Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-03-31

WHY ARMY OFFICERS SHOULD NOT
BE DETAILED AS INDIAN AGENTS.
He Says They Have all the Qualincat ions
Necessary for the Position and Criticises
an Amendment to the Indian Appro-
priation Bill Debarring Them From
Such Appointment.

WASHINGTON, March 49, After the
transaction of routine business the Senate,
to-day on motion Of Mr.. Sherman, proceed
cd to the consideration of executive bust
ness.
The doors were re-opened at 80 and the
Indian appropriation bill was taken up for
action. The first important amendment
reached was that striking out OF the bill the
proviso requiring army officers to be de-
tailed as Indian agents.
Mr.. Proctor asked Mr. Dawes du charge
Of the bin to explain why the committee on
Indian affairs recommended the amend
ment.
Mr.. Dawes stated that one objection to
the House provision was that it would be
putting army officers in positions and i'm
posing on them duties to which they were
not accustomed, and for which they were
not trained. Another objection was that it
would have a tendency to put the Indian
hereafter in the position of a subdued man,
controlled by power, rather than in that of
n man able to take care OF himself.
The committee had fully appreciated some
OF the motives that influenced the House in
adopting the provision The average in
tegrity of the army officer was beyond ques-
ton; and he could be brought to task for
any derelction of duty in a more summary
manner than civilian could be. But the
army officer could not be required to give a
bond for faithful performance OF duty. BE.
sides, the committee believed the govern
ment would lose money by the plan. The
average pay Of an lndion agent was about
TlouO year, aud TIE pay of an army
lieutenant tho lowest grade was not less than
that. The pay of an army captain was
more than $1,000 year. II would require
% or D. officers to carry out the plan and
he did not suppose that SO nany officers
could be spared from the army. If there
was no need for them in the army they
should be dispensed with.
MIR. Proctor said he was not disposed to
oppose tine amendment recommended by tho
committee But the proposition was not an
innovation. Army officers had been acting
as Indian agents. Two of them were now
SO acting under the interior department,
and one under the war department. lie
was sure the proposition had not originated
with the army or with the war department.
1t was duty which army officers did not
seek, but would not avoid. Army officers
possessed the qualities Of truthfulness, hon
esty and courage-qualities particularly
needed in dealing with the Indians. Still
he would not oppose the amendment.
The discussion was continued by Senators |
Hawley, Cullom, Stewart Dolph, Palmer,
Kyle, Perkins and Morgan. Mr.. Morgan |
gave his full approval to the policy naugu- |
rated by ex-Secretary of War Proctor of |
enlisting Indians as >oIdiors, the effect of
which would he, he said, to teach Indians
the duty OF obedience to the law and would
make them feel the value of dress ami APP
preciate their connection with the govern
ment. He eulogIlad the good qualities OF
the Indian race, Illustrating his remarks by
a reference to Juarcz, a full blood Indau,
who overthrow Naximlan's empire in
Mexico; and to the present president of
Mexico, Diaz. two-thirds Indian and vet
Zone OF the greatest men on this hemis-
phere."
lie moved as substitute for the House
provision one directing the president to
appoint Indian citizens of the United States
as Indian agents. when, in his judgment,
such appointment might contribute to at
tach the Indians to civilization and to the
government OF the United States.
Mr.. Proctor said some senators who op-
posed the House provision, thought that
army officers il appointed Indian agents,
would still be under the coutrol of the war
department. Tint was NOT SO. They would
be placed absolutely under the interior de-
partment. He did not believe in transfer
ring the Indian bureau TO the war der part
ment.
Without action on the question the Son
ate adjourned.