The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-09-29
Total Amount Dlsbursod for That
Purpose During tho Year Was
$i3T63G,98i
Glasses OF Boneficiariea Among
Whom This Vast Sum Was
Divided.
Questionable Success Of the Experiment
Appointing Army onlesTs 10 Ds
Indian Agents.

WARRINGTON eept. 2s.-The report o: the
third auditor Of the trehfurY for the fiscal
year ended June 30, shows the total dis.
buraements et pension agencies. on nc.
counts of pensions, have boon Sl37, ,G3G O8l,
Tho amounts paid 10 pensioners uader
general laws we're An follows lnvalida
S5S Gs2, ll9, widows Sl3. Az. 02I. mlnoB 81
OlO2Oi, dependent relatives S3,Gsl,0G
Amounts paid under tho act Of Juns ",
1890 we're hG follows; Invalidg s43. Cog gJl,
widows S9.s5G. s92, minors SG37. 0Oi. depend
ent relatives 81, 100 $40. helpless children
SSOG5 To pensioners OF the wtr Of 1912
the followinR amounts were paid: sur
vIvos sbsl3. widows S6I5 297 Mexican
war survivors Sers paid 81, 3S3 7Ol, and
their widows $60s. I0b. Indian war claims
paid TO Survivors wore 1871 ssj and 10
widows 1856 G52. Army nurses received
SGS,Gb2, About S6J0 600 whs paid TO pen
sion examining surgeons, and the balance
penses Of pension agencies.
There are now pending In the interior de.
paItment a number of cases of some oil-
cers having been serving az Indian agents.
wnose applications are on Hle asking to be
relieved from their present. positions.
Ths,e arc any number Of men who gro
ready and anxious to take their places. II
is probable that upon the return OF Score
tsry Smith a number of cases will be pre-
pared and sent to the president naming
civilians rs Indian agents. There are,
howeve'. many applications on file by army
officers who ask to be appointod 10 Indian
agencies. 10 10 probable that come Of
these may be selected. The Indian
service taken as whole. Is neither i'm
proved nor injured by the appointment Of
army officers as Indian agents. In soma
instances tho work has been performed
better by army oilicers and In others not as
we'll. 10 depending upon the character OF
the man, hnd not on his military or civil
life. II 10 believed that tho impression has
gained around in official circles that upon
the whole the experiment of making army
officers Indian agents has NOT proved q
success. and both interior and war depart
ments would prefer TO have other arrange
ments. and that the Indians themselves
would be fully as we'll satisfied with civil
isns.
THE Indians nrs NO longer warliks," ["
said an ofhosr Of the interior department..
and we can control them by civil 40 we'll
as By military agents. To some officers
the duty Of Indian agent 10 extremely dis
tasteful, while others are anxious 10 serve
in thss ospscity II 10 often found that the
former class are efficient, while the latter
are the kind of men We don't want. Good
business men who are clear headed, and
have discretion will make good Indian
agents. Plenty OF suoh men can be found
outside of the army"
An officer discussing the subject Of off,
ce,s as Indian agents says there are many
officers who are very much opposed to be-
ing Indian agents, because they do not
have the opportunity 10 keep themselves
in complete military training and ready
for promotion when ordered. There are
others, he says, who have become dishp-
pointed in the service and are eager 10 ac-
oept positions which sepnrste them from
the active armV life. u Ia quito prob
able that most OF the vacancies occurring
by the resignation OF amy officers as In-
dian agents will be nllsd by the appoint
ment Of civilians.