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Show ~ REPORT OF THE C O ~ S S I O N E R OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 19 ' relieved from the service for peculation, and the fact that not a single bonded superintendent has been removed from the service upon the ! ground of financial delinquency. On the other hand, the ratio of [ bonded superintendents who have been relieved from the service for cause is a minimum when compared with agents. It is not contended, of course, that the fact that a man is a bonded superintendent makes him a better man than an agent selected for political reasons, but the conditions surrounding each man in connection with the manner of his . appointment conclusively demonstrate that the removal of political influences has a tendency to secure a better class of men to be placed I in charge of Indian matters at the various agencies and reservations. I A large number of rese.rvat.ions have been placed in charge of bonded ' superintendents during the last three or four years. 1 can conscieu- j tiously say that the affairs at these places have been administered as i J well, and in the large majority of cases better than they were when I under the control of political favorites. As a rule, bonded superin- j -- tendents are men of education. They are required to pass difficult examinations; they have had experience in the service, and hope to make it their life work; while many Indian agents, who are willing to accept these positions, are men who have failed in business, are ward politicians, and have no hopeof remaining longer than a period bounded by the fortunes of the political party to which they belong. There are many able, conscientious, and efficient agenta, whose per- - formance of their duties is above reproach; but the undeniable fact remains, that the first and most important consideration is to keep the Indian question out of politics, and whenever it is necessary to appoint a man as agent, he should be of good business capacity, and chosen , for his well-known honesty and integrity. It is not claimed, however, that all bonded superintendents are absolutely free from similar influences which surround agents, but it is significant that the per-centage of failures is less than under the older system. As an evidence of this, there are, out of the 57 bonded superintendents in the service at present, 37 who have been oontinuously in it for periods varying from ten to twenty-four years. The great majority of thesemen began r' their service in subordinate positions, such as teachers, clerks, farm- \ ern, industrial teachers, etc., and were gradually promoted to fields of increasing responsibility and trust after a careful trial. . Such a system promotes emulation, and makes a man feel that by his own unaided efforta he can, by the faithful performance of every duty, merit and secure success. -The policy of placing agencies and portions of agencies under the charge of bonded superintendents of training schools, which was inaugurated several years ago, has been pursued during the year at all . places where practicable. There are a number of agencies where from various causes it will he unwise for some years to effect this change, |