The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-03
For Almost a Century He Has Been
q Feature OF Our
Policy.
History Of Trading Regulations
Between the White Men and
Red Mon.
First Trading Houses Established by Con.
Eress, April iS. 1706-But tho Indian
Agent IL Passing.

ARLINGTON, AarCA o.-NoArIy \ century
has passed since. OIL the 18th Of April, 1896.
congress- provided for tho establishment OF
trading houses on the western md southern
frontiers, for the purpose OF carrying on "a
liberal trade with the several Indian ma
tions." and thus maintaining "a good cor
respondencs" between the latter and the
citizens OF the United States. These trading
houses were TO be put in charge of factors
or commercial managers.
Trade. however. has gone on with the In
dams from tue first settlement Of the coun-
try, under the regulations provided by the
respective colonies. while tho articles OF
confederation transferred to congress ths
right to regulate this trade and to manage
other Indian affairs, SO far as this could be
done without infringing tho legislative
right of any state within its own limits. In
1856. accordingly. congress appointed a au-
p~erintendent for the northern district, COM
p;ising the Indians west of the Hudson,
and also one for the district south of the
Ohio, the former having two deputies.
Only a citizen of the United States could
lawfully dwell among or trade with any ma
ton of Indians. and he must take out a Ii
cense at a cost Of $50 for these purposes.
The superintendent wore under the direc-
ton of the war department.
The federal constitution gave to congress-
the exclusive power to regulate commerce
with the Indian tribes, and the courts de-
cided that this provision included all deal
ings with the nations and with individuals.
Ihe first step taken under this provision
was the appointment of three commission
srs to negotiate treaties for peaceful inter
course with the tribes south OF the Ohio.
These commissioners. in their report, sue-
Rested the license trader system, which
congress adopted in 1890. The 'superinten-
dents and commissioner were sometime s
referred to as Indian agents, and other
persons wore appointed and designated az
temporary agents. But COMMISSIONS
Morgan. who has made a timely historic re-
view OF this whole subject. now that the
question Of placing the reserva-
tions under the charge of army
officers is current. holds that the law
of 1896 already referred to is
really the first one for establishing agents.
IN the modern sense Of tho term. Following
his researches, it 10 seen that, while the first
experiment. in trading houses was limited to
WV yOuibs sAo 0yntcUl WAS COuSllu6u until
1922, when ii was abolished. Meanwhile
the governors Of the Northwest territory
and Indiana were made Indian suparinten-
dents within their respective jurisdictions,
and in 1902 the president was authorized to
appoint temporary resident agents for pro-
noting civilization among the Indians, and
to expend annually a sum not exceeding
$4,000 for providing them with useful do
mestio animals, implements of husbandry.
goods. or money. That came closely to our
modern system OF agents. e1cept that there
was still a lack of controlling authority.
The office of commissioner of Indian AZ
fairs was foreshadowed BY the act Of 1906,
creating a superintendent of indian trade.
who was to purchase, to take charge OF, and
transmit goods intended for trade with In
dian nations, and the act of 1911 included
goods provided under treaty stipulations
and for making presents to Indians. Thus
there had grown up to be a superintendent
of trnde, agents or factors of trading
houses under him. and governors OF terri
tories. who were ex-oficiO superintendeuts
of Indian affairs. The act of 1919 went
further. and authorized the president ito
employ CAPABLE persons of good moral
to instruct them in the modes Of
agriculture suited to their situation, and
for teaching their children in reading.
writing and arithmetic. and performing
such other duties as may be enjoined." It
ia worth while to note that these provisions
were limited to cases where the "means of
instruction can be introduced with their
" consent'--a contrast with the extreme
OF compulsory education to be enforced by
troops. which some earnest but injudioious
friends OF the red men in these Java adyo-
cate. That law appropriated annually 3d.
O5O for its purposes, and under it farmers
and school teachers were appointed.
Blacksmiths were afterward added to the
list of agency employees. and particularly
under new ~treAtl6g. ma with tina ChCctnu c Il,
1920.
When the trading house system was abol-
ished, in 1922, with it's superintendent.
agents, and clerks, the licensed traders con-
tinued to perform the work. and in 1924 the
of war organized a bn,eau of
Indian affairs. whose chief was termed, by
a commissioner. to take charge OF
the various matters already spoken of. |
Eight years later this arrangement received
the force of law in the act of 1882, appoint
ing a commissioner Of Indian affairs under
the secretary of war. In 1884 two elaborate
acts greatly enlarged the functions of the
bureau. One of them made ID the
duty OF superintendent, agents and sub
agents to procure the arrest and trial of
charged with offences, and author
|zed the president to employ the troops for
This purpose. Tho other altered the o%rpani-
zstion both as to superintendent and
agents. authorizing twelve of the latter.
with an indefinite number of sub-agents.
making II great number of detailed
not necessary now to specify.
IS many OF them subsist to this day and ara
But it is worth noting that the
act of 1884 authorized the assign
of army officers to perform tho duties
If Indian agents.
Reviewing broadly tho legislation nm IN
lS34, it is seen that the tendency had been
% assume gradually moro and more CO.
ercive power over the Indians. to make
hem mora dependent. and to trent them
ess like nations and moro like wards. Ihe
avs of 1884 lasted without need of mate.
ial alteration for many years, and when.
n 1847, further general legislation was re-
luited, it carried on this system of lnoIeas.
authority over the Indians. MONEY
and goods were no longer to be
to tribal chiefs, but to heads of
antilles or other individuals. The Indian
vas made incapable. without sanction, of
xecuting d valid contract for money or
In short, "a the amount of money ,
aid out upon the tribes increased, SO nl.o +,
i'd their dependence upon the reservation
gent. In 1S49 the Indiun bureau WAS .
ransforred to the interior department., at !
time created. The funds of tho In '
ians began to increase greatly by tho pur- d
base of land for them. and the stlpula- l
ions for investing and expanding these t
increased tho hold of the govern I
nent upon the tribes. Treaties were no =
,ere substituted. y
But now at last there are signs TINT tho b
sndency in Indian governments will here
fter be in the opposite direction. or in that !.
T creator freedom and self-aovel nment
mr. tho rad man. Aa lonu non aa 1879 thu