Evening star., 1902-02-24
INDIAN SCHOOLS.
Probable Investigation of Educational
Methods

There has been a vigorous stirring up OF
the educational features Of the Indian de-
partment during the past few days in Con-
gress and the end Is not yet. The Senate
committee on Indian affairs will be en-
powered to summon witnesses for the pur-
pose Of investigating the conditions on the
reservations, and in the House there have
been vigorous attacks upon the items pro-
viding for the Indian schools.
Ex-Gov. Mcconnell of Idaho. formerly
an Indian inspector, who was discharged
by Secretary Hitchcock. is making every
effort to bring about an investigation Of the
system employed in caring for and educat-
Ing the Indian children. He has had print
ed as Senate document sensa tional testi-
mony as to the immortality which prevails
among the children and the lax methods
employed by the teachers. A number Of
western members have made the statement
that they believed 1t was perfectly use
less to educate the Indian children and al
low them to return TO the reservations
where the boys were again forced to don
the blanket and the girls were driven to
immortality by the older Indians who held
the educational efforts in contempt
There Is no doubt but that the present
discussion will lead to considerable inves-
tigation before the matter is disposed Of
Senator Clark of Montana who is on the
Indian affairs committee, and who Is thor
oughly familiar with the conditions in the
west. Is convinced that there Is a great
deal OF room for Improvement in the mat
ter Of making leases on Indian lands for
grazing or mining purposes. He has ex-
pressed himself as in favor of the thorough
investigation Of each reservation and the
character of the leases now existing,
which Is about to be made. Indian agents
often sacrifice the interests of the Indians
In their desire to secure valuable leasing
privileges for white stock owners who
have the inside track in the matter Of IN
dian grazing lands. Outsiders. cattle are
allowed to mingle with those belonging
to the Indians, and in the round-ups many
Indian calves are branded by the lesseees,
and are thus complete loss to the tribe
which has leased the land. It is also the
sheepman which may give him, for in
stance. the right to put 5000 head Of cattle
at so much per capita upon q piece of In
dian land. and then. with the connivance
of the agent. he grazes ten or fifteen thou
sand head. unbeknown to the depart
ment and paying nothing to the Indians
for the privilege.
The education Of Indian children has its
strong advocates in both House and Sem
ate. but even the famous school at Car
Isle has been bitterly attacked by men,
bers Of Congress within the past few days
Representative Cannon Of Illinois has gone
on record as opposed to the education Of
Indian children under the present system:
Mr.. Fitzgerald Of New York has made
some lively passages at the Indian appro-
priation bill. and Delegate Mark Smith Of
Arizona would do away with the whole
schenC. There Is no danger of the Indian
schools being abolished, however, and the
agitation which has come from opposition
to them may prove, In the end, of great
value in the reforms which will undoubted-
ly result from review and investigation
Of the methods now employed