Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05

~ CNGRESS. when 1t meets In
December. will be asked to
make e. very considerable IN
~ crease in appropriations Tor
s,,nn0rt of the Indian Service.
probably something more than S7,ouU'.
900, as a first step in reorganizing ana
more adequately supporting TINS ofancn
of the Federal service, which has not
kept pace with the progress elsewhere
along health, educational, industrial
and social lines.
The Interior Department ia now en-
gagged in making special study 10 de-
termine lust what recommendations VIII
be made to Congress for new legislation
and to submit to the. Budget Bureau an
estimate of the contemplated increased
expenditures. This study. Is along
three lines--to see what can be done
Immediately to improve the service
without further authority from Con-
gress. to see what new legislation is
needed for a longtime program of i'm
provement and to see what increases
in appropriations will be required,
That the Indian Service is suffering
from the cumulative effect of many
years of financial neglect, If the Gov
eminent is to perform its full duty to
the American Indian. is emphasized By
DR.. Hubert Work. until recently Secre-
tary of the Interior. It Is not generally
known that the Federal direction of In
dian affairs today affects the education,
health. morals and religion of approx
imately $4,000 persons, all of them re-
Gently made citizens of the United
States. in 1913 indian tribes speaking
So languages, on 200 reservations wide
ly separated in IS States. with 106
superintendent in charge of reserva-
ticns. 202 Indian schools with 100
teachers and 96 hospitals with 173
physicians and l46 nurses. Five years
ego the total appropriation was Sl0.-
1922. and since then the appropria-
ton has been increased by about So
S38 .As3. principally for medical and
health activities.
Two-Year Study.
The special study now being made is
based on comprehensive field survey
of the entire Indian Service. which &C.
cupied more than two years, made at
| the request of DR.. Work by the Insti-
tute for Government Research, which
| organized a special staff of experts
F., along various lines under the direction
Of Louis Merriam This survey was
/ financed by John D. Rockefeller, IT., al
q rest OF about 100000
The report on this survey emphasizes
thst the task of the Indian Service
+ should. for the future, be primarily
educational rather than administrative
+ and that it should devote its mair
energies to the social and economic
j advancement of the Indians--to Al
/ them to be absorbed into the prevailing
civilization
The principal recommendations from
/ this survey. copies of which have bsen
submitted to every member of Congress
| are:
/ An appropriation of an additions
/ 81 100000 to be Immediately available
/ for improving the quantity, quality anC
| variety of diet available for Indiar
children in boarding schools
! Additional sums totaling $685., 900 fol
/ the directing, development and planning
! work OF the service, to be immediatel.
available. for these purposes:
tal To establish a new division o
| planning and development, to advisi
/ on matters requiring technical or scien
tific knowledge of particular problems
! $250000.
thl For the employment of six medi
cal specialists TO aid the director o
medical work. and for their expenses
! $4,000.
tcl For the employment of a senio
personnel officer and an assistant per
sonnet officer. and for their necessar,
expenses. $4,000
tdl For employment of senio
statiStician and of statistical clerks. ant
! for the purchase of statistical equip
ment, $4,000.
Ss.000,000 Lump.
| The third recommendation is for ar
emergency lump sum appropriation o
/ S5000,000 to be used for the genera
improvement of the Indian Service, tC
| be available for such activities a:
| these;
Classification and salary STANDARDIZED.
ton of existing positions. in accordance
| with the classification act
| Creation OF new positions in the field
| of health. economic advancement. edu-
! cation and social devei0unlent at sal.