OCR Text |
Show COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. ~XXXV evil8 of the method of appointment and dismissal that then prevailed and yet exists in the Indian service is not a surprising fact. These evils can be corrected in no other way than by an abandonment of what has been called the L' party spoils system;'' for no matter how desirous the Oommissionerof Indian Affairs and the Superintendent of Iudiau Schools may be to obtain good material for the service, andno matter how wn-scientiously both may endeavor to improve its condition, they will, so long as this system is cndnred, be obstructed in all such efforts by elam-orous demands that the places on Indian reservations,and in the schools not on reservations, shall be dispensed as rewards for partisan activity. In short, the Commissioner and Superintci~deutw, ith 1,200 places (ex-clusive of Indians) at their disposal? can not give to the agency and the school competent employBs until after they shall have secured protec-tion from partisan pressure and personal solicitation; and such protec-tion can be afforded to them only by the provisions of the civil-service act of 1883. As United States Civil Service Commissioner I gave to this snbject much consideration, and I hare no doubt that the provisions of that act could be applied to the Indian service, and, that by their ap-plication thereto, under,wise rules promulgated by the President, the cause of Indian civilization would be advnnoed lnaliy ears. This ac-tion should be taken, atid I would advise that it he taken irnn~edi-atelg, if I were not fearful that if taken now it wonlcl be robbed of much of its effectiveness by being attributed to partizsu n~otives. As a step, though a short one? in t,hc directiou of the action proposed, I have had prepared a blank form of application for appointment in the Indian service, and also a blank form of statement concerning appli-cant, modelled upon forms used by the United States Oivil-Service Commission. Information upon the points nau~edii l these blank forms must' be furnished to this ofice by every applicaut befoie he can receive appointment to any position under my juriadiotion in the lndian service. The questions asked in the form of application are as fol1on.s: 1. Your Cbri8tian nameand sul.name ? [in fulL1 academy, oollage, 07 p~oP.ssionnl eohool.1 P Are yon oitisen of the United States? How old wars yun when you faally qoitted I f B na tnrdi~edci tizen, when end where were school? yon natoralizedl 7. Am you married! Of how many membera 3. Of what Stata or TarFitory ere yon* legd resi- does yanr family oonaist, and what me the dent ? ages of your children respsotively? What Hoalonphs~esonbeenslegslsl~~idwtth~eof? memhsra of your family will be with yon Of what tawn or oity and county or parish are ,porn the reservation? yon *resident? HOWlo ng have on been a resident thereof! Yonr present postoffice address? In what plnoes have yonresided end what bas been yoar oocnpation doring aoch year for thepast five yema? [Givenameand addresa of yon, employer or employers. if any, the length of yonr stsy with each, and thereason foriesving their employ.1 The day and yearof yourbirth ? Poor agelast birthdav ? where were von born? Your edniation 1 l ~ e n t i d nth e kind of 8ohool s t whioh yon were ednoabd; whether oom-mom sohool, high sohool, bnainess college. How many of yoor relatives are in the civil semioe 1 Have you ever hem indicted fuq or eon*& of, any crime$ Do yonnaeintolioatiogliquars ss a beveragef Do yon hereby plodge yonrsslf not to nus intoxioating liquor. i~ a beverage while yoa areupon an Indian reservation ! Are you physiodly ospsble of afoll disoharge of the duties of the position to which you are seeking appointment? Have yon snr defeat of sight? of baaing? of apeeoh ! of limb? |