Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-02-11
IMPORT DOCTOR
FOR KOOTENAIS
Department of Indian Affairs Passes
Up Economical Means Of Caring
For Local Indian Tribe
WOULD SEND AGENCY PHYSICIAN
Representative Smith Calls Department
To Task Over Matter

Recently arrangements were made
by M. D. Colgrove, Indian agent at
Sorrento, Ida, to have physician
from the Indian agency at Sorrento
to visit the Kotenai Indians at Bon
ners Ferry once month. inns ar
ranpement was made with the un-
Outstanding that the Indian depart
ment would thereby save money, and
after Agent Colgrove had conferred
with local doctors and had been made
three different offers for the caring
of the medical needs of the Indians.
We understand that the following
propositions were made to Agent Col
grove: l, to take care of all ofhce
calls for 5000 per year, the Indian
agency to supply drugs needed from
its storehouse. 2, To take care OF
all Office calls and supply drugs for
one wear for $3.50. 8. To take care
of office calls, supply drugs and visit
the Indians at the Mission once
week for the sum of 5000. In all
three instances the local doctors
figured that the amounts asked would
only partially pay for their time and
investments but that they could al
ford to make such an agreement with
the Indian agent inasmuch as for
the past ten years the care of the
Indians had been a matter of charity.
Under the present system it has
been arranged that physician visit
the Mission here one day month.
This arrangement does not appear
to have been made, though, with
view to economy or efficiency. The
visiting physicians fare amounts to
1910. He spends three days max
ing the trip. His salary for these
three DAYS must amount to about
s12. His expenses would probably
be about $3.50 and livery hire to and
from the Mission probably SIS. The
one visit day each month would
surely cost no less than 1896 year
to the department and yet it turned
down local propositions far lower
than this amount and which would
have meant that the Indians could
and would have received medical
treatment whenever necessary.
Washington, D. c., Feb. 10, 1916
In the vicinity of Boomers Ferry,
Idaho, there are. about $50 Indians
not attached to an agency, who have
taken their allotments, and while
they are under the supervision of the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs do
not have the advantages which usu
ally accrue to Irdians upon reser-
walton or in dircc. charge Of sup
erintendent. AS no provision mas
been made for medical attention,
other than a monthly visit by the
agency physician from Sorrento, Con-
gresham Smith has been clldeavor-
ing to have some local physician
look after the health of these wards
of the government without success
He has written the following letter
to the commission which may result
in having better medical attention
furnished these Indians.
House of Representatives, U. s.,
Washington, D. c., Feb. 1, 1916.
Hon. Cato Sells, Commissioner Indian
Office, Washington, ID. G.
Dear Mr.. Commissioner:
] congratulate you on your letter
to the superintendent and other en-
ployees of the Indian service, dated
January 10th, referring to your ad-
dress in San Francisco in August
last, in which you say:
ut is our chief duty to protect
the Indians health and to save him
from premature death. Before we
educate him, before we conserve his
property, we should save his life"
i am curious to know, however
how you reconcile your attitude in
this matter as expressed therein with
the action of the assistant commits
sioner in declining to employ Local
physician for the Indians at the
mission near Bonners Ferry, instead
Of having a physician go from the
agency once a month at an expense
of nearly $50 a trip or $3.50 a year
besides the cost of drugs, in order
that the Indians may have the at
tention of a physician one day {
month or twelve days a year, while
a local physician has offered to giv'
them office care, including medicines
and visit the mission once a weel
or oftener if necessary, and Civ
hospital attention for $500 per an
mum.
j am advised that for number o