The herald., 1895-11-10
General T. J. Morgan Says 1t
Is Improving
HOKE SMITHS POLICY GOOD
The Ex.Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Speaks 10 Its Praise
conmissioner Browning Highly Com nends d.
How Much IL Costs to Educate the
Native Americans

1.-THE present administration OF the
affairs of the Indian office of the govern
mens Is on the whole to be highly COM
mended.n This was the frank and open
statement made by General Thomas J.
Morgan, com missioner OF Indian affairs
curing the term of President Harrison.
1t is. perhaps, needless 20 state that Gen
eral Morgan is stauuch Republican, but
still he says that ha does not permit par
tisanship to interfere with his judgment
of men or measures. General Morgan ar
rived in the city yesterday afternoon and
was ssen last evening at the residence OF
Captain f. J. Cressey, at $50 South Flow
er street, whose guest he is.
"Yes, Secretary OF the Interior Hoke
Smith aud the present commissioners OF
Indian affairs. Judge Browning OF H.
inoise, are giving both the government
and the indians a good administration.
Both gentlemen are in favcr of taking tn Q
Indian service out of politics and making
il part of the civil ssrvice. When this
10 done the Indian problem will be p rae
ticaIIy settled once and for ALL" said
General Morgan continuing.
1.-THE policy OF this Harrison admins
UatlOu Win IT SdTu 10 luuldu CoHefoi anu
management has been practically cont!n-
ued during President Cieveland's term.
There are now about $40, QUO Indians IN
the United States. 1t is question as to
whether this population is increasing or
diminishing. Some tribes are becoming
extinct. This is true where proper care
is not taken to prevent disease from
spreading among they and where the san
itary conditions among the tribes is bad.
On the whole, though. l think that the
trihrs are holding own as regards popu-
lstion.
The government annually expends
from 5000. 600 to Sill, 600, 900 by the In
to make payments due on treaty obliga-
tons to sustain and support the Indian
sch ools and to make gifts of food and
clothing to some of the Indians that re-
quire support.
''Ihis vast amount OF money passes
through the anterior department and is
expended under the superintendency OF
the mmissioper OF Indian affairs. 1t is
now proposed TO take tbs pranch OF the
government seryics out OF politics, and 1t
should be DONE The positions in the de-
partment reqciTe experienced. efficient
nus tried men Political hacks and men
appointed as reward for party ssrrice
cannot fill them with Justice eiIher 10 the
govern n enI O. the governments wards.
Nov, fnis being tie case, il has been
t,rop"seo TO place Ire control Of the In
oiRnt IN the hands o; 8 com mission of
three men appointed by the president.
who shall hsr. full charge and control of
every branch q lite Indian service. II is
to be . Bipartisan COM mission and all
appointments Srs 20 Dc made on civil
service basis. This plan has met with
the EprrorAl a. Secretary Hoke Smith,
Cpn missio1s, Browning aud President
Cleveland, understand.
The present administration is pursu-
ing wise policy in the matter of edu-
eating The lnGisns. The last congress
recommended the sbolishment of the
CONTRACT school srsien, which vas good
move. Ii Will be done a. soon as il is
practicable Under the contract system
the yariou. denominations established
schools and the Indians were educated
IN them. the government paving a stated
sum per capita ior schooling.
But the govern. nj lad no control
over their wards III the matter OF these
schools. The Iadian children were
sometimes not taught in the English
language. They were pitt through
course OF study that IN no way fitted
them for citizenship after it was COM
pie.ed.
But with government schools all this
is changed. The government then pre-
scribes the text books and the teachers are
engaged simply for their special fitness