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Show To place these Sioux agencies absolutely in the control of the military authorities would create a "divided responsibility" between the War and the Interior Departments which could not fail to be embarrassing to each. If thpre has been any unwarrantable interference with military plans by any Iadiao agent it ought not t,o be a difficult matter to fix the re-spons~ bility. But I suhmit that to take away at one fell swoop alE power and author it^. from the Indian agents among the Sioux, without the most unquestionable necessity therefor, wonlcl be an act of great injustice tg them, a severe retiectiou upon the entire Indian administra-tion of the Interior Derxartment.and a violent blow tothe whole Indian policy ot the ~overnm;?nt. The present plan of allowil~gc ivll agents among the Sioux to admin-ister civil aWairs while acting absolutely under the control of the mili-tary in suppressing any outbreak, should, in my opinion, be preserved until it seems safe to remove the soldiers from the reserva$ion and no longer. I OONOLUSION. I beg to ask special attention to former recommendations for the in-creaseof salaries of theOommissioner, Assistant Conlmissionerand finan-oial clerk, and that a, chief clerk be provided for this office ; also for an inoreasein the salaries of agents andphysicians,and forthe better pay of Indian policemen. The present experience of the office shows the urgent necessity of paying Indian policemen at least respectable salaries if we are to secure competent meu for the work. The enlistment of Indians intothe Army at so much better pay than the Government gives them for service as policemen has made it in some cases, for example, at Pine Ridge, well-nigh impossible to secure men competent to render the im. portaut service required. The work of this office increases steadily in magnitude and impor-tance. The changes that are now taking place in the environment of the Indians as well as in their respective coutlitious are much more rapid than ever before, necessitating nrgency in doipg for them what-ever is to be done. The disbursements of money made through this offlce during the two Bsoal years ending June 30, 1801, amount in the aggregate to.$13,842,- 330.69. I think it not too much to say in behalf of those directly inter-ested in the disbursing of this large sum and in the tw~lsactiono fthe vast amount of business incident thereto, that their aotion will stand the most rigid investigation and the most searching inquiry. The affairs of the Indian Office are managed on strictly business principles,' and whatever of wavte or of ineEcienoy there nay be connected with it is due to the system and is inherent in the neoessary defects of so compli-cated machinery rather than to dishonesty or any want of fidelity on the part of those engaged in the work. 'For s stiltement showing the methods of trausaoting the finaocisl business of this Bureau ase Appendix, page 20. 10288 I A--10 |