New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-19
INDIAN APPROPRIATIONS.
EDUCATIONAL WORK SERIOUSLY THREATENED
BY THE ELL. NOW BEFORE CONGRESS.


BY THE ELL NOW BEFORE CONGRESS-
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
+. Sir: As secretary OF the Indian Rights Associa-
ton Will you kindly give opportunity to lay
before your readers facts concerning the present
status OF the Indian Appropriation bill. which all
thoughtful and intelligent persons Will doubtless
agree in regarding most serious menace to the
cause Of Indian civilization?
The reactlonary policy which has dictated these
serious reductions for Indian education must be re-
garded with alarm and Indignation. not only by
those who are especially concerned N the welfare
of the Indians. but by all who desire to see the
Government adopt policy toward these wards OF
the Nation which viii In the shortest possible time
solve the Indian question and relieve the country
from the expense and vexation that It now iniicis
upon
The following statement OF facts has been fur
nshed this Office by our experienced and trust
worthy Washington agent {. C. Painter. II -
worthy Of careful consideration. Those VINO, upon
reading this statement desire to prevent the disas-
trous results Of Mr. Holnan's policy should lay
the facts before their representatives. IN congress
and ask them 20 their influence To prevent re-
ductlons OF appropriations which must seriously
injure. II they do not ruin our lnaan scho' ser-
vice-a service that. under the lead Of hgnN
experienced AMI able educator Or Haiimann. Is
now bright with promise:
the Indian Appropriation hilL as r'p'r'"i |"
the House Of Representative by Tie COMMITTEE %"
Indian Affairs. carries Itte NOR" tnan N-"'"H
less than the appropriation for N" current year
This IS 500 90 less than the estimates ~ The COM
missioner OF Indian Affairs. who under instructions
from his superior officers reduced them 20 The low
est ngurc consistent WIKI efficiency n the service
at least go far as the work among the Indians j.
conccrnel-cutting TO tne quick in ihe srh'o. work
and below IT, since he made ~ estinltc f'r en'ArS-
ing Il, when enlargement IL demanded
.'Of the cocoon by which the proposed oil foils
below these estimates. t27Aco is taken from the
APPROPRIATION for schools. and IN such way M 10 90
the greatest possible damage. The salaries OF the
superintendents OF the most important schools are
reduced by sums varying from go. XD 20 N"''. as
I'm tho case OF Captain Pratt at Carlisle. Penn
The bin "a nrat reported 20 the committee. hnd
printed struck ou' the Office - sup'r pienIeni ana
as reported 20 the House cuts Down his salary
So which hal suffered Ike reduction .a-t year,
and forhiIs ihe employment 81 NOR" thin ''i''
SUPERVISORS WHOM az least Eve are necessary i'r
efficient supervision.
.~rha EFFORT seems u d. 20 got ID. cheapest pr
durable men. and the. make u imp's'ib." i'r iAe
superintendent 70 look after them
In ORDER 90 keep the present number 81 p"pis
In sch .ol q s. necessary tnat all the schools ah
be- kept fun. since no provision is mad" for on
largcnent bat the proposed bill gives ony hali
If the sum needed for The transportation ~ pupils
The undobtcd object OF this cut - 20 XII me East
-rn schuo.s by Indirect methods; but iurtn"r re-
suit VIII be- 20 reduce the number Of children In
schools a. Hampton. Carlisle. Lincoln etc. as
there VIII be- no money TO bring them East
Another unliscrrninatng cut IN this b4I. wh.'H
must either reduce the number Of pupils or nrc'-@l
tate an Increase OF charitable contributions i'r
their support the reduction OF the per capita AZ
lovanc. in contract schools as Tor instance. ms
allov,anc. Al the Friends School. whites Institute
Indiana was last year. and previous. 500; this bH
reduces II = 500 This IS done II would seem ~
mem e, fbl or &c. Close It's doors against sixty
pup!s for whom It has been doing most excellent
has been rencei rom Si5 to slc in utter DISREGARD
II would SEEM Of the question OF relative c'st 81
living These reductions. except az Wntr NJ -
tute do not reduce the amount approprla,en; prD
vldcd the school has capacity TO receive a .d,h ,
number OF pupils AT the reduced rae IL ~ .rr
then the appropriation being for given huWne''
there will be reduction OF the amount sIVTh ~ q,
There Is also "A reduction OF agents shIdrles Oh
from 500 TO 500 at number Of the principal agen-
cfes making 81 500 the highest salary paid ms -
done regardless Of the amount or lab9r 10 pe P
formed and Of the bond required ana IS 90 a, i
third rate men In positions which should De llieu
alone by men OF nrst-rate business ability, ana lhs
with nominal saving OF only IiW -, ,t .,
Indian Comnissloners created at President Grants
suggestion az part or ms pea, P'n negSt,emnn
whose services the Government could not pnrcnrse
at any price. but which are freely given, and VIM;
goods and Of the work on the various agehcIrsi
have saved the Government millions OF GoS r. ann IN
which II had been trampled under the Iest ~ III III
honest fayor,es and placed II on Das cr NJ
M Rev win be- fairly treated that the number
Of bidders has Increased from "A mere handiuI 70
more than 800 The Government has inct ,n p an
the expenses OF these Commissioner bnt me pres
ent bin cuts out the 5000 usually approprlaeu: a
part OF which Is usually covered back INTO the
Treasury. 1890 , 49,, ,, so,,od
nv reducing the salaries OF agents g. ioJ-to the
S373 600 by which the school appropriation Is re-
duced and subtract this from the SZDVU by witch
the estimate Of the Commissioner Is Wnuc'u., w
sum saved from that part OF the WORK whiGh siVea
most hope OF success In our EFFORT 10 clVlhHr tte
Indians and reduces the pauperizng Appropriation
There are those who will infer that this com
rnlttcc is composed largely OF men who would ike
to return those halcyon days whfn INC lhuI ~,
service had reference chieiiy; II hol Univ
The economy Of the bin IS Of the cheap Jack
variety which appears not only In the ON repVrtci,
but will manifest itself In losses whlcn VIII '""
MY attention has Just been called ny tnc nonor-
able Commissioner OF Indian Analrs-D VI. Brown
ing-who is showing commendablc Interest ana Ie-
voton the Indian cause, to another LII
greatly embarrass the department IL prVVides s't.
no child which has not been IN scho1i LOT rDal
years shall be taken forty miles IRON he rsseIN
lion where Il belongs There are NUMBER OF reser-
yatlons where there Is school. and many others
where there Is not sufficient accommodation TOT We
children OF school age This. OF course, practicaIy
excludes such children from schooL Inc io''S vi
this provision Is astounding. It. -. -.
The bill also cuts out the provNo that no man
shall be employed a farmer who Is not prhc,i,,
cal farmer and gives liberty 10 go back 10 thc on
farming This. OF course. Is spells politics pure ana
simple But popular protest may yet save US from
the threatened disaster. HERBERT WELSH
Philadelphia, May 49, 1891
THE HONOR IS ANOTHER's.