New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-04
THE ARMY SHOULD HAVE CONTROL.
CAPTAIN CHARLES f. ROE THINKS THE CONTROL
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS SHOULD BE TAKEN
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF


THE INTERIOR.
Captan Charles F. Roe of Troop \, n. G.. s. " Y,
talked freely and entertaiunsly yesterday in regard
10 the Indian troubles in the West. Captain Roe is
peculiarly fitted TO speak on this subject. as his mil
itary experience Of twenty-five years in California.
Oregon Washington, Montana. Wyoming and Nebraska
has made him familiar with the habits Of the red men
and given him knowledge of what treatment Is best
for them. Captain Roe says that IN his opinion the
present trouble has been caused through the improper
administration of Indian affairs The religious FRENZY
into which the Indians have lately been thrown has, OF
coNSse augmented the trouble. by making them nm.
casy and causing them to feel The wrongs more
keenly. But the real is that the Government
promises to the sioux Nation have not been kept and
that they have been suffering from an inSurcehcy Oh
rations
IL believe. said Captain Roe that enough money
is expended upon the Indians. if it only expended
properly The difficulty that the Indian agents are
usually men who know nothing at all about the III
dans. They men who obtain their places through
political influence who come from all over the country
and many of whom have never seen Indians uh'h
they 90 to their posts of duty. have known agents
who were actually afraid of the Indians and who Wonu
lock themselves in their houses in order 10 keep the
rcd men away An agents salary is usually about
81 200 a wear He knows that his tenure of office l.
only during the life the Administration that appontu
him. and so in order add little to his salary nc i
onen tempted TO enter into collision with the con
Indian rarely gets one half Of what Congress has APP
propratNd for his use believe that the remedy for
his difficulty would he found IN taking the Indian DE
nartneut entirely away from the Interior Department
ard putting it in the hands OF the Army OWING l"
he fact that the Indian agents form par; OF large
political ring. this is thing that is rot likely I" nap
PEN although Is the only solution OF the problem
People who argue that the Army people are no better
han anybody else and would be just as likely 10 D
corrupt labolug under an error in that they
consider the individual and 90 not give suhloch'
weight TO the system under which the Army does its
work. II an Army officer the Indian agent the
Indian would get all that appropriated 10 him, for
the Army officers place is for life If he behaves MIN
self He is hello strictly accountable for his conduct
and would be Immediately dismissed II he were dis
covered practising any irreg1llaFity"
In regard 10 the general treatment Of the Indians
Captain Roe said he thought the only way TO clvllze
them make them pastoral people. They
cannot support themselves by agriculture In the land
that has been allotted to them," he added. for even
white people who are Skilled agrcuiturisis find
great difficulty in raising crops in the neghboraood OF
the reservations The land is usually poor. and can
no; be made useful unless extensive irrigation Is
.resortcd to. There is supposed to be practical
farmer with each Indian agent, to teach agriculture
20 the Indians but these farmers are usually poor
specimens. i remember, at one agency. of seeing
young man Of about twenty-five. who wa dressed
in the height of fashion. even 10 an eyc-gfss' ana
WHO spent MS Time Tlulug dOout INC 'ouA'N vi
handsome horse. lie the protege of some Con
oressman and he was drawing a salary an agr
ca,turst who reaching the Indians how I" farm
According IN Captain ROe's view where he Indians
have been well teated by the Government they are
peaceful people and are making progress IN clviH%a
ton. lie believes that of them would hght
they we're well cared for They are a clnld-lko
people in intellect and in entering upon a fight
sucb a. the present one they do not look ahead to TIC
Gnal result, a. white men would. They do not stop
to realize that their is hopeless but think ONLY Oh
the present moment.
1t is the same" said the captain. with everything
else a. it with lighting. II an Indian Is given ratl0nN
for ten DAYS and that the supply must last him
for that time he viii usually eat all the food IN Two o.
three days. entirely regardless a. to whether ne 'Ve
or not during the rest Of the time
In regard 10 the way the soldiers have conducted the
fighting the captain saws he believes they nave oone
the best they could. There IS among them. 10 gTea,
extent feeling Of sympathy for the Indians ana III
stead of taking aggressive action they did no lighting
until the Indians forced it upon them at Porcuphe
Creek l know General Miles personally SAID inc
captain. land believe most enphatlcaiN th%t ne i
he can end without further boodahed On either Sde
I Know he viii do 50. The position the IN
diah r have taken in the Bad Lands. with
which locality they are more familiar than ihe
troops gives then ra %eSn6 IT, 1I be great los, Of
lie in driving them out Their !, Ease npe &c 5
loider. IN hghting with The squaws in the recent
case where the Indians attacked the troops while
under flag Of truce The fact of the matter Is
that the souaws are than the men. and DC
snrve little consideration the ground OF being women
The men do not usually mutllate a body any further
than 10 take the scalp. rather "A small round
piece of It about as large as silver d3lla with
ono Of the whiskers is usually taken. and where
indians are ambitious to make their comrades be,
Hove that they have done great deeds they take
a number OF 'scalps' from one head. Put the
eouaws take a delight in mutiatug bodies. and some
Of the things they do horrible. 1t would be
well for the people Of the country who have com.
Portable homes TO give thought 10 the officers and
eoldiors who are ont there suffering the pers and
81 hter cold McaiLcr and ilsnfcent fOOdn