The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-25
NO POLITICS IN AGENTS
Indian Commissioner Jones Wants
Them Placed in the Classified
Service.

Washington. Nov. 25.-"The most seri-
GUS obstacle in the part Of Indian civiliza-
ton. in my judgment. is the practice Of
appointing Indian agents for political pur-
poses.
This statement is made in his annual
report by w. A. Jones Of Wisconsin,
United States commissioner of Indian
affairs. and is understood to foreshadow
an executive order placing Indian agents
in the classified service.
Commissioner Jones urges that the af-
fairs Of an agency should be placed in
charge of a bonded superintendent. On
this point he says:
I'm case of a bonded superintendent
there is no political pull, or otherwise. to
hold him in his position and the knowl-
edge that such is the case is powerful
factor in inducing him to stand up for the
right and the best interests Of the Indians
under his charge.
THE administration of an Indian
agency should be a purely business prop
osition. There should be no politics in 1t.
The protection Of the rights of the In
dams and their civilization should be the
sole object to be attained. No man with
interests antagonistic to these can pos
siby advance the Indian problem toward
it's SOlutiOn.'
For years students Of the Indian ques-
ton have battled over the problem as to
not-reservation school. The leading adj
vocate Of the latter is Colonel Pratt Of
the Carlisle school. who urges that the
nom reservation school draws the Indian
youth out of the shell of conservatism
which encompasses every tribe, and that
the tendency is to broaden the mind and
develop latent instincts for the better
ment of self and people. On the other
hand, it is urged that the non"reservation
school is ahead Of it's time. and that the
| plans should not be further extended: TIC
| this proposition Commissioner Jones fully
| agrees. He says =.
IF 1t were possible to break up Indian
reservations, and scatter their people
among white communities, the non-res-
| ervation school would adequately meet
all the requirements Of difficult situa-
! ton: but such action can not be taken al
present, nor does it appear. feasible for
| an indefinite period Therefore. in the
! meanwhile, the present system, with GER
| tain necessary notifications, should be
| 1nanta ined. "
The utterances Of Commissioner Jones
! on this question are Of great significance
| At the last session Of congress a law was
| passed directing the commissioner of In
| dian affairs to make report on e,>rela-
! tive advantages OF the non-reserVat1or
and reservation schools. The commits.
| sioner will report as Indicated above, anc
| his views Will be uSeQ as a OASIS IOT 1ulufe
legislation. They are certain to- have the
effect Of preventing the further develop
ment Of the reservation school. some
of which are located in the northwes
| states.
An interesting statistical table in the
! report of the commissioner is that giving
| the annual cost of the Indian education
1t shows that the average cost per capita
| during the past year was s138.75. The
expenditure for Indian schools for the
| fiscal year ended June 80, 1902. wa:
$2.S37.7S5, out of general and specific ap
propria tons made by congress, to which
is added 100000 taken from treaty fund:
for the support Of schools established I'm
der such treaties. This gives the tota
cost for this branch Of the service for thu
year as $3,437,7S5. This sum maintained
249 schools with an enrolment Of 24,4S
pupils, and in addition a number Of pupils
in the Hampton isstitute. and publ,
| schools. making in all 24,751. 49,
The report discusses in an interesting
manner the orders disseminating ration
and requiring the Indians to cut their hal
short, and prohibiting the: use Of paint OF
the face Both of them, the commissions
asserts, have proved civilizing agencies
! and although harshly criticised will b
! continued as a part Of the policy OF TIL
! government. ....-