The times., 1901-05-06

agency, but used them himself in excess.
and has been seen by the Indians several
times under the influence of liquor.
LIQUOR OFFERED To INDIANS.
by statute 1897. chapter 80, it is pro-
vided that any person who shall
eating liquor to any Indian
shall be punished by imprison-
mont.' etc. This agent is shown to have
tempted Indians to drink, offering them
liquor himself Charges have been made
that the agent is involved in deals with
three half-breeds named Thomas Smlth,
Frank PoclSman, and Joseph Pockman, py
which the Indian herds have become
steadily IMPOVERISHED. The agent has
prosecuted those making charges, and mas
removed an Indian clerk, John +. Aouhs,
on allegations of immoral conuuct,
which a Government investigation has
since officially proved to be false. 1et.
IN spite of this persecution, 20 lndlaI
voters, out of less than 25O in all signed
on February %, 1901, a strongly Worueu
petition, asking for a change in the agent
and for a voice in the choice OF MS sue
ceSSOr.
AT the Yanllton Agency. South Dakota,
Agent John w. Harding appears to have
induced one Sofie Iron Hawk to rellnqu1Sh
an allotment of land through when 4
railroad had just been built for the noml-
nal consideration of 81, whereupon Lofetfa
Pierce, a niece of the agent, Immediately
filed a HON estead claim upon this tract
The agent himself then built a store on
the land. a railroad town called Lake
Andes was established, and the agent
went into business in the new store,
where he spent most of his time ana
neglected his agency work. during three
days spent by a Government inspector az
the agency. the agent was not TO be found
there and was only seen at the store
where he unwittingly sold goods TO the
inspector Gross favoritism is charged
against this agent: appointments, con
tracts. etc. being aVowediy gwen ohly 10
those who would act in his interests.
AT San Jacilto. Cal, near one OF the
mission agencies. l.. A. Wright. the GOV
ernment agent whose duty it is to look
after and protect these Indians, has the
Office of his agency in one building, ana.
two doors farther up the street, IN the
same block, keeps one of the two drug
stores where liquor is sold, in town
which has no saloons. In this town
men and women have been seen on the
streets as well as on their reservation,
helplessly intoxicated.
III is believed that these unfortunate
appointments have been due to patronage,
and that incompetent agents have some
times been retained in their places long
after public interests required thelr oIs-
missal on account of the pressure brought
to bear by political influence to keep them
in office.
THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED.
1T seems evident that whatever tenn
porary Improvement may be made by
changes in the personnel of the Indian
service. no lasting reform can be inaugu-
rated without a change in the system it
self
"A law providing that agents should be
chosen by promotion from the classified
service, or from the classified service and
the army. would seem very desirable.
But DO law is necessary for this purpose.
According TO section 1853 of the Revised
Statutes the President is authorized to
prescribe such regulations for the admiS-
sion of persons into the civil service as
may best promote the efficiency thereof,
and to ascertain the fitness of such can
didates in respect to age. health, charac-
ter. knowledge, and ability for the branch
Of service into which they seek TO enter,
and for this purpose the President may
employ suitable persons to conduct en-
quiries
1T is submitted that under this law
the Executive has the right TO pro-
mulgate regulations declaring that all ap-
DOintments of Indian agents hereafter
shall be made by promotion from the sup
erintendents OF Indian schools and from
the other higher grades Of the classified
Indian service, and by details from the
army. In pursuance Of this statute, an
inspector might be selected by the Presi-
dent from the classified service to ascer-
tam ana report the relative qualifications
of the different persons in this service
eligible for appointment.
In this manner patronage would be-
and the motive for many OF the abuses
which have heretofore existed would be-
come extinct. II is believed that those
who have acquired experience in dealing
with Indians through school service and
otherwise would form the best body of
men obtainable at the present time from
which TO make appointments of Indian
agents.
WORTHY SERVICE.
by adopting some such method as the
very substantial service to the cause Of
good administration and greatly promote
the welfare Of the Indians. The number
Of these places is not great, but their i'm
portance is beyond ali measure. Ii is con-
hdently believed that the Senate would not
stand in the way 10y refusing to confirm
good nominatio made In pursuance of d
system which would be of such manifest
advantage TO the service.
The foregoing matters were commune
Gated 10 the President on April %, in a
letter from the chairman Of your com
mitIee. containing the exhibits, Of which
copies are attached to this report, and
his action l. awaited with interest a
copy of this letter was also furnished to
the Secretary Of the Interior Your com
mittee Is glad TO learn that since the re-
port was prepared. and since the letter
was written. a change has been made in
the Crow Greek Agency. by which the
agent complained of there is to be sep
ara1ed from the service. In pursuance Of
ii purpose matured some time since. and
that other changes of a similar nature are
likely to occur in the near future Your
committee feel assured, however that the
permanercy of such reforms can be as
sured only by Change Of the system of
appointment whereby patronage shall be-
as far as possible eliminated
''WILLIAM DUDLEY FOTTLKF
RICHARD HENRY DANA
WILLIAM A AIKEN
CHARLES RICHARDSON,
GEORGE. McA NENY