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Show 1 REPORT OF THE UO~ I S S IONERO F INDIAN AFFAIRS. 31 With quadrennial and sometimes more frequent changes of agents it is impossible to secure the best or permanent results. A fixed policy must be inaugurated to do so. This has been accomplished in a great many cases by a change from agency to superintendency, from appointment for party services to appointment for merit, from appoint-ment of inexperience to appointment of experience. As stated above the average tenure of o5ce of an Indian agent is about three and one-half years, while that of a bonded superintendent is about ten years. I The facts speak for themselves. The one o5cer brings to his work years of experience in practical dealing with the Indian; the other, 1 under the exigencies of his appointment, only a general ignorance of the necessities of the Indian service. Their positions are secure so long as they perform their duties, ele-vating the Indian and teaching him his duty to his fellow-men. In small communities a bonded superintendent is in touch with his people. He can readily bring home to them some of the stern realities facing every man in the struggle for existence. In a large measure he will be uninfluenced by the songs of the "land grafter" or "greedy trader." His tenure being during good behavior, he is not looking forward to a return to civil life after four years to live among these people-people whose interests, in all probability, during his adminis-tration were antagonistic to those of the Indian. His opportunity to watch the development of the Indians under his charge, to see the policies inaugurated in the schools develop in the adult Indian, is greater than falls to the lot of the average agent. Mistakes of policy can be corrected, where the other man would not have the requisite time. Therefore, with the idea always present of promotion or con-tinuation in office for successful results, the bonded superintendent has more incentive to look carefully after the welfare of his charges than any appointee who at best can only look forward to a four years' service. These officials are selected from the service for the reason that they have held positions of responsibility and demonstrated their capacity. The Indian Office has bad ample opportunity through a long series of years to study the man and judge of his chances of success. As a rule they are men of good education and proven ability in the lower grades of service, from which promotions are made, a plan which pro-motes discipline, substantial service, and is a reward for faithful ser-vice. It gives a business administration which only can.advance the interests of the Indians and make them self-supporting. It must not be understood that a wholesale criticism and condem-nation of United States Indian agents is intended in this change of policy. There have been in the past and are still in the present a great many agents who are doing as good work as any bonded super-intendent. |
