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

into the Indian country The agent;
Thomas Richards. not only introduced
and kept various kinds of liquor in the
agency. but used them himself in excess.
ard 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
give away any ardent or intoxi-
eating liquor to any Indian
" shall he punished by imprison-
ment.' 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 hdif-breeds named Thomas Smith,
Frank PoCkman, and Joseph Pockman, ny
which the Indian herds have become
steadily IMPOVERISHED The agent mas
prosecuted those making charges. and has
removed an Indian clerk, John p. Young,
on allegations of immoral conduct,
which Government investigation mas
since officially proved to be false. Yet
IN spite of this persecution, 200 lndiat
voters. out of less than go in all, signed
on February 20, 1901, a strongly Worueu
petition, asking for change in the agent
and for a voice in the choice of his sue
ceSsOr.
AT the Yankton Agency, South Dakota,
Agent John w. Harding appears TO nave
induced one Sofe Iron Hawk to relinqulSh
an allotment of land through which a
railroad had just been built for the nomi-
nal consideration of IS, whereupon Loreirn
Pierce. niece of the agent. Immediately
filed a homestead claim upon this tract
The agent himself then built 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 and
neglected his agency work. During three
days spent by n Government inspector az
the agency, the agent was not to be tounu
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 given oniy 10
those who would act in his interests
AT San Jacinto. Cal. near one OF the
mission agencies, l.. A. Wright. the GOV
ernment agent whose duty II is TO loon
after and protect these Indians, mas the
Office of his agency in one building. and
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
intemperance has increased, and lndlan
men and women have been seen on the
streets. well as on their reSerNatioh'
helplesSly intoxicated
lit is believed that these unfortunate
appointments have been due TO patronage
and that incompetent agents nave some
times been retained in their places long
after public interests required their DIS
missal on account of the pressure brought
to bear by political influence to keep them
in office.
THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED.
ut 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 Jaw 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 no 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-
pointments of Indian agents hereafter
shall be made by promotion from the sup
-'rintendents 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-
den. from the classified service to ascer-
tain and report the relative qualifications
of the different persons in this service
eligible for appointment.
In this manner patronage would be-
come greatly lessened il not eliminated.
and the motive for many Of the abuses
which have heretofore existed would be-
come extinct. 1t 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
A WORTHY SERVICE.
BY adopting some such method as the
foregoing the President would render a
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 all measure. 1t is con-
fidently believed that the Senate would not
stand in the way by refusing to confirm
good nominations made In pursuance of d
system which would he of such manifest
advantage TO the service.
The foregoing matters were communi-
Gated To the President on April 25, in a
letter from the chairman of your COM
mittee, containing the exhibits of which
copies are attached to this report, and
his action is 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. change has been made in
the Crow Creek Agency. by which the
agent complained of there is to be sep
arated from the service. in pursuance of
d purpose matured some time since, and
that other changes of similar nature are
likely to occur in the near future Your
committee feel assured, however. that the
permanency of such reforms can be as
sured only by a change of the system of
appointment whereby patronage shall be,
as far as possible, eliminated.
WILLIAM DUDLEY FOULKE,
RICHARD HENRY DANA,
''WILLIAM A AIKEN
CHARLES RICHARDSON,
GEORGE McANEN