The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-28
ARMY officers az Indian Agents.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The House of
Representatives to-day, in considering the
Indian appropriation bill, authorized an in
novation which, il concurred in by the
Senate will be of great interest to Indian
agents and officers OF the regular army,
an amendment proposed by Bowers, of
California being adopted, providing the
President may detail officers of the army to
act as Indian agents whenever vacancies
occur. On motion of Holman it was
amended to provide such officers while act
ing as Indian agents, shall be under the or
oers and direction OF the secretary of the
interior.
In advocating his amendment, Bowers
Bald sooner or later the people would COM
pei the adoption of the principle involved
therein. Army officers were second TO no
people on the earth in the matter of integ-
rity and honor. If they performed the du-
ties of Indian agents, the Indians would be
fairly dealt with ana fhere would be no
more Wars.
VII, on, of Vast gton, did not think
army Umoers WOuI4 make good lnulan
agents.
Powers took the opposite view, and
added when the present Indian agents got
into trouble, army officers were called
upon TO Quen the disturbance. At this
point Holman's amendment, mentioned
above, was adopted.
Simpson, of Kansas, favored Bowers
amendment, and said it was the first time
he had heard any excuse for the existence
Of an army in this country. Here was a
proposition to put the army in some useful
employment, ard take political strikers
out of Office Upon a standing vote, the
committee agreed to Bowers amendment,
rs amended, So TO 40
Picker, of South Dakota, raised the
point of no quorum.
Wilson, OF Washington, said evidently
there was quorum.
The chair (Bynuml replied there was
evidently quorum present, but the chair
couldn't vote them; gentlemen must do
their own voting. Applause on the Demo
cratic side. On vote by the mem bers,
the amendment was adopted, 1913 to IS, al
though it was thus agreed to by the COM
mittee of the whole.
Peel, of Arkansas, gave notice he would
ask separate vote in the House. This
was too important matter to be legislated
4 upon without greater consideration than
! had been given it. The committee then
passed to consideration the clause ap-
lpropriating 100000 for the construction
and repair Of Indian day and industrial
schools.
An amendment by Lynch, of Wisconsin,
was adopted providing all school houses
erected shall be built on reservations or
as near the boundary as practicable.
Reed, of Maine, advocated the PROPOSE.
ton of increasing by $500, 900 the appropria.
ton for the education OF Indians The In
dian must be educated as whole, said he
il would be useless to take child here and
there and after educating him send him
back to become blanket Indian. There
are to-day 10000 Indian children: the gov.
eminent is educating 10000, but it is rich
enough TO educate all. 1t would be g
fundamental mistake on the part of the ma
ton to stop in the work of education. The
people of this country were composed OF
many races. They must be made one 8
race that had some idea Of civilization anC
progress. Reeds amendment was defeated
Pending final action, the committee rose
and the House adjourned.