| OCR Text |
Show COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 71 Indian schdols, igencies, and projects are scattered throughout two-thirds the area of the United States, and for the purposes of administration this territory'has been. divided into.10 districts and an inspecting officer assigned to each. It is liis duty to visit at least twice in each year every Indian school, reservation, irrigation proj-ect, or other Indian activity in his district. He makk a thorough examination of office, school, and field work. Helpful criticism and suggedions are given impartially where merited. The Indians ate seen in their homes, at their work, and in their play, so that an intel-ligent transcript of real conditions can be made by the inspectors in their reports. As a result of this comprehensive plan much of the dry rot infepting the service has been eliminated, and cases where Inore heinous offenses were involved have, mercilessly been dealt . ? with. ,While corruption and inefficiency may 6nd its way iqto the rank ' and file of Government employees, the greatest danger to the Indian lies in the greed of the white man for his land-and money. Where a tribe has these the grafter is sure. to be in evidence. He comes from every breed known 60 mankind, and in the past has despoiled the Indian with a m t h l e ~ ~ unnep~ar alleled. Under the present system of fearless and dependable inspecting o5cers many -of these schemes have been ferreted out and their promotors punished, while other schemes of these human sharks have been discovered and their vorac-ity thwarted. Their course is as crooked as their morals and difficult to follow, but through the present thoroughly coordinated force the fraudulent-practices of these iinancial pariahs have been reduced to a minimum. As long, howover, as the Indian has property with no practical combative experience, so long will nefarious schemes against him be attempted. No past system of inspection h b been as comprehensive,'as vigor-ous, or as intimate in reaching every part of one of the greatest func-tions ever attempted by any government for developing a semicivil- -;zed nation into self-respecting and industrious citizens as that in operation in the Indian.,Service. Quick results in adequate rewards and punishments follow the reports of these officers: EMPLOYEES. There are approximately 6,000 employees in the 1ndi;n Service. This great host 'deals with every phase of.the most distinctively human problem csnnected with our Gpvernment. It comes into intimate association 'with every detail of the Indian's life, his home, religion, health, education, property, and all of his moral, social, - and industrial relations. . Few persons.outside of those who Lave had practical experience with the work devolving upon employees in this service realize $he |
