The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-06

gress. The interests OF the nation at
large and OF the west i'm particular hays
suffered greatly because of the delay.
PUBLIC LANDS.
call the attention 'of the congress
again 20 the report and recommendation
OF the commission on the public lands
forwarded by me to the second session
of the present congress. The commission
has prosecuted its Investigations actively
during the past season. and a second re-
port is now I'm an advanced stage OF pre-
paration.
GAME PRESERVES.
In connection with the work OF the
forest reserves / 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 game refugees for the
preservation Of the bison. the wapti, and
other large beasts once so abundant In
our woods and mountains and on our
great plains. and now tending toward
extinction. Every support should be given
TO the authorities OF the Yellowstone Park
In their successful efforts at preserving
the large cfeatures therein: and at very
little expense positions of the public do
main I'm other regions which are wholly
unsulted 10 agricultural settlement could
be similarly utilized We owe IL 10 future
generations to keep alive the noble and
beautiful creatures which by their pres.
ence add such distinctive character 10 the
American wilderness The limits OF the
Yellowstone Park should be extended
southwards. The Canyon OF the Colorado
shouid be made 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.
The veterans OF the Civil war have a
claim upon the nation such as no other
body Of our citizens possess. The pension
bureau has never in Its history heen man
aged In more satisfactory manner than
Is now the case.
INDIANS.
The progress OF the Indians toward
civilization. though not rapid Is perhaps
all that could be hoped for IN view OF the
circumstances. Within the past year
many tribes have shown. in a degree
greater than ever before, an apprecia tion
OF the necessity OF work This changed
attitude is In part due to the policy re-
Gently pursued OF reducing the amount
Of subsistence TO the Indians, and thus
forcing them, through sheer necessity, 10
work for livelihood. Tho policy. though
severe. is a useful one. but II is to be ex-
ercised only with judgment and with a
full understanding OF the conditions
which exist I'm each community Tor whTcH
il is intended. on. or near the Indian res
orvations there Is usually very little de-
mand for labor. and II the Indians are
90 earn their living and when work can
not be furnished from outside (Which is
always preferahe). then it must be fur
nishcd by the government. Practical in
struction of this kind would IN a few
years result I'm the forming of habits OF
-.
Indian a producer and would effect a
great reduction in the cost OF his main
tenance
IL is commonly declared that the slow
Advance Of the Indians is due TO the un-
satisfactory character Of the man appoint
ed 20 take Immediate charge of them
and To some extent this is. true. While
the standard of the employees Of the In
Clan service shows great Improvement
over that of bygone years. and while ac-
tual corruption or nagrant dishonesty is
now tie rare exception. 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 satisfactory results the Of
iicial in charge of an Indian tribe should
possess the high qualifications which are
required ip the manager of large bust
ness. hut only In exceptional cases Is II
these positions. Much better service how
ever. might be obtained from those now
holding the places were IL practicable 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 I'm re-
turn the least possible equivalent I'm ef-
tort and service. may by proper treat
ment by suggestion and encouragement,
or persistent urging, he stimulated to
greater effort and induced 10 take a more
active personal interest in his work
Under existing conditions an Indian
agent In the distant west may be wholly
out of touch with the effice of the In
dian bureau, He may very we'll feel that
no one takes personal interest In him
or his efforts. Certain routine duties in
the way~of reports and accounts are re-
quired Of him but there is no one with
whom he may iEtellgently consult on
matters vital to his work. except after
long delay. Such man would be great
~ encouraged and aided by personal con-
tact with some one whose interest In In
dian affairs and whose authority I'm the
Indian bureau were greater than his own.
and such contact would he certain 10
arouse and constantly increase the in
terest he takes i'm his work
The distance which separates the agents
the workers In the held-from the In
dian office I'm Washington is a chief OBJ
stacle to Indian progress. Whatever shall
more closely unite these two branches OF
the Indian Service. and shall enable
them to cooperate moro heartily and
more effectively. will be for the in
creaced efficiency or the work and the
betterment of the race for whose i'm
provement the Ipdan Bureau was es-
tablished, The appointment Of a field
assistant 10 the Commissioner of Indian
affairs would he certain 10 insurx this
good end. Such an official ". possess
OF the requisite energy and deep inter.
est I'm the work. would he most
efficient factor IN bringing into closer
relationship and q more direct union
OF effort the bureau I'm Washington and
it's agents I'm the field: and with the CO.
operation 81 it's branches thus secured the
Indian bureau would in measure fuller
than ever before, lift up the savage to-
ward that self-hclp and self-reliance
xubfob aopgfft,tfo gba man