Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-24
REFORM IN INDIAN AGENTS
Commissioner Jones Suggests that They Be
Removed from Politics.
FAVORS BONDED SUPERINTENDENT PLAN
Report DevOtes Considerable space
to Debate of General PROPOSE
tiOn ms to Enect on
Red Men.

(From a Stan Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.-(Special.E"The
most serious obstacle in the path OF Indian
civilization, in my judgment" Indian Com
missioner Jones says in his annual report,
lis the practice Of appointing Indian
agents for political services. AS a rule
such appointments are made from persons
living near the agency. Their activity in
political life, which secures their appoint
ment, undoubtedly gives them enemies to
punish and friends to reward. The evil
effects Of such a course have been mani
tested in numberless instances, which have,
officially and unofhcially. been brought to
my attention. An agent appointed under
such conditions does not have an eye
single to the interests Of the Indians, but,
as a rule, looks out more especially for the
interests of his own friends. In view Of the
act Of congress relative to the sale of
heirship lands, greater opportunities than
ever have been placed in the hands Of an
Indian agent to increase his salary by I'M
lawful means. Open market purchases are
unavoidable in the conduct of Indian af-
fairs. An agent who is from the locality
has friends and enemies from whom to
purchase the goods, and 1t is all too easy
for him to favor one and damage the other,
all of which is against the best interest
of the Indians.
Advantage Of Bonded Superintendent.
"In 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 a powerful
factor in inducing him to stand up for the
right and for the best interests of the
Indians under his charge. Political bicker-
ings, contentious with traders. etc, en-
croachments upon Indians rights are gen.
orally handled in a satisfactory manner,
without fear Of offending or favoring any
factional political interests. He knows that
his duties are comprised in doing all that
is possible for the civilization OF the
Indians and their protection against the
encroachments OF white settlers surround
ing them.
'"The pressure from white men who want
Indian lands is something enormous, and
no Indian agent who is from that locality,
who can only expect TO serve a short term
OF, probably, four years, can Withstand
such pressure. At the expiration OF his
term he returns to those people where he
must depend upon their favors for his
future livelihood. 1t is unreasonable to
suppose that such a man will stand against
! Inc hlouNo VI uhoNA P0AOh eHN RAND~s
so-called honest men, in their dealings
with the Indians to such a degree as
would q man who came from a different
section, who, is in the classified service,
whose welfare does not depend upon sur
rounding white people, but upon his sue
cess in handling the Indian problem pre-
sented to him, and to whom, IL he does
his duty we'll and faithfully, there always
remains the hope Of promotion to a better
place in the service elsewhere. Such con-
ditions undoubtedly tend to obtaining a
better class of people to place in charge
Of Indian agencies than does the present
system. -
The administrator OF an Indian agency
should be a purely business proposition.
There should be no politics in It.. The
protection OF the rights Of the Indians and
their civilization should be the sole object
to be attained. No man with interests an
tagonistic to these can possibly advance the
Indian problem toward its solution.
His Conclusions.
"As an evidence Of the justice of the
above conclusions, there are the nnumer-
able changes which have been made in the
agency force during the past Ave years,
the number OF Indian agents who have been
relieved from the service for peculation,
and the fact that not a single bonded SUI
perintendent has been removed from the
service upon the ground of financial de-
linquency. On the other hand, the ratio
Of bonded superintendent who have been
relieved from the service for cause is a
minimum when compared with agents. II
Is not contended, Of course, that the fact
that a man is a bonded superintendent
makes him a better man than an agent Sc
lected Tor political reasons, but the condi-
tions surrounding each man In connection
with the manner Of his appointment con-
clusively' demonstrate that the removal OF
political influences has a tendency to secure
a better class OF men to be placed in
charge Of Indian matters at the various
agencies and reservations.
"a large number Of reservations have
been placed In charge of bonded superin-
t%endents during the last three or four years
l can conscientiously say that the affairs
at these places have been administered al
well. and in the large majority of case:
better than they were when under the con.
troll Of political favorites. As a rule
bonded superintendent are men OF educa.
tion. They are required to pass dlficult
examinations; they have had experience IL
the service, and hope to make It their life
work; while many Indian agents, who are
willing to accept these positions, are mer
who have failed In business, are ward pol
i%ticians, and have no hope Of remainin,
!, longer than a period bounded by the for.
! tunes Of the political party to which they
belong.
All Agents Not bad.
There are many able, conscientious ant
%efncient agents. whose performance OF theii
duties 10 above reproach; but the unde
{ niable fact remains that the first and mos
! important consideration is TO keep IN,
Indian question out OF politics, and when
| ever 1t is necessary to appoint a man a
agent he should be OF good business eapae
: ity, and chosen for his we'll known honest,
and integrity. II Is not claimed. however
4 that all bonded superintendents are abso
lutely free from similar Influences whicI
surround agents. but 1t is significant tina
the percentage OF failures is less tina
under the older system, As an evidenc
Of this there are, out Of the hfty-seve
bonded superintendents in the service a
present, thirty-seven who have been con
tinuously in It for periods varying from te
to twenty-four years. The great majorlt
OF these men began their service in sub
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