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Show i <I11 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. ! ' be used ibr someother object or purpose in the Indian service, it would aid very materially the smooth and successful operations of this office; provided always, however, that no treaty. stipulations should in any manner be interfered with. No one, however well posted in the affairs of the Indian Office, can by any possibility know exactly what will be needed at every point for one year in advance, a ~ i da s a matter of course members of Congress canuot he hetterpostedin thesematters than those whose business it is to watch every part of it for three hun. dred and sixtyfire days in the year. If Congress will fix the amount to be expended for the Indian service, and IeavetheDepartmeut to dis-tribute it as the wants of tbe service, seem to require, I am confident it would be a great improvement on the, present manner of doiug business. Under the present system some nou-treaty trihns of Indians receive 3 pounds gross of beef per capita each day, and some 2 ounces per capita eaoh day. If the plan I suggest were adopted, this disproportion could be remedied, while it canuot he remedied under the present system. If the manner of making the appropriations for the Indian service be contrasted wit,h that of the War Department, it will add strength to the snggestions which I have made. The appropriations for the War De-partment for the year 1883, amounting in round numbers to $25,000,000, were made under less than sixty differeut heads, leaving, very properly as I believe, a large discretion with the Secretary of War as to their disposal. The appropriation for the Indian service of about one-fourth that amount is cut up into about two hundred and sixty separate and dis-tinct appropriations, each one of which must he used as specially pro-vided, and for no other purpose, although it may happen that in one place there is an abundance, while in another want and famine may pre-vail. In other words, the whole War Department; with all its bureaus has only about sixty differeut appropriat,ious, while the Indian Bureau alone has its appropriations under two hundred and 8ixty different heads. I have thought it my duty to call attention to this in order that the much-needed change may be made iu the manner of making appro-priations for the Indian service. INDIAN AGENTS. The impression seems to prevail to a great exteut that almost any man will do for an Indian agent., and as a consequence of this belief, men who are broken down physically, financially, or politica,lly are frequeut.ly recommended f'or that position. The civilization and elevation of the Indians depeuds more upon the agents who hare their immediate care and management than upon any and all other iustrumeutalities com-bined, and hence none but the best class of meu should be selected for this service, and to them a fair compensation should be paid. I said in iny last report, a.nd say now, that- If 6th agent, is an honeat, ifl&tatrioihs, and iwtelliqmt Christian. mim, with the physiaal ability and disppoaition to endure hardshipe and oonrageond~m onm~tedr i5coltieg |
