrOpIc upheavai or the abb
sOrptiOn Of the red race shall destroy lmpracti-
Cal theories and change conditions Not for
moment would have any one suppose that my
criticisms are directed specifically at the pres
ent administration They are not. i am not
endeavOring to wound the feelings OF any one.
i simply want to call attention to the fact that
governmental principles and practices IN this
matyer invariably tend toward the ideal. The
experienced agent knows just what his Indians
need and the laws and treaties show him what
his Indians should have. yet he cannot
fulfill ms first duty to that portion of the ma
tion's wards Of which he has been placed In
charge. IL should be the first duty of the agent
To insist that the government lives up to Its
treaty obligations. to see that the government
discharges its responsibility entirely; to satisfy
bimrs II that all the things pr oised the Indians
get To the Indians. But how can he possibly
do this He is a political appointee. retaining
bis position only so long as his influence ID
supreme Except IN rare instances How
then can he insist that the authori-
ties are frequently mistaken In their
IDEAS and actions that some one in power aids
and abets fraud. To be clear. consignment
of annuity goods or cOmmissary supplies
reaches an agency and although every package
IL stamped BY an Inspector certain things are
found to be below known standard. The
honest agent does not want to receive them,
but he reasons correctly that he must do so OF
incur the vicious enmity of some contractor,
whose decapitatiye powers may have been pre-
viously apparent. IL may be that the
Of his superiors and if they pursue the
investigation they invariably bump up against
a greater than they-aSenatOr or two, perhaps,
or the congressional delegations of one or more
states. No agent who desires to retain his
position will ever go through that experience
more than once. The second duty of the agent
wouli be to have the Indians perform their
share of the agreement. but that he can never
succeed ia 30 long as the party of the first part
continues To default
An AGENTS RESPONSIBILITY.
Does anybody not in the Indian service real
lie TIE responsibility which an agent has to
carry! Do the authorities themselves give the
matter the thought it should have: For sew
eral wears have been closely conversant with
the duties that must be attended to by the ef-
ficient agent. and today. III a hurried fashion
4 have noted those that suggested themselves
He is clothed with all the powers-so tar asahe
Indian Is cOucerned-of the entire Judiciary of
the United States. There are no written
m,,ft - Indiana ia IaiIv
curTence for a couple of litigants 10 appear III
the office and there testify TO their respective
Understandings OF contract entered into
II may be. year before. When they get
through with facts and fiction ttbe latter being
quite prevalentJ the agent decides the case
ard from his decision there can be no appeal;
he Is the court of last resort. Over the do
Nestle life of the Indian he has more infiu, nee
than TWO or three cords OF average mission
aries. Today he may marry a couple and to-
InorrJw. Il circumstances demand his inter
yention, he can divorce the bride and groom.
Alrn"ny, the assignment of children and the
division Of property are all settled by him, and
his decisions are accepted with unbroken meek
ne-s and neyer-failing concurrence The
throwing away of wives or husbands always
excltes financial discussion, and at times great
excitement prevails in the families most i'm
mediAteiy interested. One agent know Zone
VI the hes. men ever loaned the Indian service
BY the War Department. refuses to have any,
also endeayOrs To have the would-be Divorces
change their minds and continue To live to-
gether. usually without success. On a reserya-
tion which Is the home of five or six thousand
Indians these domestic troubles occupy a good
ds&A VI the agents time.
WHAT HE MUST Do AND KNOW
The agent Is required TO register all births,
marriages and deaths. must be a financier and
an expert bOokkeeper. or the Indian Office and
the Treasury Department will swallow his sal
AIRY Aad seize upon his official bond: he must
have thorough knowledge Of horses and cat
tie, their ailments and treatment; should be
both an architect and builder: ought to have
the science IT farming. including irrigation nj
his hngers ends; must have a more than or
binary insight into the mechanical trades. MS
acquaintance with common and statut. Law
should be accurate and broad: he will freauentlv
be called upon TO administer medicine mil
teeth and set fractured bones, he must be chief
VI police and sanitary officer or his agency will
soon become dIsOrganiled and unhealthy: IN,
Judgment provisions. clothing and arri-
cultural implements should be un.llling. The
situation requires him To be "A good talker. n
!nsuist a thorough tIsciplInarIau q man Of
gooi judgment and courage. prompt to act in
an emergency. Vet possessed Of a more than
average stock Of patience. Physical endurance
and extraordinary mental grasp are prime
Necessities. no more than honesty
and high moral character An agent
10 whom read this lis; of quail
neatiuns sarcastic.illy added: "A knowI-
edge 81 plain sewing and cooking would not be
4 L.. IL