Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-06

which would render the Indian a pro-
dNcer and would effect great reduc-
ton in the cost of his maintenance
1t is commonly declared that the
slow advance of the Indians is due to
the unsatisfactory character of the
men appointed to take immediate
charge of item, and to some extent
this is true. While the standard of the
employees in the Indian service shows
great improvement over that of bygone
years, and. while actual corruption or
fragrant dishonesty is 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 satisfac-
tory results the official in charge of an
Indian tribe should possess the high
/ qualifications which are required in
the manager of u large business. but
only in exceptional cases is it possible
to secure men of such type for these
positions. Much better service. how
ever, might be- obtained from those
now holding the places We're it practi-
| cable to get out of them the best that
| is Id 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
| possible equivalent in effort and serv-
ice, may by proper treatment, by sug-
| geStiOn and encouragement or persist
ent urging be stimulated to greater eff
| fort and induced to take a more active
personal interest in his work
Under existing conditions an Indian
| agent in the distant west may be who'll
ly out of touch with the Office of the
Indian bureau. He may very well feel
that no one takes a personal interest In
him or his efforts. Certain routine du
ties in the way of reports and accounts
are required of him. but there is no one
| with whom he may intelligentIy con.
suit on matters vital to his work ex
cept after long delay. Such man
would be greatly encouraged and aid
ed by personal contact with some one
whose interest in Indian affairs and
whose authority in the Indian bureau
were greater than his own, and such
contact would be certain to arouse
and constantly increase the interest he
takes in his work
The distance which separates the
agents-the workers in the field-frOm
the Indian office in Washington is
chief obstacle to Indian progress.
Whatever shall more closely unite
these two branches of the Indian sery
ice and shall enable them to cooperate
more heartily and more effectively will
be for the increased efficiency of the
work and the betterment of the race
for whose improvement the Indian bu-
reau was established. The appoint
ment Of a field assistant to the commits |
sioner of Indian affairs would be GER
tain to insure this good end. Such an |
official if possessed of the requisite en-
ergy and deep interest in the work
would be most efficient factor in |
bringing into closer relationship and q
more direct union of effort the bureau
in Washington and its agents in the
field, and with the cooperation of its
branches thus secured the Indian bu-
reau would in measure fuller than ever
before lift up the savage toward that
self help and self reliance which con-
stitute the man.
jamestown Tricentenniai.
ton Roads the tricentennial celebration
of the settlement at jamestown, Va,
with which the history of what has
now become the United States really
begins. I-cOmmend this to your favor
able consideration. 1t is an event Of
prime historic significance, in which all
the people of the United States should
feel and should show great and general
interest
Postal Service.
In the postoffice department the serv-
ice has increased in efficiency, ard con-
ditiOns as to revenue and expenditure
continue satisfactory. The increase Of
revenue during the year was $685.
1910, or Go per cent, the total re-
ceipts amounting to $143.3S2,624.34.
The expenditures were $152 BE-, 1870,
m increase of about per cent over
the previous year. being thus $S,970,-
1922 in excess of the current revenue.
Included in these expenditures was a
.otal appropriation of ST., 956 637 30 for
he continuation and extension Of the
Ilral free delivery service, which was
In increase of S4,9O2. 237.35 over the
amount expended for this purpose in 4
he preceding fiscal year. Large as this ,
has been, the beneficent {
'esults attained In extending the free !
of mails to the residents of s
'ural districts have justified the wis 6
lOm of the outlay. Statistics brought c
Town to the LIST of October. 1904. show I
hat on that date there were 81, 1873 ruI- Q
al routes established, serving approx
mately 100000 of people i'm rural
districts remote from pOstoffices, and \
hat there were pending at that time d
1850 petitions for the establishment of i
lew rural routes. PROFESSIONALLY lie
ONE part Of the general increase in !,
eceipts is due TO the increased postal b
ABILITIES which the rural service has v
forded. The revenues have also been D
ided greatly by amendments in the /,
Of mail matter and the II
- oh, % he /