The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-29
MKT OFFICERS As INDIAN AaKyrs
~. Bewers's Amenament to the I.a,an A..
" propriasedk NH.

~ Howers's Amendment TO the HaAinn An.
" propriasdA Mn.
WASHINGTON. Feb 2a-jfhcre was som cthing
OF surprise In the action Of tho House Com.
mittee Of the Whole yesterday In authorizing
the President to detail army officers as Indian
agents. when any OF the agencies become
vacant The amendment was carried by q
slight majority In total vote SO small that
the point VI no quorum was ut first raised,
though not insisted Upon. Butthe introduction
OF the subject was itself surprise to some
No doubt the question is ono which has two
sdcs. and there il much to DO said in favor OF
making army officers agents In tho first
place We have the consideration OF economy,
which was dwet on in Yesterdays debate.
Tho army subatern has his pay fixed. and
this is not increased by his being detailed as an
Indian agent. so that the salary OF the latter is
saved.
Then the reputation OF army officers for in
te9rity is we'll known and tho rare exceptions
do not alter the rule Tho personal fnctor
In tho case would also be reinforced by tho
careful system OF army inspection and ac-
countnbility for disbursements, should there
be transfer Of the Indian Bureau to tho War
Department This strict system would govern
the whole matter of tribal supplies and annui-
ties. and would furnish II good guarantee
against any long continued POPULATION or do
faultng. That transfer. however. Is not con-
templated unler the pending legislation
Still. the fact that tho army officer has u lfe
Office. with prospects OF advancement and of
pay. In the duo course OF promotion. far beyond
what no receives while acting temporarily as
an Indian agent would naturally deter him
from risking his whole future by an net of dis
honesty. even were he not withheld from 80
doing by character md training The pro-
nj. al Ia
his comrades and ac1uaintances form a
further guarantee against dishonornble con-
duct: and. while it Is true that this expocta-
ton is sometimes disappointed. it is un un-
doubted source OF reliance in general.
Still another fact is that whore officers have
boon assigned as Indian agents. as has fire.
quently been tho case when tribes or bands
have gone to war. they have nearly or quite
invariably shown themselves skilful, vigorous
and successful administrators OF affairs on tho
reservations. In several instances they have
displaced incompetent or corrupt civilians to
the manifest benefit Of the rel men. Tile lut-
ter, too. rs is well known, feel II respect for
civilians; They can appreciate thu prompt.
uniform. and have found that the latter.
whether Just or not toward them. will at least
vcrsed III Indian ways and the Indian charnc-
t ter. hnvs a knowlelge Of the Indian country.
rarhy OF the reservation. tho numpers
ana war,making capacity Of the tribe. and in
menace ~ hostllitlcs and how to avert them
seasonahly. The force that now keeps order
on INC reservation is tho Indian police and no
OF an army officer while the confidence felt
in the Inter by his professional brethren
w"n %s n on p1io%t Of
suggestions as to their strength and line OF
but while all this is true. there are consider
atoms on the other side that may not be SO
a ,ppn IN the first place. the expected
the @s q ss to l fn"
Even now there are projects Eefore Congress
to increase the number Of officers in the army:
reservations AS well rs the garrisons there will
be demand fora larger number Of officers.
those which II is proposed to save.
Besides. Will" some officers whose opinion
>cpsfies greut weight. like Gen Miles believe
army agents; others. ike Gen. Howard. oppose
It. Many believe that even now. with the rx-
details OF ARMY officers for s"mi-"iyian dut "
they get too little real military work: Cen
Howard was reported az saying; during his
rapidly lose their distinctive characteristics as
soldiers II they were made Indian agents
paired. Again. the opportunities for man to
gnwr"nE MS an Indian agent are manifold"
III Is truo thnt thiS view referred tO the pro-
posed trans fer Of tho whole care Of the rescr-
vations to tn. Wrr Department. but It applies
TO the present scheme of assigning officers to
tn" charge OF agencies under tho existing
burcaa Of tn" Interior Department.
Then. as to tho Indians themselves. tho
policy nowadays Is not so much to keep them
apart from civilization nnd govern them by
martial Jaw ms to Iirclare them for self-sup-
port and ,citi2rnshp Farmers. mechanics.
and sc ool teachers are the sort Of guides for
them in, this Undertaking Whcncver any
tribe or band takes to the warpath or so seri-
ously threatens disorder that troops have to
be called in. the agent may properly step
down and out and tho army officer take his
place. The experience. Of Pine Ridge and
l'oS"bul agencies last winter is an illustration
of what is necessary. But with tn" restoration
OF order and peace; there seems to be no good
reason for Withholding n restoration of civil
ian control. Ofcourse; it is necessary to ~.
point competent and honest agents: and il
experience shows that such men are not to 10
had. then it would b" better to put back tho
whole business 81 Indian control under the
Wnr ncnartment which had it until tho In
terror Department was established. But this
would hardly be admitted. and. in
fact, ther" seems t. 70 less rcason now for
such II transfer than there was twenty wears
ago. when Congress. after nm ella bofate con-