The Nevada County picayune., 1917-06-14
Uncle Sam Adopts New Methods of Guarding Against Fraud.
Corps of Eighteen Inspectors Engaged in Needing Inefficient and Un-
 worthy Out of Indian Service.

Officials in charge of Uncle Sans Indian service have found that thor ugh-going and frequent inspection is the surest safeguard against inefiiciency 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 interwoven with their social and industrial life.
 Few understand the extensive and intimate association which the Indian bureau has with more than 300,000 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.
 It is thought that in the past inspec- ton has been inadequate and loose. This fact coming to the attention of the officials. they immediately obtained q corps of faithful and intelligent men with human sympathy and business acumen. The inspecting corps is now fine body, consisting of IS we'll equipped men engaged in weeding out the incompetent, inefficient and un- worthy in the service. Their duties are constructive in character. with view to promoting the welfare of the ln- dians.
 In this connection it 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 im- partially where merited. The Iudians are seen in their homes. ut their work and in their play. SO that an intcii- gent transcript of real conditions can ha made hv the inspectors in their re ports. As a result of this comprehen- sive plan if is the opinion of experts of the service that much of the dry rot infeStlug it has been eliminated, and cases where more heinouS of lenses were involved have mercilessly been dealt with.
 While corruption and inefliciency may ind 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 tribe has these a grafter is sure to be in evidence, it is declared. He comes from every breed known to mankind, and in the past has despolled the Indian with a 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 cumulative ex- perience, so long will nefarious schemes against him be attempted.