The times., 1901-05-06
INDIAN BUREAU REFORMS
Changes Recommended by Civil
Service Committee.
The Present Method of Appointment
Of Agents Declared Productive of
Many Abuses at the ReServations-
Revision of the system Desired.


Revision of the system Desired.
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 TO
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 made
during the past sixteen years. During
President CleveIand's first Administra-
ton. in sixty agencies. all the agents
We're changed but two; during President
HarTison's Administration, while the
number of agencies remained unchanged.
there were seventy-six appointments, ana
only eight agents were allowed to serve
out their four years terms; during Presi-
dent Cleveland's 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 fffty-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 Tor
the authority Of the Government. that
Government ought to be represented cen-
tinuously for a considerable period OF
tine by some responsible officer, and 1t
is evident that no plans for the improve
ment 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 ms
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 pafronage. An instance of this is
found i'm the case of Major 9. 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 ne hau
to be dismissed upon charges Major
Stouch was afterward appointed TO an
other agency.
DEsPOILED BY FRAUD.
Under the system of patronage ap-
pointmenJs these wards Of the nation
have in many cases been des9Oiled 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 eX-
ample of caretakers who are often
drunken. brutal. Hcentious, 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 d net gain
10 the Indians Of about Sl50,ejJ, the great
eI part Of which was upon the Usage Res
ervation alone Nothing could better H.
lustrate the enormous waste ana pre-
sumptiVe peculatiOns 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. it is
desired 10 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
est appreciation Of the changes made by
The President, whereby number OF cor
IupL or inefficient men appointed by him
were subsequently separated from the
service; for example, Agent W. }. Pol
lock. at Usage Reservation a man ac-
and pastu-aEe privileges who resigned
under charges; Agent John :. Mayhugh,
Of the Western ShOshOne Agency. who
demOralized the Indians upon the reser-
walton. subjected one Of the school teach
srs 10 such indignities that she WAS oblig
ID TO 20 armed, and provoked qUarrels
which eliminated in q shooting anray.
Asa & Sharp. of the Ponca Agency. who
900 for his influence in securing for certain
favored parties special leases and prigi-
leges; 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
2 blacklist was prepared comprising over
three hundred names. with the threat
made that the names on this list would
toe dropped from tribal membership un-
less the effort TO get rid Of the agent
was abandoned; George James OF the
POttawatomie Agency. who resigned an
der charges Of drunkenness; +. II Beck
er. OF the Crow Agency. who was remOr-
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
at Is also desired to express the fullest
appreciation Of the numerous excellent
appointments. such as that of Ma ior
Stouch, at the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
Agencies; Albert NJ. Anderson. 1T the Col
vile Agency; John i. Edwards Of the
Crow Agency; Col. James T. RandIett at
the Kiowa Agency: o. G. Appleeate. AT
the klamath Agency; Capt w. A. Mer-
ccr. 1T the Leech Lake Agency. and
others. But in spite Of al that has been
done at some Of the agencies serious
abuses stflI remain.
The agency at Crow Creek is one Of
the worst examples Of evil corduct. An
agent Is forbidden by law TO have any
Interest or concern IN any trade with fbe
Indians. yet the present incumbent. !
II. stephens, has bought stock again and
isaih from the Indians for his own bene-
1T. at Nrst secretly through q pOst-trador
named Bradley. aftcrWard more bpIdi,,
hy open and direct dealings with the IN
dlans themselves. Nearly twenty Indians
have testified 10 these sales. Farmers
hired 20 teach the Indians have NOT
taught them. but have hauled ashes or
done chores Tor the agent most Of fba
time. one farmer gave three davs o,,t
AZ SIX months TO teach the Indians. am
other only nineteen days cut of 1fehtea,
months. Mcr who have made atteTnf,fs
10 circulate petitions asking for "a new
agent have been prosecuted Arnorp
those who suffered for this cause ,,,o
George Grcg-Cioud was Illegally arreefe5
y inc agent order and kept in jail with