The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-29
Work and Needs Reviewed by
Secretary Smith
REORGANIZATION IS ADVISED
The Indian Needs Some Hearty and
Healthy Neglect
Suggestion Of q Government Three Per Cent
Loan to Carry the Debt Of
the Pacific Roads
Associated Press Special Wire

ASSOCIATED Press Speclhi WAIo
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2s.-Sscretary
Hoke Smith of the interior department
has made his annual report to the presl'
dent. 1t reviews the varied Work OF the
department, beginning with the Indian
service, and calls attention to the strict
enforcement which has been given to
civil service reform. both as to those
places covered by the classified service
and those to which the rules of this SER
vice do not apply.
The secretary dwells upon the necessity
of eliminating politics from the manage
ment Of the Indian affairs and OF conduct
ing each reservation upon strictly busi-
ness principles, the object being to make
every Indian who remains upon the res
srva:ion self-supporting and ready, as
soon as possible, to assume the duties OF
citizenship and be freed from the patsr-
nal care OF the government.
The secretary is of the opinion that II
the resources of each reservation are
treated intslligently and the Indians re-
Quired to labor in those pursuits which
are adapted to particular reservations. in
. few years practically all the Indians
can be made self-supporting.
The secretary recomm ends the re. organ
ization Of the bureau as follows:
First--That instead of a single com
missioner of Indian affairs, the Indian
service be placed in charge of three com
AnissiUners, two of them to be civilians
Ito be appointed from different political
paTties) and one to be q detailed army
officer.
Second-Tbat the ten uie of Office OF an
Indian agent be dependent upon the
faithful discharge of his duties. and ap-
pointments and removals be made by the
president upon tho recommendation OF
the three commissioners OF lndian affairs.
Third That the classified service be
extended over all subordinate positions,
both at the agencies and ut the schools.
The reduction OF 20 per cent, which the
law required to be made in connection
with the Indian contract schools. has
been strictly carried out, and the secre-
tary adds that there seems to be no rca-
son whv such reduction should not con-
tinuc from year to year. until the system
of government aid to scctaIian schools
shall terminate.
Referring to the subject of allotments,
the secretary says there are u number OF
changes which should be made in the
present allotment system which require
congressional action. According to the
present law an Indian becomes a CITIZEN
OF the United States upon receiving his
In any case be is ready to receive land
before he is prepared for the oonse-
Quences of citizenship. Allotments
should be made long before reservations
were opened. Each Indian should be
settled upon his homestead and ue SELF
supporting before citizenship is conferred
upon him. When citizenship Is conferred
the governme IT ought to lot h,m aloL c
and allow him TO take his place, sur
rounding him with no more restraint,
and giving him no more help than Is
accorded to other citizens. Under the
present system Indians to whom aIlot-
ments have been made and upon who Cit
izenship has been conferred still receive
enormous gratuities and need very dollar
they receive. Upon each reservation a
part OF the Indians will be ready for citi-
zenshIp before others, and all are read y
to own land and work, it before they are
ready for citizenship.
The law should be changed so that al
lotment can be made upon the recon
inendation of the agent to those who are
ready for it and patents should be issued
later, with the approval Of the secretary
OF the interior. to those indians showing
themselves fitted to receive the lands SO
assigned.
The secretary also recon ends that
general authority with the approval of
the president ne given to the Indian bu-
reau to sell part of Indian reservations,
the money to be used exclusively in the
improvement of allotted lands for the
purpose of furnishing agricultural i'm lie