The Irish standard., 1914-07-25
REV. WILLIAM H. KETCHAM
LEAVES WASHINGTON.

REV. WILLIAM H. KETCHAM
LEAVES WASHINGTON.
Rev. William H. Ketcham, direct
or of the Bureau of Catholic Indian
Missions, left Washington last Fri
day night to visit and inspect the
new church that has been built by
the Marquette league for the Indians
of the Potawotami reservation in
Kansas. He will then go over sew
eral of the Oklahoma missions and
probably spend some time among the
Quapaw Indians of that state, where
he hopes to put up new school
building, as the one now in use is
in such dilapidated condition that
it is about to collapse. Before his
return to Washington he hopes to
visit the new mission among the San
tee Sioux Indians of Nebraska,
where the young Polish-American
missionary, Father John S. Palu-
bicki, is doing remarkable work.
The bill came up in the Senate
and passed, with the proviso, mo.
49,, strickn out, which reads: "That
no part of this appropriation, or any
other appropriation provided for
herein, except appropriations made
pursuant to treaties, shall be paid
any employee in any position in the
Indian school service who does not
hold certificate showing that such
employee has passed the necessary
examination required by the Civil
Service commission for such posi-
ton. except such employees as are
exempt under civil service rules"
After the return of the bill to the
House of Representatives, spirited
discussion took place, in which many
members from all parts of the coun-
try participated,-Mr. Stephens of
Texas, still with a tenacious advo-
cacy of the Objectionable portion, in
sisting that it be inserted in the bill.
Mr.. Stafford of Wisconsin ad-
dressed the House as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, reserving the
right to object, would like to have
consideration given to amendment
No. 10. This is the amendment
whereby the House attempted to
Gust from the service many meritori-
GUS school teachers connected with
the Indian service. The Senate has
disagreed to the House amendment
We contested it in the House, and it
was adopted only by very small
majority. think it is an outrag-
eous provision to GUST from the pub
lie service these most meritorious
school teachers connected with the
Indian service and subject them to a
rigid civil service examination, or
something in the guise of civil SER
vice examination. after they have
: given years and years to the teach
ing of these Indian wards. Unless
/. we can have a separate vote on that
provision, shall object.
This will compel the Commits
sloner of Indian Affairs to remove
every school teacher who has not al
the present time passed a civil ser.
vice examination. This does not say
g that they will be given an oppor
tunfty to pass an examination. They
Il may be meritorious teachers, and yet
II; the phraseology of this amendment
Is such that it would force the heat
Is Of the Indian service to remove
them, If they have not at some tim,
n passed a civil service examination.
NJ There is more in this than 20,
q would think at first glance. This /,
studied effort on the part Of som,
person to remove efficient, compe
tent school teachers who have beer
identified with the Indian school ser
rice for years and years. I am no,
I'm favor Of that policy. This doe.
En not say that they must subject them
|ssSelves to civil service examination
and prove their qualifications"
When Mr.. Stephens of Texas saw
sthat the House of Representatives
Ess;stEas wide awake to the full signifi
ssence Of the Objectionable item. he
mildly suggested "that 1t would be
advisable to let the matter go to con.
SO that the language might
perfected and obviate the trou
M that have been suggested"