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Show 44 COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. pensive. The educational good to the Indian more than outweighs the additional cost, where there is such. The United States lteclaina-tion Service in the work it does on Indim reservations has done great, things in encouraging Indian labor.. In connection with em loyment in the Indian service I recently issued the following circuffar: AUGUSTB , 1912. To superintendents and all otlrcr ofleers having charge of employees. SIR: That there is a certatn amount of prejudice in the Indian service against employees of Indian blood is a fact greatly to be regretted and one that can not be too strongly eondcmned. I have repeatedly voiced my sentiment and staud in this matter, and want by this means to make it positive and practical. I must insist that Preference id fact, and not in theory only, be shown them in filling a11 positions in the Indian service for which they may be qualified. It is not expected that they will be given positions simply because they are Indians, without being at least fairly well qualified for such positions, nor that they will be retained indefinitely, without regard to the quality of service ren. dered; but where there are those who are reasonably well qualified they must be given the preference in filling positions and encouraged and assisted in meeting the requirements of the positions to which they are appointed. Cer-tainly a lack of proper encouragement will not be tolerated, and any evidence of discouragement or of prejudice against them wi:l be met, if necessary, by drastic mearmres. The employing of Indians in the service is simply making use of a large economic investment that the Government has in all those who have been edu-cated in our Indian schools; and in the proper training and developing of the large number who are now and the larger number who should he employed, the department is only supplementing the work of the schools and furthering it8 policy of educating the Indians in a broad and practical way. This matter will be fol lo~edu p by this office to see that this idea is not lost sight of. Section 10 of the act of Congress approved April 15, 1894, reads: In the Indian service Indians shall be employed ns herders, teamsters, and laborers, and where practicable in all other employments in connection with tbe agencies and the Indian service. And it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to enforce this provision. I Also, section 6, United States Statutes at Large (701. 22, p. 451), says: The President may, in his discretion, consolidate two or more agencies into one, and where Indians are located on reservations created by Executive order, be may, with the consent of the tribes to be affected therebv, expressed in the usual manner, consolidate one or more tribes, and abolish such agencies as are thereby rendered unnecessary; and preference shall at all times, as far as prac-ticable, be give11 to the Indians in the employment of clerical, mechanical, and other help 011 reser~ation and about agencies. Form 5-253 will be modifled and individual efficiency reports of nll Indian employees will be rendered quarterly to accompany this blanlc and will be made direct to this otBce. Acknowledged receipt of this circular and keep it active. In addition to trying tb teach each Indian how to work, our schools are also trying to teach what an honest, full day's work involves; in the way of energy and sacrifice. |
