The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-24
Secretary of interior Would
Drop Him From Commission.
He HAS DRAWN $4,000
For a Job That Has Been
Largely a SinecUre.

the commission which bears his name.
/ The dispatch reads;
| Secretary Hitchcock has written let
tiers TO the leading members Of the COM
mittees on Indian affairs OF the house
and senate, requesting them to he pres
/ ent at conference TO lie held neNt Ftl-
/ day al the department. st witch the caa-
/ dition Of affairs in the Indian territory
/ viii be discussed and plans perfected Tor
/ improvements in the service Secretary
| Hitchcock IS anxious 10 secure COM
1 pleticn ef the work OF the Dawes COM
mission at the earliest possible date. and
it is for the purpose az receiving sur-
| gestions from those members and ssna-
I tors who have given much thought 40
! conditions in the territory that the meet
/ ing has been called. The desire is ia
map out comprehensive plan. which
viii probably include number OF inn
portant changes. that VIII receive thu
/ approval OF congress
All Of the members OF the house ana
/ senate Indian committees agree lhat
there should be important changes IN
the management OF affairs ia Indian ter
ritory. The Dawes commission hes not
been az work nine years IN vain en-
deavor 20 bring order out az chaotic con-
ditions existing. While they have made
some progress, it Is evident that unless
something is done il viii require years
10 complete the work already COM
menced.
As to what changes should be made
there is a difference or opinion. Secr,-
tary Hitchcock, Il is understood. IL be
favor or a change. though not disposed
20 interfere with tho present commits
sion or its membership. Some tine ago
Il was reported that be advocated a re-
duction OF membership of the commission.
but this IS fatty denied al the depart
ment. Several or the members Of con
gress. however. are favorahiy impressed
with the proposition 70 decrease the mem
bership of the commission. Reprcseuta-
tive Curtis. Of Kansas. the second rank
ing member OF the house committee on
Indian affairs. advocates "a radical re-
organization % the committee. Ifc viii
present plan reducing the mcmbcrshin
10 one member, who viii exercise an ~
the powers now conferred upon four
members. At present the commission ia
composed OF four members. each drawing
a salary Of $500 per annum making a
tNAeA NA a-t."f' ftfr ttItAH WIZ N|Aa tft'4EH
the appointment OF a single conuisslun~r
at a salary of $1,000 oF possibly sl-lso.
per aanum. 20 as "a enable the secretary
10 secure the services of "a man of sml-
nent ability. The remaining e o0o or gl8
0o9. now being expended in salaries FOR
commissioners. Mr. Curtis would s1pend
IN salaries Of subordinate Officers Four
years ago Mr. curtis advocated a similar
change. contending az that time thar
one good man could accomplish more
work than "A commission composed ~
eve members. as then existed. Ills ar
euments IN favor 81 reduction n mem
5ership resulted En- The elimination % ona
u the commissioners. and since thea four
men have been performing the duties q
the commission.
III s. pointed out BY sfr Curtis that
the greater portion Of the work incident
20 the Dawes commission can BE- done
as efficiently and expedniouFly b. r SUR
ordinate official as by member ~ TBS
It is only the Important
questions which require the personal cor.
sideration ~ the commiraion. az tha
matters could he diaposef
81 hy the clerical force and nnally acfe1
upon bv the commissions when Submit
led Tor reference - the department. WITH
he selection - one man a. eminent abn-
nv. and % weli known probigv ard
honor who could pc held strictly account
ible f1r everything ghat transnired iu
sounscglou With the affairs - the com
mission q 81 believed IS Mr Curtis ara
,ther mem hers that 81 would usst wlfa
mere general satisfaction ard facilitate
De completion ~ the work - TIE corn
mission.
Many delays have occurred in the psst
because ~ dlgcgencra arising among tss
Members o. THE commission. These ar
erencss have resulted fa delays IN eor-
letting the tribal reiis ard ere d.rUostfen
z other smaller inuartant problems
yIth ths work in TIE hsncs ~ ene uan.
rho wouid be hr.I strictly aeee5nfah.o
s. the secretary ~ the Interior. fhs pcs
'bgtles ~ friefa1 ~ diTersacea arlsiaE
roasd ~ rrsr,a9e4
This plan Vll - grFsd Ipen fhr asr-
.tarv at fhe cenfs-ears Frfssv. Eat a.
.epreseatatffe Sherman and Senator
-aagies hsee net Fef arrived th= qasa
IN ~ see sse1tlaa is purely rrassen-
..eaL
-Thrr- sac hesa q d.sraslftsr ser s-.-
-al gears on fta gart - nauhss ~
~ leading fflenoera ~ far Faffea eaaa-
ltfssH - tae honse ard sesste - a~es
-sHnetor Dawes. fhs chairman q ff~
rHr1.asaen. Pr. DaEea Rae ncf been s..
r TERRITORY Ter 1re years. aeg has sss-
rued lfte g insesl esp w1rs
HH Tefertee ea fae eererftras -
.rs.g fef ffulsatal rsasoas sfs vas
e setAss - fhe eia creating tae reu-