Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1903-05-28
W. q. Jones, Indian Commits sioner

The Waupaca Post of last week
in speaking of "A Wisconsin
man VINO uuosteutatiou-ly worked
many reforms has the following to
say of our worthy townsmau, w. A.
Jones which the Tribune aud its
readers ciu heartily endorse:
When senator John G. Spooner presented
the name Of William 4. Jones of Mineral Point,
Wis., to President Mckinley for the import
ant position of Commissioner Of Indian Affairs,
he did it with full confidence that this modest
citizen was possessed Of the requisite ability,
coupled with the courage and honesty, to bring
about needed reforms of long standing abuses.
1t took but few months to convince Presi-
dent Mckinley that he had made no mistake
in the appointment of Commissioner Jones.
and so strongly did the work of Mr.. Jones inn
press Cornelius \. Bliss. Secretary of the In
terror, that Mr.. Bliss declared, after a year,
that Mr.. Jones appointment was the strong
est made by the president
TIP 10 the time of Commissioner Jones ad-
vent into the bureau the Indian Office had
been MI object of perhaps legitimate sus-
picon. The bureau was honeycombed with
rings-one within the other. and the Indian con
tractor and trader. who regarded the Aborig-
inc as Il fair proposition for robbery, We're in
saddle, and in every nook Of the service was in
twined within interests their. The govern
mcnt and the Indians were a common enemy
to these people. To remedy EXISTING condi-
ditions, and correct these abuses, required un-
swerying courage untiring energy. great de.
termination, and inAeNible honesty, for pow
erfu influences stood al the back of this
crowd.
One of the serious problems confronting
the Indian Commissioner was the looting Of
the Indians through pine logging contracts by
false scales aud combinations of bidders.
This was one OF the most notorious abuses,
and under the peculiar circumstances exist
ing. one of the most difficult to eradicate. 1t
is gratifying TO note, however. that it has been
most thoroughly accomplished
Commissioner Jones first step was TO
search for an expert timber man whose char
acter for honesty was above suspicious. He
found just the man in the person of Hon.
Joseph K. FAIR of Phillips Wis Mir. Farr,
under orders from the Commissioners I'M
earthed frauds TO "A west amount, which had
been perpetrated by several strong combiu-
ations Of influential men, and upon his report
and recommendation the Commissioner
forced them TO pay many thousands of dollars
into the Federal treasury
Another great abuse in Indian pine land
matters was the combining Of loggers in max.
ing bids for logs, This was u difficult matter
TO obviate. but it has been done. Where a
| combination was made, and the highest bid
wa, lower than the market value. the Commits.
| sioner refused to contract under the rpserva-
tion made 10y the government to reject any and
| all bids below the existing market values.
This work has been accomplished quietly
with no blowing Of trumpets, or claims that IL
was an iota more than an official duty, 10y a
man possessing the highest ideals of public
| servant Butlttlc has been said Of this tremen-
| douS work hy the press, but the question asked
by a Massachusetts paper, when the Com
missioner's work first attracted attention. viz;
who is Jones" is answered IN every record
of the Indian Office under his Administrations
BY President Mckinley he was regarded as an
ideal officer, and President Roosevelt holds
| him in equal esteem.
Every Senator and Representative in Con,
gress holds Commissioner Jones in the high
est regard. They are familiar with the fact
that he has mastered every detail OF his Office
! and has given to the administration Of his f.
fee healthful, moral tone