Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-16

~ Outlined by Those who Are InterUsted
in Indian Clvilixat3ou

I
in Indian Civilization.
The text Of the platform adopted at the re-
cent conference held by tho board Of Indian
Commissioners in this city Is rs follows:
l. II 1t be impossible to extend civil service
rules to presidential appointment in the Indian
service, yet the selection and retention of agents
and inspectors, and also Of special Indian
agents and aliotting agents, ought to be left
free from partisan dictation and only those
persons appointed who are creditable examples
OF white civilization and whose character is it.
self pledge that they will use their Office to
promote the welfare of the Indians among
whom they labor.
2 The government is now committed to the
education OF all Indian youth, and this educa-
ton should be obligatory. 1t is humiliating
that ignorant or bad men should be allowed to
thwart the purpose Of the government. While
persuasion will usually be sufficient to fill the
schools, an exercise Of force should not be
order to prevent interference with the execu-
ton OF the law on the subject of obligatory
education.
s. In the transition incident to the develop
ment OF a public school system by the
government, religious and benevolent So
cieties, so far from Withdrawing their
interest in the Indians. should increase their
efforts, remembering that 1t is their special
function to develop character, as well as in
telligence; to give higher education and moral
fiber to those who shall be the leaders of these
people, and by intimate contact IN the home
and the church to mold the children who come
out of the schools into Christian citizens.
4. Indians should be brought 10 self-support
as rapidly as possible, and to that end not only
should the issue of rations soon be discon-
hnued but meantime, where practicable, funds
due Indians should be paid them in cash rather
than in supplies.
8. The full success Of the Indian service
requires greater unity Of management and con-
centration of responsibilities. The appoint
ment or nomination Of all employees, from the
agent to the lowest official, should be committed
to the bureau which is responsible for the ad-
ministration.
6. The adjudication Of an enormous amount
of depreciation claims brought against the In
dams before court in which they have no
standing and where they cannot be heard is I'M
Just to the Indians. and should not be made a
lien on trust funds in the hands of the United
States government created and held for the
benefit Of the Indians.
Resolved, That committee be appointed BY
the chair to convey to the President-elect o
copy OF this action and to present to him per-
sonally an expression of our earnest desire that
he VIII appoint such commissioner of Indian
affairs as will carry on the Indian Office in the
spirit and along the lines herein suggested. so
That even greater progress may be made during
his term of office.
The board also adopted resolutions declar-
ing: That In the view of this board, that
portion OF the act of Congress of March 8, 1884,
relating to claims against Indians for depreda-
tons. which makes the sums adjudged by
the Court of Claims lien against
funds held in trust for the whole
tribe. is unjust and oppressive, and threatens
the Indian trust funds with humiliation: that
trust funds held by the United States for the
benefit of the Indians should be as inviolable
as other trust funds, and this board respect
fully but earnestly appeals to Congress to
repeal 80 much of the act as authorizes the
payment OF these claims from said trust
funds