Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-07
WHY THE SIOUX AR. DrsooxrEN4xD

WHY THE SIOUX ARE DISCONTINUED.
Views Of the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs
on the Situation in South Dakota.
'Tt is hard to say, especially at this distance
and with the lack of fuller information than
possess, precisely what the primary cause Of
the present trouble was" said the commits
soner Of Indian affairs last evening, when
asked concerning the causes Of the Sioux
trouble. 81 think, however, that IL is safe to
say that fractional opposition to and dissatis-
faction with the act of 1889 for the reduction Of
the reservation on the part Of the leaders Of
the non-progressive element was the primary
cause. The former agent at Pine Ridge called
attention to this matter in his annual report.
Another cause was the failure 70 speedily fulfn
the promises made BY the Sioux commission, by
virtue Of which they secured the signatures OF
those who consented to the act. Another cause,
which doubtless had its influence, was the word
ing of the agreements which changed the
boundary line between the Rosebud and Pine
Ridge agencies, which threw into the dimin-
ished reservation of Pine Ridge some Indians
who had been drawing rations at Rosebud, and
they we're asked to remove to the reservation
where they were drawing their rations in con-
formity with the law. This they were unwifl-
ing to do. Another cause for the disaffection
was uOuDtles8 tQ6 p3rtl3l IaHQTc VI CTOps
brought about by the large amount OF time con-
sumed in negotiations with the Sioux COM
mission, which called a great many Indians
away from their farms at time when
their labor was greatly needed, and
has 'p affeeted Indians and Whites alike in
Dakota, has reduced their supplies Of food so
that they have not had as great an abundance
as in other years.
1.-THE religious excitement among them has.
III "a. lurlx
the widely spread story that Messiah had
come upon tho earth who was to restore the In
dams to their former condition and destroy
the whites
''Other causes also, which it would be some.
what difficult to state and yet which have had
large influence, have helped to bring about the
unhappy state of things that now exists"
THE QUESTION OF MILITARY CONTROL.
''Do you think there would be any advantage
in turning over the control Of the Indians to
the War Department."
mo, cannot see how there would be. If the
Indians are to be civilized and become self-sup-
porting. and the great body of them are already
self-suppo- ting, it seems to me that the work
must be done by civil agents. using such agen-
cies are most satisfactory to secure the end.
The one great and absolutely essential condi-
ton for the settlement of the Indian question
is the industrial education Of the whole mass Of
Indian children and this work Of education.
which is one Of paramount Importance, could
never be carried on successfully by the War
Department"
THE RATION QUESTION.
The commissioner said that to the best Of his
knowledge and belief the Sioux are not starving
and that he had reason to think that the state
ments regarding their restitution are grossly
exaggerated.
"In 1889 said the commissioner, Congress
reduced the appropriations for the subsistence
and civilization of the Sioux to 900, 900, which
was S100, 900 less than the amount estimated for
and appropriated for the two preceding years.
This necessarily caused n reduction in the
amount Of beef purchased for the Sioux for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1890. The records Of
the Office show that from 1878 to 1890, period
OF thirteen years, only once has Congress ap-
propriated for the Sioux the amount asked for
by the commissioner of Indian affairs. Why
this reduction has been made do not know"
ADMINISTRATION OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
''Have the rations provided for the Indians
by the department" asked the reporter, ''been
stolen or Incorporated within your knowl-
edge, and what precautions against theft and
misrepresentation are taken?'
''Of course l can only answer for the time
have been connected with the bureau" said the
commissioner. $50 far as 1 now recall there
has not been a single case Of theft or misappro-
priation brought to my knowledge during that
time. l think that II there was any stealing of
consequence or any serious misappropriation
Of supplies it certainly would have been known.
Every reasonable precaution seems to me to
have been taken to select honest men for
agents. They put under heavy bonds for
the proper discharge of their duties; they re-
ceipt for all supplies delivered to them, and
they are obliged to render exact and minute
accounts for everything issued or expended.
Wherever it is desirable the Indian bureau re-
quests the detail of an army officer to witness
the receipt Of cattle and the issuing of goods
and we have. "a is the case of the Sioux, the
certificates of these army officers as to the
accuracy and honesty Of these transactions.
There are five inspectors who report directly
to the Secretary and five special agents who
report directly to the commissioner, whose
business it ia. among other things, to have an
oversight of the distribution of Indian supplies.
to investigate any charges of irregularity. inn
providence or dishonesty. and can hardly be-
lieve. with such precautions and safeguards,
there is any foundation whatever for the charge
that the goods are stolen or squandered."