The Raymer enterprise., 1917-09-27
PROTECTING RED MEN
Uncle Sam Adopts New Methods
Of Guarding Against Fraud.
Corps Of Eighteen Inspectors Engaged
In Wedding inefficient and un-
worthy Out Of Indian Service.

Officials In charge of Uncle Sam's
Indian service have found that thor
ough-going and frequent inspection
is the surest safeguard against
inefliciency and fraud.
Millions of dollars invested for the
Indians in land, stock, timber, oil,
minerals, ETC., and intrusted to the care
of many persons who are employed by
Uncle Sam. These material interests
are closely interviewer with their social
and industrial life.
Few understand the extensive and
intimate association which the Indian
bureau has with more than 100000
Indians Of the United States. This as-
sociation touches the home, the school,
the farm, and the field. Six thousand
employees come into almost daily con-
tact with them. Every walk of life
and every kind of intellectual and
professional ability is represented In
these employees. While the greatest
care is exercised In their selection, the
inefficient and unworthy occasionally
find an entrance.
1t is thought that in the past inspec-
tion has been inadequate and loose.
This fact coming to the attention of
the officials. they Immediately obtained
corps Of faithful and intelligent men
with human sympathy and business
acumen. The inspecting corps Is now
a fine body, consisting Of IS we'll
equipped men engaged In wedding out
the incompetent. inefficient and un-
worthy in the service. Their duties are
constructive In character, with view
to promoting the welfare Of the In
dams.
In this connection 1t Is interesting to
remember that Indian schools, agen-
cies, and projects are scattered
throughout two-thirds Of the area of
the United States, and for the purpose
of administration this territory has
been divided into ten districts and an
inspecting officer assigned to each. It
Is the duty of this officer to visit, at
least twice In each year, every Indian
school, reservation, irrigation project
or other Indian activity In his district.
He makes a thorough examination of
office, school and field work. Helpful
criticism and suggestions are given Inn
partially where merited. The Indians
are seen In their homes, at their work,
and In their play, so that an intelll-
gent transcript Of real conditions can
be made by the inspectors in their re-
ports. As result OF this comprehen-
slve plan 1t Is the opinion Of experts
Of the service that much OF the dry
rot infestlng II has been eliminated,
and cases where more heinous Of
fenses were involved have mercilessly
been dealt with.
While corruption and inefflcIency
may find its way into the rank and file
of government employees, the greatest
danger to the Indian lies In the greed
of the white man for his land and
money. Where q tribe has these a
CRATER Is sure to be in evidence, 1t Is
declared. He comes from every breed
known to mankind, and In the past
has despoiled the Indian with ruth
lessness unparalleled. Under the pres
ent system Of dependable officers many
of these schemes have been ferreted
out and their promoters punished. It
is the opinion Of experts Of the bureau
that as long as the Indian has prop
erty, with no practical combative ex-
perience, so long will nefarious
schemes against him be attempted.