Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
WILBUR TELLS ADVANCES
OFDEPARTMENT in FORUM
Changes Necessitated by New Period OF
Pioneering Described by Interior
Secretary in Address.
NHE following is the text Of Sec
rotary Wilbur's address delivered
last night in the National Radio

Forum:
As q Nation we have embarked on a
new period of pioneering. Our Nation S
frontier has dissolved in the Pacific ana
reappeared in the laboratory and on
the school playground Changes have
been necessary to enable this Depart
fnent to do its part in this new pioneer
ing. which means the wisest use OF
what we have instead of the conquest
of new lands, new timber and new min
erals, Our people are in the process OF
adapting themselves to continent
We have tried to direct the Interior
Department into paths that will Mt IN
with this idea of continental oonserva-
ton, or the wiSest use OF each OF our
human and physical resources.
In consequence this is period OF
transition for the Interior Department.
The changes have included new IN
diar policy, a doubling OF the research
work of the Office of Education, sur
vey of the public domain and fresh
approach to its problems, the beginning
OF Hoover Dam, the Harvesting OF ket-
tleman Hills oil field, the inauguration
Of an oil conservation policy on the
public lands. doubled appropriations
for the national parks building pro-
gram, re-established research program
in the Geological Survey, the White
House Conference on Child Health and
Protection, the stimulation of Nation
wide attack on illiteracy, the transfer
of the Pension Bureau to the Veterans
administration, the creation OF new
Federal Power Commission instead of
an ex-off1cio interdepartmental board,
changes in Alaskan administration, ac-
QUESTION of the Virgin Islands, two new
national parks and many other deVel-
opnents.
This survey Of the past two years can
properly start with the Indian Service.
The Indian Service has turned the
corner It's new goal is to work itself
out of a Job in Is years. It's new meth
DDS center on splitting apart the two
separate problems of the Indians per-.
soral welfare and the protection Of the
Indians property. These have been
confused during our Nations hundred
years of wading in the quagmire OF In
dian administration.
Much Clerical Detail.
Administering the billion dollar IN
dian estate, scattered through many
States, has been a Job of much clerical
detail, The problems of health, edu-
cation and welfare were allowed to in
tertWine with this clerical work. AS
result, our Governments past treatment
of Indian problems has often been from
q bureaucrat's point of view. We have
coddled and pauperfzed one OF our hnest
racial stocks. Today, as result OF
these methods, the average Indian has
neither the education, the inclination
nor the ability to manage his own prop
ertv. In Oklahoma today we are faced
with the problems of what to do about
the homesteads owned by certain men,
bers of the five civilized tribes on
which the Governments protective re-
strictions expired this last month. A
bill to extend these restrictions passed
the House, but failed in the Senate be-
cause of a filibuster. Our program OF
releasing the Indian calls for genera
ton of new training and not Tor an
overnight eviction.
But 1t is confusing at times to tell
whether the Indian suffers more from the
exploiter or the overardent sentimental
list. Both varieties find it possible to
be represented among the lobbyists in
washington. Real interest in the In
dian is appreciated hysteria over q
meal OF dog or horse flesh or an occa-
sional flea becomes tiresome. There Is
the same unevenness of habits, brains,
dependability and property among the
Indians as among the rest Of US. Not
even the worst Indian reservations, at
their worst can beat some OF the alleys
of Washington in disease or depreda-
ton.
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The past two years have seen $6,000,-
600 added to the Governments indian
budget. Two eminent business men,
with fine social instincts, Mr.. Rhoads
and Mr.. Scattergood, became commits
sioner and assistant commissioner The
Indian Office In Washington was recog-
nized to put administrative responsible
ity in the hands of directors of educa-
ton, agriculture and industrial train
ing nationally known In their fields.
Property questions and personal prob
lens were separated where possible,
each under an assistant to the Commits
sioner. Ten hospitals were completed.
An industrial employment bureau to
get the Indians jobs was set up. New
emphasis has been placed on vocational
training Indian children have been
kept in school near home instead of at
distant boarding schools. where possible.
The retirement age for employees was
lowered. Employment standards were
raised Sweeping legislative changes in
irrigation matters, trust estates, reform
of penal laws, and so on were asked of
Congress. Indian administration is and
always has been bound by a deadening
tangle Of detailed laws, which cannot
be reformed so long as attention Is
given only TO investigating past abuses.
We are here to help the Indian, not to
mourn for him.
The ONCE Of Education has also seen
important changes in the last two
years. 1t was created as research or
ganization TO gather and disseminate
information on educational methods for
the benefit of the States. But in the
course Of time 1t acquired many ad-
n1inistrative functions which should
have never been loaded upon 1t. We
have relieved 1t Of these administrative
TiJnPftnF1Q n Alaskan
natives was transferred to the ONCE OF
Indian Affairs. and other Alaskan re-
sponsibilities given to the local govern
ment. Consequently the ONCE Of Edu-
cation doubled its research activities.
A Division Of Special Problems was
created TO study education of excep-
tional children. Of native peoples. Of
Negroes. and Of children in sparsely-
settled regions. A new division OF re-
search and Investigations was created.
A third new division of major surveys
was organized to supervise work under
special appropriations by outside spe-
cialists. These include a Nation wide
survey of Immigrant colleges, a national
survey of secondary education, one on
the professional education of teachers.
and so on. One on the vital subject Of
school finances is about to start.
The National Advisory Committee on
Education. appointed by President Hoo
YER and operating with funds provided
by Mr.. Julius Rosenwald. Is engaged In
a Nationwide study Of the relationships
Of the Federal Government TO educa-
ton. Their significant report should
be available in the Fall DR. Henry
Suzzallo, now president of the Carnegie
Foundation of Education, Is the director
of this study
The department. outside of its own
administrative field. has co-operated
with the National ADVISOR ~~--1ain1ittee
on nliteracy. Adult illiteracy Is chal-
1enge TO the Nations pride. Eradica-
ton Of 1t in our country is goal which