Arizona republican., 1904-12-07
west in particular have suffered greatly because of the delay.
 PUBIIC LANDS.

PUBLIC LANDS.
 In connection with the work of the forest reserves I desire again to urge upon the congress the importance OF authorizing the president to set aside certain portions of these reserves or other. public lands as game refuges for the preservation of the Eison, the wap- iti and other large beasts once 90 abunIant in our woods and mountains and on our great plains, and now tend ing toward extinction. Every support should be given to the authorities of the Yellowstone Park in their success ful efforts at preserving the large creatures therein; and at very little expense portions of the pJvblic domain in other regions which are wholly use= suited to agricultural setIs-nent could be similarly utilized. We owe a1 ts future generations to keep alive the noble and beautiful creatures whkea by their presence add such distinctive character to the American wilderness The limits of the Yellowstone Para should be extended southwards. The canyon of the Colorado should be Naatle a national park; and the national park system should include the Yosemite and as many as possible of the groves of giant trees in California.
 PENSIONS
 
 claim upon the nation suca as no other body of our citizens possess. The pension bureau has never in its history been managed in "a more satisfactory manner than is now the case.
 INDIANS.
 The progress of the Indians toward civilization, though not rapid. is per haps all that could be hoped for iA view of the circumstances. Within the past year rnslly tribes have shown, in a degree greater than ever before. an apprec. alton of the necessity of work This changed attitude is in pant due to the policy recently pursued of reduc- ing the amount of subsistence to tke Indians. and aaE.s forcing them. through sheer necessity, to work for a EveIi- hood. The policy, though severe. is U useful one, but it is to be exeEe5ss1 only with judgment and with "a. full uA= derstanding of the conditions which eNs ist in each community for winch il IS intended. On or near the Indian resezs vations there is usually very little ees mand for labor, and if the Indiazss are to earn their living and when work can not be furnished from the eztsids (which is always prefe-able), thea Il must be furnished by the government Practical instruction of this kind would in a few years result in the forming 0f habits of regular industry, which would rende- the Indian producer and would effect a great reduction in the east et his maintenance.
 It is commonly declared that tha slow advance of the Indians is due to the unsatisfactory character of tae men appointed to take immediate charge of them, and to some extent this is true. While the standard of the en- ployes in the Indian service shows great inlprovemnt over that of bygOne- years, and while actual corruption or fragrant dishonesty :s now the rare ex- ception. it is nevertheless the fact that the salaries paid Indian agents are not large enough to attract the best men to that field of work. To achieve sat- isfactory results the official in charge of an Indian tribe should possess the high qualifications which are required in the manager of a large business, but only in exceptionable cases is it pos sibie to securee men of such a type for these positions. Much better service. however, might be obtained from those now holding the places were it prac- tdcable to get out of them the best that Is in them, and this should be done by bringing them constantly into closer touch with their superior officers An agent who has been content to draw his salary, giving in return the least pos sible equivalent in effort and service. may, by proper treatment, by sugges- ton and elcoura cement, or persistent urging be stimulated to greater effort and induced to take more active per- sonal interest in his work
 Under existing conditions an Indian agent in the distant west may be wholly out of touch with the office of the Indisn bureau. He may very well Feel that no one takes a personal in terest in him or his efforts. Certain routine duties in the way of reports and accounts are required of him. but there IS no one with whom he may in telllgerrtly consult on matters vital to his work, except after long delay. Such man would be greatly encour- aged and aided by personal contact With some one whose interest in Indian affairs and whose authority in the In olaal bureau were greater than his own. ana such contact would be certain to arouse and constantly increase the in teTest he takes in his work.
 The distance which separates the agents--;he workers in the feId-fron the Indian office in Washington is a +@nieI @ obstacle to Indian progress. WhateFer shall more closely unite these two branches of the Indian Scr vice, and sal enable them to cooDa-- ate more heartily and more effectively. VIII he for the increased efficiency of the work and the tbeterme11t of the race for whose improvement the Indian bureau was established. The appoint ment of Q feld assistant to the com missioner of Indian affairs wiuld be ceftaan to insure this good end. Such an official if possessed of the reauisite ehergy ana deep interest in the work. would be most efficient factor in bringing into closer relationship and a more direct nuion of effort the bureau m Washington and its agents in the neId; and with the cooperation of is Di anches thus secured the Indian bu- reau would, in measure fuller than ever