Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-05

Success of So Called Ration Order, Which Has Compelled Ablebodied Red Men to Earn Their Own Living. Fast Learning Value of Money.
 Francis E. Leupp, commissioner of Indian affairs, has planned for him. self busy summer, says a special Washington correspondent of the New York Post. He recently superintended the opening of bids for supplies for the Indian service at Chicago, St. Louis and New York, and soon he is to go to San Francisco to perform the same duty. He will then start on a tour Of Indian agencies in the west.
 In connection with the award of con- tracts for Indian supplies MT. Leupp has adopted policy which he believes will safeguard the interests of the gov ernment and the Indians as we'll In the purchase of medicines, for exam pie, the commissioner had all the sam- ples analysed by professor of chem istry at the Chicago university to test the purity of the drugs. Then he had well known druggist examine the goods and the price list to say wheth- CT the supplies were offered to the gov ernment at fair price. Quality was always placed before cheapness. Then in order to learn whether the drugs and hospital supplies were suitable for distribution among the Indians the commissioner had one of his agen- cy physicians, man who has been among the Indians for fifteen years. pick out the kinds that the Indians could be most easily induced to take. Indians are more particular about the sort of bandage used to bind their limbs and about the appearance of the medicine they take than they are about the food they eat. and Indian physi- cians have to respect many little preju- dices along this line. The same plan was pursued with clothing and other supplies. and Mir. Leupp believes that he will get better materials, with less loss, by reason of waste than hereto fore.
 The recent appeal of Indian Agent John H. Brennan at Pine Ridge agen- cy, South Dakota. for work for the ablebodied male Indians under his care calls attention to one of the most important steps taken under President Roosevelt's direction for the advance ment of these wards of the nation. This was the so called ration order issued about two years ago. It pro yided that where rations were issued none should thereafter be given to male Indians who were able to work. but that instead the Indians should be employed wherever possible in con struction work on the reservations. for which they were to be paid regular wages.
 The new policy was successful from the beginning. When the order was first put in force there was some grum- bling on the part of the older Indians because the young men were forced to work for a living; but. generally speaking. the younger men took hold and aided the agents willingly. One of the reports submitted relates that some of the Indians were SO taken with the idea of getting out and earn ing money for themselves that they neglected their farms and had to be forced to attend to their own needs.
 The application of this order fell gen erally upon the Sioux and mostly in the state of South Dakota Major Brennan. at Pine Ridge. has expended about ss0.0c0 during the current fiscal year for Indian labor. At Rosebud in the same state. Dr. McChesney. the agent. has paid the Indians nearly S1O0.OO0 for work since July 1. 1904. the beginning of the current fiscal year.
 What the new policy has resulted in Is shown by the reports of agents Ira A. Hatch. at the Cheyenne River agency. fin his last annual report said: aThe contraction of the ration policy and the expansion of the labor policy ere doing more in 6 practical way for the civilization of these people than any plan ever before inaugurated- 1t. has brought them to s realization of the worth of their labor. and they are showing this most markedly in the in- telIieent purchase of materials they now make and of goods for besutify- ins their homes The policy is tending to make them independent and self re- liant and they eagerly seise the O. portunity of working whenever they are able-
 Harry D Chamberlain agent at Crow Greek spent over e12D0 in rn- zs.-- n l--- s1~~ l~~< Al