Arizona silver belt., 1895-10-05
REFORMS NEEDED IN THE INDIAN
 SERVICE.

SERVICE.
 A retrospect of Indian affairs during the past century does not reflect credit upon the United States Government. While the cost of maintenance and control of the native tribes has enor- mously increased, the results have been insignificant. The appropriations for the Indian service for the current fiscal year aggregate S10. .750, 4s6.03, to which should be added the cost of mil itary surveillance. The expenditures chargeable to the Indians since the formation of the Union in 17S9 are nothing less than astounding. Taking the figures of the Indian census report for 1890, and adding thereto the est- mated cost, direct and incidental, of Indian management since that year, the grand aggregate expenditures on account of the Indians is l,250, 000,- GOO. The census report also says;
 "It is not probable that the present area of the United States, since the white man came, has contained at one time more than 800, ,0OO Indians, and in 1890 we have 24s,253 civilized and uncivihzed Indians, "
 The cost of Indian management has increased out of all proportion to the requirements of the service and the benefits conferred The appropriations are largely consumed in the conduct of the Indian bureau, and for the educa- ton of the Indians, which latter item amounts to moro than S2,000, 900 an- nually, aud is expended to little pur- pose. Large sums are disbursed for annuity goods, which are distributed at the wrong season of the year, and are sold or traded by the Indians at one-half their cost to the Government Breeding cattle are purchased for the Indians, which are seldom utilized for that purpose, but are slaughtered ss occasion requires, to make up the de- ficiency in rations.
 An evil that demands reform is the licensing of post-traders on Indian res srvations. While ostensibly established for the convenience and benefit of the Indians, in realty they are operated for the exclusive gain of the post trader. The Indian goes to the post-trader's store and exchanges his produce, baskets and trinkets for sugar, four, coffee, calico, etc, at usurious rates, while the soldier pat ronizes the commissary, where be ob- tains goods at wholesale cost price, and blows in his surplus change for beer at the canteen. This is Q condition of affairs not creditable to the Govern ment.
 Early in the present century barter with the Indians was managed differ ently, and with greater wisdom and justice. The Government located trad ing houses in various parts of the h. diau country, under the general super vision of a superintendent of Indian trade. There were twelve of these houses opened as early as 1909. Each trading house was managed by factor, who was assitted by an interpreter, if one was needed. The factor and in- terpreter each received salary from the Government, and was required to confne himself to Government work, and not to engage in trade on his own account. The factory, or storehouse, was stocked with Indian goods at the expense of the Government, and the factor disposed of them to the Indians at fixed and moderate prices, taking in exchange peltries and furs.
 The above plan appears to have worked very well, and we think has many and obvious advantages over the custom now in vogue. It recommends itself now, especially, since so many of the Indian reservations have been placed under military control, with a post established at each agency. With very little additional expense the com missary stores could be increased at these agencies and others established at agencies in charge of civil agents. All goods coald be sold at actual cost, and the saving thus effected to the Iu- dians would largely compensate for the deficiency of rations now issued. Here is flood for thought, "--suggestions which the Government and She Indian philanthropists should seriously con sider.