The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-02-08

and Mr.. Graves proved successful, III
fact too successful, as to them is at
tributable the cause of the failure
which has attended the treaty in tile
house. By their manipulation they
incurred the hostility of the Wyom-
ing delegation, a hostility that will
always continue and probably prove
effective until such time as the treaty
is amended to conform t. their wishes.
Another deplorable feature in connec-
ton with the matter is that the men
responsible for the unsatisfactory con
dition of affairs are continued in Office
and thus are made powers for further
trouble. After negotiating the treaty
with the Grows they returned to
Washington and as a reward for the
success which they set forth had at
tended their labors asked to be re-
tanned to negotiate further treaties.
Their appeal was needed and at pres
emit they are dickering with the Flat
heads in northwestern Montana and
probably see in it another opportunity
to gain further tenure of office and con
tinued contribution of their valuable
services to the government.
While the people Of Montana, par
ticularly Of this portion of the state,
are made the sufferers by the OPPOSE
ton to the treaty displayed by the
Wyoming representative the blame
which attaches should be laid upon
the commissioners who negotiated
the treaty and upon Graves, who was
largely if not wholly responsible for
conditions under which it was effected.
Two years ago Senator Carter took
occasion, while on the floor of the
senate, to pay his respects to these
same commissioners, and did it in a
manner that evoked the applause Of
all who are familiar with the methods
of Hoyt, McNeely, ct. al. Not only
are they incompetent, but they are dis
honest in that they deceive the In
dams, the government and the settlers
on lands adjacent to Indian 1eserva-
tions. Their one manifest desire is to
hold the positions they are supposed
to be filling. By their tactics of
fraud, deceit and Misrepresentation
they have delayed cession of lands
that should be opened and have done
i~ncalculable injury to the state. Not
only have they frustrated the wishes
and desires of the government and peo-
pie for whose benefit they are supposed
to be acting, but by their chicane and
diltoriness they have caused the Ill
dams to become distrustful and sus-
picious Of the honesty of the govern
ment itself and placed untold trouble
and difficulties in the way of other
commissions that in future may be
appointed to treat with them. It
seems strange that with all the means
it has Of acquiring information the
interior department should select such
incompetents and entrust them with
the important duties attaching to their
Office. If the influence they WELD is
so great and the potency of their
pull" so strong that appointment of
them to a sinecure such as they now
have is one of the exactions they can
impose and enforce some way should
be found of placing them on the gov
ernment's payroll in a capacity where
nothing further would be required of
them than to draw their pay and sign
the necessary vouchers. 1t would be
economy and good judgment to allow
them to draw salary as commissioners
and appoint another set to perform the
duties Of the position and pay them
also. By adopting this plan the Hoyts,
McNeelys and Graveses would be
placed in a position where they could
do no further harm, while at the same
time they would be cared for and the
real work would be done. The Gazette
does not hesitate to guarantee that
the people of this part of the country
would be glad to contribute liberaly to
the payment of the extra expense
adoption of this plan would entail.
The first half of the present legis-