Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-07

regularitieS and the adoption of said regu-
lations the interests of the Indians have
not been neglected by the department, as
Is indirectly charged by Mr.. Brosius, whose
report l do not care to further discuss,
because the accusations therein contained
are to receive full and rigid tnvestiga-
ton.
They have been promptly denied, and
such investigation demanded by the MEM
bers of the Dawes commission and Inspec-
tor Wright. who are. of course, entitled to
be presumed innocent In the meantime.
This department is and always has been,
more than ready and willing to accept the
assistance of your association in ascertain
ing and rectifying any irregularities it may
discover. or believe to exist, when properly
presented and substantiated, and is always
glad to do anything toward the betterment,
in all respects. of the Indian wards of the
government
There are, however. proper and improper
methods of procedure, and 1 think that 1t
was not justfiable, but discourteous to me-
and unfair to them, to publish broadcast to
the world the material gathered by Mr.
Brosius. without further verifcation. and
without his having afforded to the officials,
whose regulations he attacks, any oppor-
tunity to explain what seemed to him OBJ
jectionable.
The department does further maintain
that it's inspectors and other officials should
have respect and confidence until a clear
case Is made against them: and that the
present policy of dealing with the Indians Is
the result of accumulated experience, and
is being pursued intelligently and vigor-
ously with a view to the Indians best in
terests- Your obedient servant.
E. A. HITCHCOCK.
Secretary.
Mr.. CARROTS Reply.
Mr.. CARROTS reply was as follows:
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
yours of the 18th ultfrno, reminding me Of
my letter of the 18th ultimo, which partial
ly replied to yours of the 10th.
To enter upon the question of personal
discourtesy, which you raise, would, think
involve long discussion must therefore
content myself with utterly disclaiming the
least intention of dscourtesy to you.
l have not had the honor of much per-
sonal acquaintance with you, but my pro-
found regard for the President, my knowl-
eoge that he esteems you highly, and my
deep conviction of your own integrity and
fa1thfulness to your high trust would forbid
Intentional discourtesy.
The publication of the Brosius report was
IN accordance with the custom of the aSSo-
ciation to give to the press matters of i'm
portance In which the public IS supposed to
be Interested That it created a greal deal
of public interest Is quite evident.
am glad to have learned since the letter
OF MIR. Brosfus called the subject to my at
tention. that you had known something Of
the dangers to which he refers previously;
and am especially pleased to know that you
had taken steps to investigate them. and
well contented that the department should
have the entire credit of it, satisfied if we
can aid in some degree in preventing the
wrong that might result to the Indians
from being consummated: and especially
gratified if the investigation shall be abso-
lutely unbiased. Too often these officials
appear to be under influences from MEM
berS of Congress interested in them, and l
am bound to say that inspectors too often
seem to whitewaSh men utterly unfit for
their positions You will observe that l say
seem I do not claim infallibiity.
a M mn m 1--WE
against any member of the Dawes commits
sion. nor, 1 believe, does our informant,
Mr. Brosus whose allegations, you will
observe are general in their character, and
invite attention to certain class of insti-
buttons with which some of them are con-
nected, as they ought not to be If they wish
to keep above suspicion, because there is
too much reason to believe the companies
are, some of them at least, organized in
part for the express purpose of proving
upon the Indians
Nor do 1 think that Mr. Brosius casts
any imputation upon persons in higher po-
sltlon- No one is more interested in clear
ing the skirts of appointed officials of fraud
and corruption than those who appointed
them; and this he sought
Il would like to make one comment on
the closing passage in your letters. in which
you say that inspectors and other officials
should have respect and confidence until
clear case Is made against them The in
spector should be above suspicion and
of the man he is sent to inspect thus TAX
ing bride in his favor, or listens only or
chiefly to one side, favors his congress
sional hacker in any way, he is not above
suspicion. l would not, therefore, put that
sentence as you do. but would say that
such officials should be accorded confidence
so long they are clearly honest and i'm
partial i'll their Investigations. A man who
is subject to serious miSgivings in this re-
Spect should be removed at once, no mat
ter who is his hacker. for he is no longer
fit for his position.
Il beg to reiterate my assurance of con-
fidence in your own Administered ton. but
think that the important subject matter
of Mr.. Brosius' communication is a hun
dred times more important than the cues
ton of the courtesies, much as I trust l
value these.
Thanking you for the valuable informa-
ton that you have kindly impaired, re-
main, your obedent servant.
PHILIP c. GARRETT
'.RreSidant I 4