The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-06


The committee of the National Civil
Service Reform League has submitted TO
the council of the league the following re-
port on the condition of the Federal
civil service with respect to the Indian
Bureau:
Among the political appointments
which remain untouched by the civil
service law, none have given rise 10
greater scandals than those Of Indian
agents, who are chosen by means of
nominations made by the President and
confirmed by the Senate. As these agents
are often selected by the Senators from
the particular States in which the agencies
are located. it naturally follows that the
motives for urging their nomination upon
the President are frequently those OF
personal or political advantage to the
Senators concerned. The unfortunate
character of these appointments Is clearly
shown by the numerous changes mace
during the past sixteen years. During
President Clevelands first Administra-
ton. in sixty agencies, all the agents
were changed but two; during President
Harrison's Administration, while the
number of agencies remained unchangee,
there were seventy-six appointments, and
out their four years terms; during Presi-
dent Cleveland second Administration,
in the same number of agencies. there
were eighty-one changes, and only four
agents were allowed to serve out their
terms: and during the first term of Presi-
dent Mckinley, in fifty-eight agencies.
there were seventy-nine changes, only
nine agents were allowed to serve out
their terms, and only one was re-
appointed at the expiration thereof.
Nothing could be more unfortunate for
the Indians than this constant shifting OF
control If they are to have respect TOT
the authority of the Government, that
Government ought to be represented con-
tinuously for a considerable period oil
time by some responsible officer. and IL
is evident that no plans for the improve
meut of any particular tribe can be made
effectual where these plans are stopped
almost at their inception by removing the
agent in charge.
Presumably the frequency OF these
changes indicates that the men appointed
are found to be improper selections. Ihls
is true in most of the cases, but in some
instances good men have been removed
(among them army officers who were per-
forming efficient service), because the
places were needed to satisfy the demand
for patronage. An instance of this is
found in the case of Major 6. w. H
Stouch, who was thus removed. by Pres
ident Mckinley from the Crow Agency
of Montana, TO make way for an agent
who proved so incompetent that he had
TO be dismissed upon charges. Major
stouch was afterward appointed to an
other agency.
DEsPOILED BY FRAUD.
Under the system of patronage ap-
pointments, these wards Of the nation
have in many cases been desooiled by
fraudulent contracts, whereby the agents
have obtained large sums of money in
violation of law. while the morals of the
Indians have been corrupted by the eN-
ample of caretakers who are often
drunken brutal. licentious, and dishon-
est. Recently the Secretary of the In
terror required that the bids for the leas-
ing of The Indian lands should be opened
and the leases awarded in Washington
under the direct supervision of the Indian
Bureau, and not. as formerly, upon the
reservations The result of this system
and of the exposure of the fraudulent use
of Indian lands already shows a net gain
TO the Indians of about Sl50 90, the great
ei part of which was upon the Usage Res
ervation alone. Nothing could better IL
lustrate the enormous waste ana pre-
sumptive peeuiations which have existed
IN the past in respect to this one feature
of Indian administration.
In reviewing the appointment of agents
under the present Administration, ii is
desired TO express the fullest recognition
Of the efforts OF the Secretary of the In
terror and the Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs for the Improvement of this
branch of the service, and also the full
Il.
the President, whereby a number of cor
Iupt OF inefficient men appointed by him
We're subsequently separated from the
service; for example, Agent w. j. Pol
lock. at Usage Reservation. a man ac-
cused Of the improper use Of Indian lands
and pasturage privileges. who resigned
under charges; Agent John 5. Mayhugh,
of the Western Shoshone Agency. who
demoraliZed the Indians upon the reser-
walton. subjected one of the school teach
ers To such indignities that she was oblig-
I'd 10 go armed, and provoked quarrels
which eliminated IN shooting affray;
Asa g Sharp, of the Ponca Agency, who
* now under indictment for receiving 81
51D for his influence in securing for certain
favored parties special leases and privi-
legfs Nathan Z. johnson, of the Sisse-
ton Agency. implicated in charges of col
fusion with traders, and of the fraudu-
lent use of Indian lands. and under whom
a blacklist was prepared comprising over
three hundred names. with the threat
made that the names on this list would
be dropped from tribal membership un-
less the effort to get rid of the agent
was abandoned; George James, of the
Pottawatomie Agency. who resigned un-
der charges of drunkenness; +. H Beck
er, of the Crow Agency. who was remov-
ed upon the report of an inspector for the
fraudulent use Of Indian lands; as well as
other cases where similar changes were
made by the President.
SOME GOOD APPOINTMENTS.
''It IS also desired to express the fullest
appreciation of the numerous excellent
appointments, such as that of Major
Stouch, at the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
Agencies; Albert NJ. Anderson, at the Col
vile Agency; John j.. Edwards of the
Crow Agency; Col. James F. Randlett at
the Kiowa Agency: o. c. Applegate. at
the klamath Agency; Capt w. A. Mer-
Ger. at the Lcech Lake Agency. and
others But in spite OF all that has been
done. at some of the agencies seriou.
abuses still remain.
"fhe agency at Crow Creek is one Of
Tho worst examples OF evil eorduct An
agent Is forbidden by law to have any
Interest or concern in any trade with tho
Indians. yet the present incumbent /
II. Stephens. has bought stock again and
again from the Indians for his own bene-
ut. at first secretly through a post I rader
named Bradley. afterward more boldly.
by open and direct dealings with the IN
dams themselves Nearly twenty Indians
have testified to these sales. Farmers
hired 70 teach the Indians have moi
taught them. but have hauled ashes on
done chores for the agent most of ,he
time. One farmer gave three davs ont
Of six months to teach the Indians: am
other only nineteen days cut Of eighteen
months. Mer who have made attemnt :
TO circulate petitions asking for "A new,
agent have been prosecuted Amonp
those who suffered for This cause one
George Grey-Cloud was Illegally arrest ed