The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-20
POOR Los UPLIFTING
Friendly Journal Reviews
Thirty Years Improvements
IN BUSINESS METHODS
Iowa Tribe and the Problem
of SeIf-Support.

| tloH as 10 1uflner steps FORWARD IN tE(
direction of making the red man self
supporting. The Post says:
The appearance OF the latest annua
report Of the board OF Indian commits.
siorers recalls the fact that some great
changes have marked the history of Gun
Indian establishment since the creator
OF the board by President Grant some
thirty years ago. The programme of re-
form il laid out in its first report de-
manded:
a. A better method of purchasing sup
plies. TO prevent fraud and to secure
economy.
% The allotment of lands in severalty
and the settlement OF Indians in perma-
nent homes
80 The abolition of the system of max
ing treaties with Indian tribes
(D The establishment of schools, and
especially the industrial thaining of al
Indian youth.
| 90 Appointments in the Indian SER
vice on the ground of merit acne. apart
from partisan consideration. and perma-
nence in office for ali efficient employees
How well this programme has been
carried out the reader hardly need to BE-
| told The mode of furnishing supplies "a
the Indians has now reached degree OF
excellence where fraud in the quality and
| Quantity Of the goods has been almost
wholly eliminated-at least one member
Of the board, and often several members.
being present at openings of bids and in
| spections of samples There is still room
| for Improvement in the matter of adap-
| tation of the supplies furnished to the
needs of the Indians of particular local
| tiles. but that is something with which
| the officers and clerks OF the bureau. and
| not the members of the board, have TO do.
Certain kinds OF wagons, for example.
are adapted TO a level or rolling prairie
country. but however well made. do not
suit mountain region, and vice Versa.
Certain styles of ploughs are adapted to
sandy. loose soils, which do not suit a
tough sod and heavy clay subsoil. Yet
now and then an issue of Wagons or
ploughs will go to a tribe of Indians who
can make little use of them, on account
Of failure a. the Washington Office to
understand Just what sort is needed in
the neighborhood from which the appli-
cation comes.
The Dawes severalty land law, passed
in 1887, has been applied to nearly or
quite every tribe which is yet in a posi-
ton to profit by 1t. Treaties, which con-
structive'y recognize the Indian tribes as
independent government have given way
to agreements, or contracts, such as a
sovereign government may properly enter
into with any group of people living IN
der it and owing allegiance to it. The
whole West is dotted with schools for
the industrial and scholastic training of
Indian youth. Finally, the bulk Of the
clerical and educational corps of govern
ment employees In the Indian country has
been brought under the civil service
merit system.
or course much Is still to be desired In
the operation Of these reform measures.
The spells system of appointment con-
tinues in the case OF agents. and its trail
remains visible in too many places os-
tensibly covered by the civil service
rules; but the senate voluntarily re-
nounces its rights TO confirm nominations
for agents. and until the generation Of
subordinate employees who owe their po-
sftions 10 patronage shall have passed
away these things are bound to continue.
The best way TO appreciate what has
been accomplished against treme ndous
odds in the last thirty years is to con-
trast present conditions with the condl-
tions when Grant became president At
ter such comparison. no one has any
excuse for denying that, unsatisfactory
as many conditions still are, a good deal
of progress has actually been made
The board this year maps out some new
work for the friends Of the Indian TIE
coming generation Of Indians. for in
stance, must be taught to attach more
Importance TO civilized marriage. The
board proposes that immed'a ate steps be
taken TO enforce a marriage license sys-
tenn and the registration Of Indian mar
riages at all the agencies. The Indians
must be brought under the operation Of
the same local laws and customs on this
head which bind their white neighbors.
This must be done not only for its moral
effect upon the Indians. but for TIE as
surance Of titles to property descending
through inheritance
The practice Of leasing alIotments must
be more carefully scrutiafzed and c1rbed
To an Indian who does not recognize the
advantage Of a settled home a. white
people know &, an ailstment Of lard Is
irksorne rather than grateful HIS first
thought. on acquiring IL, is 20 lease = q
some white man for a few dollars and
retire with his family 20 a more conEen- Z
ial dOmicile ia the brush. The dollars he
squanders on the FIRST trfnket which /
catches his fancy. and thereafter be !
must I've largely by Begging Or petty |
theft The Indian who r. able-bssdle5. q /
mature years, and mentally competent I
should be taught ard required 20 cuiu- (
vate his own sol. OF such Part % It as
be can Il Is enough 70 permit TIE lezs- 1
Ing. under efscient and conscious ofTesa1 I
Of the farms oznsd b The I
help 'ess members 81 the tribe
But the most noteworthy departure q 4
the board 81 It's present report e 80
approval u policy 20 which ;ns Indian 4
Right association gave ifs corH;srancs :
few years age. The present Washt5Etsa
agent % TIE association. 3. N B-osius
drafted for the loves sf Kansas a mem
oriaI % the Indian o-ice asking - have
their tribal t-1s. funf. no< bed IA the
United States treasury. 5rosea 20 ara
Distributed among IRE iasIyt4s2is CON-
posing ths trf5e. Thsts t5sz ~zs not q (
take thesr pro-ra:s shares = cash a.
once. rgt simply - hare q lar p&zsea
reeusr.ax tAat these shares = credited
20 thszl xeverzliy n ;he Eovsrnzssrf-s
tosks. suagscf % disposal fgy shear ir1i-
rgsEzl ssredf - the secretary - ihe ln-
;eziar, ard ~ their deaths pad 9Tsr - I
thsIr legal heirs znaseE she las o tea
state zhe-e each reS4sea- TAs srSsass5
iazevatlsz wAs Eever csrssel eEs- Il ~zs