New-York tribune., 1903-01-26
INDIAN 14GENTS BLAMED
Investigation Beng Madc into the
Charges Of -lHeged MiscoHduct-
lar rELEGEAPH 70 THE TRIBcNE.l

Washington, Jan. 25.-Alleged grave irregu-
larites in the conduct of several Indian agents
under investigation by ". a. Jones Indian
Commissioner, at the instance Of President
Roosevelt. whose attention called 10 the
matter BY the Indian Rights Association In a
communication addressed to the President
Philip c. Garrett, president of the Indian Rights
Association. protests against the custom OF Sc
lectng Indian agents by political preferment
and in support of his position says:
During three years. twenty-one agents (about
30 per cent of the entire number we're either
dismissed from the service of the department
or allowed to resign. OF refused reappolntment
for cause. In many instances the official record
Of these men very bad, and must nave eN-
erted most pernicious influence on the Indians
under their care.
Of those so removed, one is now serving a
term in the penitentlary for defalcatloll. on an
grand jury Tor fraudulent practlces, anu VI
doubtless be tried at an early date. HIS preoe-
cessoT in office, guilty of similar offences upot,
learing what action had been taken comm 5 !
suicide. OF the others splaCed 1t may pc Sd 10
that two were removed for immortality. nine fof
dishonesty and collusiCn with traders or others
and seven on the ground Of being unnt OF
worthless
In addition to these tn-enty-one cases, there
are seven agents still in he service agalnsC
whom serious charges have been preferred VINO VINO,
We believe, are wholly unfit for the responsI p9 o5e
places they occupy. Several Of these agencies
are now being investigated.
We desire tc express our approval or me
earnest effort of the present Commissioner OF
Indian Affairs the Hon. ". A. Jones. has al
most invariably put forth 10 purge the service
Of improper or unfit agents In some instances
however he has been prevented from taxing
prompt action where charges were made OWING
to a lack of inspectors who could be detailed 10
make the necessary investigations.
Five wears ago q statement prepared py the
National Civil Service Reform League showed
that large number of changes made IN the
Indian agents was due almost entirely TO Pc
Iitical reasons. The changes made in the last
three years however show a cornuenda0le ef-
fort on the part of the Indian Office TO get rio
of unfit or dishonest agents. whose appoint
rneuts as a rule. were obtained through poliCi-
cal influence. Gt nee1s scarcely be added that
factor in the selection Of those agents, the
Indian Office would doubtless have been spared
this dark page on its recordSC We are glad TO
note that during the three years in question
there is but one instance where the the re-
movaI of a good agent before the expiration or
his te N due TO political pressure, ana III
that case the Indian Office vain1y sought 10
have the man retained in view of his proved
fitness.
1t would be q. great improvement, we beIleNe.
# the Executive were to insist that men recon-
nended 10 him FOR the position Of Indian agents
by members of Congress or others Snould pe
subject TO some form of examination analogous
to those under the Civil Service Commission 70
ascertain their qualifications before they should
be eligible. Even this, while 1t would be prefer
able to the present system, would be far snort.
We believe. of what ought TO be done II the
nosi+iou of Indian agent could be brought wlthln
the classified service the problem WouId De
siuplifiad but, since that would require Con-
gressional action. It is doubtful whether II
SorI4 be ACCOMPLISHED The outcome of Com
missioner JOnes's current lnVestlgaIloHS -
ed inLereS-