The sun., 1894-01-27

Rea-ou- why the New Move To Diapince
Thsm by CIvIIinn. Wound Nnt Worry Thew.

kenSOn- Whv the New NONe To blspince
Th.m by civilians Wo"id Not worry Thew.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2d old contest over
the selection OF military officers in place Of
civilians to perform the duties OF agents at tho
Indian reservations hns been revived by n bill
offered by Mr.. pickler of South Dakota. The
new system Of detailing army officers for this
purpose was establishel by the last Congress.
originating in tho Democratic House. Az
thero appear TO hayo been no complaints
against The success Of lis operation. Rs Com
missioner Morgan, who strongly opposed It.
has gone out OF Once aud, finally. as the sal
aries OF Indian agents are saved by this suhsti.
tuition OF army officers who receive onIy their
ordinary nay. which they would have in any
case. Mr.. lickler's crusade will probably on
counter difficulties l'ut ON tho other hand.
he has IN its favor the probability that the War
Department will not lift It's finger to retain
this per1uisiie II such II may be called, for the
army and will | o satisfied to have congress do
precisely as II NAV see TT iu the matter.
The truth liz that the question Is altogether
different from what 1t was twelve or twenty
yenrs ago. In earlier days Indian hostilities
were So frequent. and gave the army so much
trouble that 1t was naturally anxious to have
the control o. the red men in peace as well
as in war. 1t thought that MANY outbreaks
originated either In controversies between tho
agent nnu lne lnulans, OF lnTbNEl lHe Hn-
familiarity OF the former with the Indian char
ncter resulting in neglect TO read Alright tho
signs OF the times and to take adequate pre-.
cautions. The notion OF the army was that
having among their number officers who had
lived for years upon the frontier. such men
ought TO be better qualified to detect what
was going on among dissatisfied Indians.
and also to nudge ot their probable conduct it,
certain contingencies aud OF the motives and
M N N A. N
was iurthcr believed that unruly Indians
migl, hold in more respect u soldier who
his aid large military force. Hence the gen.
eral view Of army officers was that 1t might
avoid much trouble u he entire superN ision Of
the Indians should Ge turned over to the War
Department.
for assuming these duties has almost disan.
Feared. Indian hostlItirs have become tho
rare exception. and certainly un longer re-
quire extraordinary measures for avoiding
them The spread ~ rnilroaG and telegraphii
facilities makes the suppression OF such hos
tilities much easier than 1t was twenty years
ago. The army no longer nrois to he con-
stantty oil the watch lest some fraud on the
part OF an agent or some incompetency in
dian war. And besides the gradual accus-
toming OF the Indians to the ways "f neacr
the army as whole take less interest in tho
new system recently established. The old
agencies to thA care of the War Department
The system now actually adnlted Is that OF
agencies under the orders OF the Interior De-
purtment. Thus IL Is the latter that gets the
msg ad or whs f tnS former @ is % e%rVsd @ Urf OF ths
services OF these same officers in their own
commands.
tails OF army officers as have been male to
Indian agencies have been secured with some
difficult,, The law does rot require that onlv
army officers shall lie selected, tut that they
shall be" Y"pIointed unless tne lrestent shat
choos. % civilian. This discretion ' e Ior tHs lat.
ter purpose has leen exercised in various |
instances. and still 4 has not ALWAYS been
agencier IL the hrst place. there are So
many calls for officers TO serve nparr from
the details Hs college instructors In tactics. |
that 1t Is not always easy to find an officer
an excertlonni knowledge OF Indians anu gen. !
eIa fitness Tor tn. place of agent
Then the officers themselNes are often not !
anxious for the detail Ih"y arr. taken away |
from the comradeship OF their fellow officers:
they lose the pleasure oi garrison life and sub !
stitut. life with half civilized ur savage sur |
r"unding. and often with few-r comforts than !
hey would Otherwise ENJOY they are suhIect TO
the orders ot civilians. who may not look upon |
things as they do and may crnsure them for |
the very conduct which would hs regarded
differently by military superiors: they lose the
opportunity of pursuing their Ordinary milf
tary careers. and PASS n certain time in an oc-
certainly a1ording a wider eNreri-
.nre and scope Tor executive faculties, yet not
strictly within the line OF rofesslUnAl advance
n ent, There have he-n In fact. instances of
)fllcers seeking relief from such assignments.
Thus IL appears probable that Mr. Iickler !
will nnd no great opposition In the army tn his
plan H. Congress thinks that the new arrange I
N ont does not result in economy aud eIii- !
,iency. Possibly Mr.. Iickler's argument may
-un something like the following which WAS
Mr.. MOrgans II would not he at all surpris-
NJ II there should DO, on the pnrt Of army
'flcers detailed for service as indian agents
'ome degree OF Tpst-ssness under civil CON !
rol. and possible spirit Of Insult ordination
INVOLVING unpleasant consequences both to
hem selves aud Ia the officer charged with the
Of Indian AtTairs.' But ms 10
hat matter. while ON missioner Morgan had
uTmlsrs or appTehensions TO go on. Mr., Tick
er will le expected 10 RELY upOn facts Rs thus
Hr developed, And 1t Is doubtful whether ho
would no able a. make much OF a point in
uch form OF argument