New-York tribune., 1899-06-05
RECORDS OF ARMY OFFICERS.


On April /. 1897 there were in the Indian service
seventeen Army officers who had been assigned to
duty as Indian agents Prior TO and at the outbreak
Of the with Spain all but three Of these seven
officers had been transferred back TO their COM
mands The accounts of nine of the fourteen Army
officers at the time Of their transfer showed unset
tied balances in favor OF the Government ranging
from 800 to $4,000 Six of these officers have been
able to offer such excuses for the shortages as TO
induce the Department TO close their accounts The
accounts of the remainder are still unsettled, the
balances against the officers running as high In one
S2l 900 AS no bonds were required OF these
agents, the Government has no redress aside from
criminal prosecution, which might result In their
conviction. but in nothing more Under similar cir
cumstances a civilian defaulter would have lost
his Office and at once been civilly and crminally
prosecuted These Army officers have suffered no
inconvenience from their shortages. They still re-
tain their commissions and draw their pay as
Army officers.
In the case OF one OF these military Indian agents
the shortage amounted TO $4,000 1t has never
been satisfactorily explained to the Department
yet his bare personal statement that the method
OF bookkeeping in vogue was crude and fully ac-
counted for this enormous discrepancy. his short
age was arbitrarily balanced. II has been charged,
however that this questionable procedure was
secured through the influence or relative, an
counts counts in in ' the absence Of the Commissioner OF
Indian Affairs. 1t has bad look, and should be IN
vestgated, both in the interest of the Government
The reason assigned by the five officers who have
eminent is that their time has been fully occupied
since their return to their commands. ert they
accounts carefully. But this explanation appears
insufficient when 1t Is remembered that the return
of these officers 10 their commands occurred more
than a year ago.
NO SAVING TO THE GOVERNMENT.
The selection of a retired Army officer for the
Kio Agency at the present time has been particu-
lary vexing to the element opposed to the appoint
ment of military officers 10 civil positions. One
reason heretofore given for the selection OF milf
tary officers as Indian agents was that It saved TO
the Government the amount OF the salary or the
agent the Army officer receiving only his military
pay In the case OF a retired officer. however he
not only receives the pay of an Indian agent, but
his salary as a retired officer as we'll. The seec-
tlon in this therefore. does not carry with IT
any saving TO the Government
The return to the old system Of selecting Indian
agents from the Regular Army at this time is
Army officers The strain upon the military branch
of. the Government Is now and has been so grea,
the advisabiity Of calling for the 5000 volun-
teers authorized in the Army bill passed in the
ready he has been compelled TO appoint volunteer
major and brgadier generals under that @ sGt rs Iae
Will become greater when the volunteers are with
drawn he eer & then Be needed at Se
front with his regiment. With this demand at the
front why should they be assigned to duty as
Indian agents?
It Is a singular fact that active Army officers. as
a rule do not seek these Indian assignments. but
prefer to remain with their commands. Such duty
is naturally repugnant to the real soldier me
reasons for this are obvious. History has taught
them that almost every Indian agency In the country
Is a hotbed OF corruption that Il Is surrounded oy
interruptions dishonest gangs who stop at nothing
to accomplish their knavish ends. ANY officer who
is assigned 10 this duty knows In ADVANCE tnat MS
reputation will be assaied and his official acts
questioned. This. too, no matter how painstakIng
he may be in the performance OF his duties The
officer therefore who takes pride In the uniform
ne wears prefers to avoid such entangernents ana
the possibility OF having his career blghted by his
associations Meanwhile he is deprived OF the OPP
portunity OF distinguishing himself on the field or
batfle carving with Il more rapid advancement.
while the Indian assignment brings no increase In
salary or compensatory advantages.
The agitation against the appointment Of Army
officers 10 civil positions. particularly In the indian
service will doubtless result In the repeal OK the
law now I'm force Miowing the assignment Of Army
officers 10 duty as Indian agents.