The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-03
THE CONTRACT INDIAN SCHOOLS
WHY the Government Fisds u AAvfsabae -
Cc-operate with Then.

why the Government Fi.ds t Aavisssse -
Cooperate with Then.
WASHINGTON. March 2.-An effort will prob
ably be made by the friends OF Capt h II.
Pratt, superintendent OF the Indian school at
Carlisle. to restore his salary which the House
cut on. It is not one on which he can grow
immensely rich: nor should 1t be difficult for
him to indemnify himself for Its loss In some
other employment. But the zeal with which
he has carried on his work at Carlisle for many
years will probably be made the ground for an
effort In his behalf In the Senate. OF the
twelve training schools for Indians established
outside the reservations the one at Carlisle
is BIZ far the largest and most important. Last
year It had a capacity for 800 pupils. taken
together with its outing system. and an actual
eni ollmont OF 778. with an average attendance
Of 754. It employed ~ persons. and It's cost
to the Government for the year. exclusive OF
buildings. repairs. and improvements. was
$685. 1894. Tho only other similar institution
approaching It In magnitude was the Haskell.
Mt Lawrence. in Kansas Recently the capac-
ity OF Carlisle has been increased. SO that 1t
can nowitake care OF 1000 pupils.
This affair recalls somewhat the trouble
between Commissioner Morgan and tho
Bureau Of Catholic Indian Missions. as repre-
sented by Father Chappelle and Father
Stephan. That prolonged unpleasantness is
said to have subsidized. but Capt. Pratt is left
out in tho cold in consequence OF his state
mcnts that the Catholics. who receive nearly
twice as much from tho Governme nt for their
contract schools as all other recipients COM
bined. maintain lobby to influence favorable
legislation for them.
Now there is perfectly good reason why
the Catholics should receive this large propor-
ton OF the Governments subsidy for Indian
schools. namely. that they have for years kept
up larger system for this purpose than all
others combined. Tho essential point In the
matter Is that the contract schools give full
equivalent for all they receive from the Gov
eminent. Commissioner Atkins found that the
average cost to the Government Of educating
an Indian pupil in one OF its own boarding
schools was $l7O year and in contract
school only $3.50: while the cost Of a pupil in a
Government day school was S53 year and in
the contract day school only $50. Secretary
Villas seems to have adopted some different
assnst In thu the b SSst as
school. But it was Sufficiently clear ear from from
either reckoning that the contract schools
when in addition the cost OF new Government
buildings is considered. or the original outlay
Il Is r
continue its support Of the religious schools.
+ is ne reflection on the nsttu
funds q their own ior building ana Keeping
pupils at the rate paid by the Government.
Many years agothe Interior Department en-
hSass sa aS h
t has Ie Saa s Estimated that they have more
Iuence they are able to offer schools for the
use OF Government pupils In far greater
tion. Long ago this offer was responded to in
away that gave them half the annual appro-
Ps tSeS S 9F st 1as q schools f n
iSe n tns ns5 yfs spt 8; 9H5 g tSa
oa q tie next g: ss 5sA s out 81
Ss5a o 81 ei for the current year. $685.
The extent to which the Catholics have taken
IN At the details Of this years appropriations.
s!ss fespe S sRs H jag 4S9 and
the ongregutlonalists. $50 q: the Friends.
S2t.743; the Lutherans, $4,000 the Metho.
Thes. are and so with sssr
should added af %a s hes
and No6e ~f have Sssn
Sy hs e1r5s to FIT q MI Of S n
report for 1890 took this liberal ground:
The church mission schools essential in extend
tng education to ali the Indian children They should
he welcomed ms workers IN this benevolent cause
aud treated fairly ana generously.
In his report for tho previous year the Sec
rotary had expressed himself on the same
subject as follows:
It, therefore seems hut step to extend this system
as to haN" II embrace and affect. with the co6pera-
lion Of the church mission schools the whole youth OF
he Indian tribes This cooperation has long existed:
the missions have placed much reliance upon It, and ts
sudden withdrawal would be neither generous nor fair
very nil lv apdy
Others he most welcome as coworkers Iii this uenevo.
lent caug".
r Pr, President Harrison. in a message, to the
Congress. declared that 1.-THE CO. |
operation between the Government and tile |
mission schools. which has wrought much |
good. should be cordially and impartially |
Finally. Secretary Noble. in his
latest report. remarks that Governmental
support of the contract schools has been Of
such long standing and SO much money has
been invested alongside and because Of it by
those who have undoubtedly the best interests |
pf the Indians at heart, that n sudden with
drnwal OF support would be lamentable.'
The simple and sensible view seems to be
that the Government schools Mt their present
rate OF growth may in time be sufficiently nu-
mcrouS to take care Of all Indian youth, espe-
,ialy since n noticeable beginning has been
made in sending them hero and there to
ordinary public schools in tho States and Ter
ritori"s But meanwhile the good work which
has been done and is still going on in the
various church schools should DO gratefully
IL. Il