East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-01-17

The proposition of abolishing the
Carlisle Indian school, which has
been recommended by the sub-com-
mittee of the senate on Indian affairs
has awakened great interest in offic-
ial Washington. Senator Dubois, who
is a member Of the committee, said
, today;
I'VE are tlcing away with the Car
Isle school because, in our opinion,
it does no good The Indians educat-
ed there, when they return to their
own people, proceed to forget all
that has been taught them and take
up the ways of their tribe.
eve have decided there is no way
of preventing this except to segregate
the educated Indians and keep them
away from their people. This does
not appear to be feasible, or, II feas-
ible, would be exceedingly expensive.
ION the other hand, we have found
that Indian children educated on the
reservation not only do better. but
their parents learn the advantages of
the schools, and the general effect of
the system is excellent.
In the case of the Carlisle school
the students arc taken so far from
their reservations. are so absolutely
| separated from their relatives that
the bonds between them are virtual
ly severed. When they are re-estab-
lishe6, at the end of the school period
it is the student who is drawn back
into the conditions from which the
government had removed him, and
not the people of his tribe who are
elevated in any way by his educa-
ton"
Surprise to the East.
Tho Carlisle school was establish
ed in 1879. and has heretofore been
regarded as an excellently conducted
institution, the effects of which were
of greater benefit to the Indians gen.
orally, net only in the fact that it was
uplifting the Indian race, but that it
was constantly demonstrating the ca
pab!ities of the race for better
things.
Announcement that it is to be
abandoned, therefore, is likely to
cause a great demonstration among
|
preparation hill not only carried the
regular appropriation for the MAIN
tenance OF the school, s15S.000, but
increased the total amount to s172,-
600, providing in the increase an ad-
dition of $1,000 to the salary of the
superintendent; an appropriation of
S25OO to construct a cottage for the
school physician, and $4,000 to build
a new hospital.
House Showed UnfricndIincss.
An appropriation for the mainte-
nance of the school was made by
the house at the session, and 1t is this
provision the senate committee has
stricken out. There is slight posi-
bi.ity that 1t may be restored. The
senate may not agree with the com
mittee, or the house may insist upon
its appropriation when the bill
reaches conference. 1t is declared
in the senate, however. that the house
committee on Indian affairs virtually
agrees with the senate committee up.
on the absolute failure of the school
to accomplish any useful purpose.
In the house bill there is a pro
vision that none Of the money appro
priated for superintendents of Indiar
schools shall be expended for the EN-.
! ployment of army officers. Thi!
E was constructed to be an attack up
8 on the institution at Carlisle, and 4
regarded now as a manifestation o
a unfriendliness upon the part of tn,
house TO the Carlisle school.
4 AS the senate bill now stands, tn
{ school will cease to exist with the en-,
! of the coming June.
!, The number Of students now in tn
e institution is between 500 and 900.